- Miss America 1945. The first and only Jewish woman to ever win the pageant to date (2014).
- In 1988, Bess Myerson was arrested in Pennsylvania for shoplifting $44 in goods from a drug store. She was fined. At the time, she was involved in a stressful lawsuit over a different matter. She was facing charges for bribery and conspiracy stemming from hiring a judge's daughter, presumably to influence the judge to rule favorably toward Myerson's lover in his divorce case. The scandal became known as the "Bess Mess".
- Served as Commissioner of Consumer Affairs for the city of New York (1969-1973) and was responsible for passing the best consumer protection legislation in the U.S. at that time.
- Entered the Miss America pageant in 1945 in order to win the scholarship (the first year they offered one) with the aim of pursuing a career as a symphony conductor.
- Appointed to various conferences and commissions over the years by Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson, Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter.
- Ovarian cancer survivor.
- Appointed as Commissioner of Cultural Affairs for New York City (1983-1987).
- Played the flute.
- Experienced a mild stroke in 1981, from which she made a full recovery.
- Gave birth to her only child at age 24, a daughter named Barbara Carol Wayne (aka Barra Grant), on December 24, 1948, in New York, New York, U.S. Child's father is her first husband, Allan Wayne. Barbara later was adopted by her second husband, Arnold M. Grant, whom she later divorced too.
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