- In 1988, she was arrested in Pennsylvania for shoplifting $44 worth of merchandise from a drug store. She was fined. At the time, she was facing bribery and conspiracy charges after hiring a judge's daughter, presumably to influence a favorable outcome for Myerson's lover in his divorce case. The scandal became known as the "Bess Mess".
- She served as New York City's Commissioner of Consumer Affairs from 1969-1973, and was responsible for passing the best consumer protection legislation in the U.S. at that time.
- She entered the Miss America pageant in 1945, the first year it offered a scholarship, intending to pursue a career as a symphony conductor. As of 2024, she remains the only Jewish Miss America.
- Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson, Gerald Ford, and Jimmy Carter appointed her to various conferences and commissions over the years.
- Ovarian cancer survivor.
- She served as New York City's Commissioner of Cultural Affairs from 1983 to 1987.
- Played the flute.
- Experienced a mild stroke in 1981, from which she made a full recovery.
- Her only child, Barbara Carol Wayne (aka Barra Grant), was born December 24, 1948. Her father was Myerson's first husband, Allan Wayne. Barbara later was adopted by Myerson's second husband, Arnold M. Grant, whom she later divorced.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content