Voting Station

Bess Myerson

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Beauty Contestant

The Resume

    (July 16, 1924-December 14, 2014)
    35½-25-35
    Co-hosted 'Candid Camera'
    Panelist on 'To Tell the Truth' and 'I've Got a Secret'
    Commissioner of Consumer Affairs for the city of New York (1969-1973)
    Commissioner of Cultural Affairs for New York City (1983-1987).
    Miss America (1945)

Why she might be annoying:

    She did commercials for Ajax soap.
    She attended many functions with New York City mayor Koch, some believe they were romantically involved but most felt she was a beard covering Koch's gayness.
    She was arrested in Pennsylvania for shoplifting about $40 in goods from a drug store.
    She was involved in what was called 'Bess Mess' (1988).
    Her younger boyfriend Andy Capasso was looking to reduce his alimony.
    His judge Hortense Gabiel was looking for a job for her looney daughter, Suhkreet.
    Bess hired Suhkreet as her Cultural Affairs special assistant and viola Capasso's alimony payments went down.
    She, the judge and her boyfriend were charged with bribery and conspiracy.
    She turned to religion when she was facing her bribery trial.

Why she might not be annoying:

    She had planned to be a symphony conductor.
    She graduated Hunter College (now Lehman).
    She was the first Jewish Miss America (1945).
    Advisors suggested she use the name Beth Merrick when competing for Miss America to disguise her Jewish last name. She declined and recalls: 'It was the most important decision I ever made. It told me who I was, that I was first and foremost a Jew.'
    Her intent in entering the Miss America contest was to win the scholarship.
    She was the first Miss America to gain real fame.
    As to her looks, she said: 'God gave it to me and I'm grateful. I don't question it.'
    Although a Democrat' Republican New York Mayor John Lindsay appointed her Commissioner of New York City's Department of Consumer Affairs.
    Legislation that passed while she was Commissioner of Consumer Affairs is still considered one of the strongest protection for consumers, including preventing false advertising.
    She introduced unit pricing and freshness dating (which is now national).
    She received political appointments from Presidents Johnson, Ford and Carter.
    She was acquitted on her bribery and conspiracy charges (1988).
    She is a strong supporter of the Anti-Defamation League.
    She raised more than $1 million for Israel.
    When she discovered she had ovarian cancer, she didn't have health insurance (1973).
    She is a cancer support group volunteer.
    She suffered a stroke (1980).

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 3 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 13 Votes: 46.15% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 10 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 15 Votes: 53.33% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 15 Votes: 46.67% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 22 Votes: 40.91% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 26 Votes: 38.46% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 29 Votes: 62.07% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 74 Votes: 59.46% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 44 Votes: 63.64% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 52 Votes: 40.38% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 36 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 113 Votes: 46.90% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 148 Votes: 60.81% Annoying
    In 2005, Out of 182 Votes: 51.10% Annoying
    In 2004, Out of 456 Votes: 45.83% Annoying