Fmr. Miss America recalls glory, bigotry

In 1945, a young Jewish woman walked into history as she crossed a stage to claim the title of Miss America. Yesterday, over three dozen students gathered in Logan Hall to hear her story. Introduced by College junior Jordana Riklis as a woman who has "fought many good fights and served many good causes," Bess Myerson -- the first and only Jewish Miss America -- spoke about her multi-faceted career. Myerson has been a writer, editor, television star, consumer advocate and spokesperson for racial and religious tolerance. She has also served on three presidential committees and received two honorary doctorates. But Myerson chose to focus her speech on the events that led to her crowning as Miss America rather than the public career that followed. She explained that money was her prime motivation for participating in the contest. "I had graduated from Hunter College, I was a concert pianist and a flutist and I wanted a scholarship to Julliard," she said. "[But] there were no scholarships for girls." So when her sister told her that she could earn $5,000 by winning a beauty pageant, Myerson immediately seized upon the opportunity. After winning the preliminary competition in New York, Myerson was summoned by the pageant organizer, who suggested she change her name to something less Jewish-sounding. Standing firm, she replied that if she won it would be a credit to her community, and she would not deprive them of that pride. Still, Myerson barely even considered the possibility that she could win, so did not worry too much that a Jewish name might be the difference between victory and defeat. "I was as skinny as a broom," she said with a laugh. "I used to wear shorts under my dress so I would have a little bit of hip." Describing her arrival at the pageant, she said that "there were all these girls there with their matching luggage? [and] we had shopping bags." "I only had two outfits that a neighbor had sewn for me," she added. At the pageant, Myerson said she had an experience that changed her life forever. A woman approached her and pulled up her sleeve to reveal the tattoo that marked her as a survivor of a Nazi concentration camp. In an unforgettable plea, the immigrant woman told Myerson, "You have to win.? We were all ugly, and we have to show them we are beautiful." Her words, Myerson said "became something I ingested and had inside me for the rest of my life." After winning the event, Myerson experienced the cruelties of anti-Semitism first-hand. Sponsors refused to use her to endorse their products. She was turned away from hotels, and encountered signs like "No Jews, No Dogs." Facing such prejudice turned Myerson into a lifelong crusader against hate and intolerance. Her words clearly resonated with the student audience, whose comments were overwhelming positive. "I thought she was a fascinating, intelligent, charismatic woman," College sophomore Dori Kamlet said. Ari Gershman, a College freshman, said he found her words inspiring. "The spirit that? helped her to succeed, that can apply to any challenges you face," Gershman said. Myerson's talk was sponsored by the Jewish Renaissance Project, a student group that seeks to promote Jewish knowledge through education and community events.