Director Eve Brandstein is a big fan of Barra Grant’s story of growing up in the shadow of her famous mother, the first Jewish Miss America and trailblazer Bess Myerson.

Hosted by Joan Agajanian Quinn with producer/director Eve Brandstein and comedian/writer Monica Piper. 

Hosted by Joan Agajanian Quinn with actress /writer Barra Grant. 

Press Play with Madeleine Brand. What it's like being the "Ugly" daughter of Miss America.

And I’m sure you all remember Bess Myerson  (our most famous Miss America) and the controversy surrounding her name.

Asked to describe her mother, actress and playwright Barra Grant marvels, “She was gorgeous!”

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Less than a week after the end of World War II, Bess Myerson, the daughter of poor Jewish immigrants, won the Miss America pageant in Atlantic City. 

A local multi hyphenate actress is processing her love/hate relationship with her mother the only place she knows how– the stage.

Barra Grant, the only child of pageant queen Bess Myerson, previews her new play, premiering July 14 at The Edye in Santa Monica.

“Among the Jewish people, the mothers all wanted their sons to marry someone like her, and they wanted their daughters to become someone like her.”