Bette Cooper
# Bette Cooper

Elizabeth Cooper-Moore (August 11, 1920 – December 10, 2017) won the Miss America 1937 pageant as Miss Bertrand Island, representing an amusement park on Lake Hopatcong in New Jersey.

## Early life

She was born in Hackettstown, New Jersey. Cooper attended Centenary Junior College (now Centenary University) in Hackettstown where she was a member of the Delta Sigma Sigma sorority and graduated from Centenary Junior College's Academy in 1938 at ceremonies attended by Governor of New Jersey, A. Harry Moore, later graduating from Centenary Junior College in 1940.

## Pageantry

She caused a stir when she disappeared for some 24 hours with 23-year-old Louis Off, after winning the Miss America title. Evidently overwhelmed by what was expected of her, she insisted upon a much lighter schedule so that she could attend college. This led pageant officials to have future Miss America contestants sign agreements as to what duties were expected of the winner and also be chaperoned.

## Career

Cooper, who did some modeling and appearances in the years after her title, long shunned any connection or involvement with Miss America. Michael Callahan wrote a roman à clef on Cooper titled The Night She Won Miss America (2017).

## Personal life

She married a Wall Street executive, William Moore, and had two children, Cheryl and Gregory, as well as four grandchildren. Cooper died in December 2017 at the age of 97.

