Miss America 1944 supported the war effort while wearing her crown.

Miss America 1944, Venus Ramey (Kentucky), entertained in service camps, sold war bonds and toured in Vaudeville. In addition to a citation from the United States Treasury Department for her work in the War Bond effort, Venus Ramey's picture was painted on the side of fighter planes. These planes made sixty-eight raids over war torn Germany, and never lost a man. At a time when it seemed the country was losing the war, this story made the Associated Press and built a nation's morale.

I came across an interesting article on her in the newspaper last month.

Miss America Gets Her Gun

WAYNESBURG, Ky. – Miss America 1944 has a talent that likely has never appeared on a beauty pageant stage: She fired a handgun to shoot out a vehicle’s tires and stop an intruder.

Venus Ramey, 82, confronted a man on her farm in south-central Kentucky last week after she saw her dog run into a storage building where thieves had previously made off with old farm equipment. Ramey said the man told her he would leave.“I said, ‘Oh, no you won’t,’ and I shot their tires so they couldn’t leave,” Ramey said. She had to balance on her walker as she pulled out a snub-nosed .38-caliber handgun.“I didn’t even think twice. I just went and did it,” she said. “If they’d even dared come close to me, they’d be 6 feet under by now.” Ramey then flagged down a passing motorist, who called 911.Curtis Parrish of Ohio was charged with misdemeanor trespassing, Deputy Dan Gilliam said.
The man’s hometown wasn’t immediately available. Three other people were questioned but were not arrested.
After winning the pageant with her singing, dancing and comedic talents, Ramey sold war bonds and her picture was adorned on a B-17 that flew missions over Germany in World War II, according to the Miss America Web site.

Associated Press - April 21, 2007 - Getty Images and missamerica.org