Drop Dead Gorgeous

In 1995, the town of Mount Rose, Minnesota, buzzes with excitement as it prepares for the Sarah Rose Cosmetics American Teen Princess Pageant. The event attracts a film crew that captures the anticipation and various contestants, including 17-year-old Amber Atkins, who dreams of winning a college scholarship.

The pageant introduces a diverse group of contestants, prominently featuring Rebecca 'Becky' Leeman, the daughter of the wealthiest family in town. Becky's relationship with her mother, Gladys, a former pageant winner and chairperson, raises concerns about favoritism in the contest's outcomes.

As the pageant day approaches, the town suffers a shock as Tammy Curry's life ends tragically in a threshing machine explosion. This incident shakes the community and adds to the growing pre-pageant anxieties felt by the contestants.

Alongside the repercussions of Tammy's death, rumors swirl about the mysterious death of a young man who was once a potential love interest for Becky. The murmurs of these tragic events amplify the sense of dread among the contestants leading up to the pageant.

While preparing for the competition, Amber Atkins faces her own issues, particularly worries surrounding her mother's volatile living situation with the threat of their mobile home exploding. Despite these terrifying circumstances, Amber remains determined to make her mother proud by excelling in the pageant.

During the dress rehearsal for the pageant, chaos erupts when fellow contestant Jenelle Betz is injured by a falling stage light, leaving her deaf. Despite the shocking event, pageant choreographer Chloris Klinghagen steps in to assist Amber, offering her an alternative costume for the night.

As Amber prepares for the pageant, her hopes are dashed when pageant organizer Iris Clark dismisses the new costume offered to her, claiming it doesn't meet standards. This adds to Amber's mounting frustration and sense of defeat as the big day approaches.

In a surprising turn of events, her fellow contestant Lisa Swenson offers Amber her own approved costume for the competition. This selfless act gives Amber a chance to showcase her exceptional tap dancing skills and boosts her spirit before the big night.

On the night of the pageant, Amber's costume mysteriously disappears, leading her to suspect Becky of theft. This situation escalates into a heated confrontation backstage, increasing the tension among contestants just before their performances.

Becky takes center stage and captivates the audience with her rendition of 'Can't Take My Eyes Off You,' featuring an unsettling routine with a life-sized Jesus doll. The performance is met with mixed reactions, leaving onlookers both amazed and horrified.

As the pageant concludes, the atmosphere is electric with anticipation as the winners are announced. With Leslie Miller taking silver, Amber receiving bronze, and Becky winning the crown, joy fills the air until tragedy strikes during the celebration.

The excitement turns to horror the next day when Becky's parade float, adorned like a swan, catches fire, leading to her untimely death. This calamity devastates the town and shatters the lives of everyone involved in the pageant, especially Gladys.

In the aftermath of the parade tragedy, Gladys experiences a breakdown that reveals her deeper involvement in the pageant's corrupt dealings. Her emotional collapse leads to her arrest, further complicating the already chaotic situation surrounding the pageant.

With many contestants unable to compete due to a food poisoning outbreak, Amber unexpectedly becomes the crowned winner of the state pageant by default. This surprising victory grants her a trip to the national competition, which quickly turns sour.

Upon arrival at the national competition, Amber learns that Sarah Rose Cosmetics has shut down due to tax evasion. This revelation leaves the contestants outraged, resulting in a spree of vandalism against the company's properties, showcasing the fallout from the pageant.

Years later, Gladys escapes from prison, leading to a tense six-hour standoff at the Mount Rose supermarket as she vows revenge on Amber. The standoff captures local media attention, culminating in a dramatic moment when a stray bullet strikes a reporter.

Seizing the moment during the chaos, Amber takes the microphone and delivers an impromptu news report live from the standoff scene. Her poise and confidence impress the local news station, opening the door to her burgeoning career as a co-anchor for a major news program.