Miss Congeniality

In 1982, a spirited 10-year-old Gracie Hart witnesses a fight between two boys at school, one of whom she has a crush on. After intervening bravely, her action results in embarrassment for the boy, causing him to reject her, which prompts Gracie to retaliate with a punch.

Fast forward 18 years to 2000, and Gracie has transformed into a tough, no-nonsense 28-year-old special agent for the FBI. During a high-stakes sting operation against Russian mobsters, she makes a risky choice that ultimately jeopardizes her colleagues and leads to her demotion.

After the botched sting operation, Gracie finds herself relegated to desk duty, crunching numbers rather than actively fighting crime. This demotion frustrates Gracie, but she must adapt to her new mundane tasks as she longs to return to the field.

A bomb threat from the notorious terrorist known as 'the Citizen' surfaces, threatening to disrupt the upcoming Miss United States beauty pageant in San Antonio, Texas. The FBI urgently calls upon Gracie's skills to help investigate and neutralize the threat.

Gracie's partner, Eric Matthews, proposes an audacious plan for her to go undercover as a contestant to replace Miss New Jersey, who has been disqualified. Despite her initial uncertainties, Gracie embraces the opportunity to contribute to the investigation.

In preparation for her pageant role, Gracie is coached by Victor Melling, a meticulous beauty pageant expert. Initially resistant to Victor's rigorous training methods, Gracie slowly starts to appreciate his coaching, enhancing her confidence.

Gracie adopts the pseudonym 'Gracie Lou Freebush' as she represents New Jersey in the pageant. With newfound grace and poise acquired during her training, she steps onto the stage with determination, ready to showcase her talents.

During the competition, Gracie forms an unexpected friendship with fellow contestant Cheryl Frasier, Miss Rhode Island. Their bond grows as they share experiences, and Gracie begins to trust her intuition amidst the swirling drama of the pageant.

As Gracie delves deeper into the investigation, she encounters a web of suspects related to the pageant, including director Kathy Morningside and her aide Frank Tobin. This complexity raises concerns that the bomb threat may be closer than she initially thought.

While investigating further, Gracie learns about Cheryl's past, which hints at a radical animal rights activism connection. This leads her to suspect that Kathy might be a copycat of the terrorist known as 'the Citizen', complicating the already tense atmosphere.

After sharing her suspicions about Kathy with Eric and the team, they discover that their main suspect has been caught on unrelated charges. This shocking news leads their superior to terminate the mission, leaving Gracie determined to continue her investigation on her own.

Victor reveals a startling truth: Frank is Kathy's son and has hidden his criminal background from the FBI. This discovery urges Eric to defy FBI orders and return to Texas to investigate further, reigniting the mission.

The pageant reaches its climax, and to Gracie's surprise, she emerges as the first runner-up while Cheryl wins the Miss United States title. Overwhelmed by her achievement and the looming danger, Gracie realizes the stakes are still very high.

In a tense finale, Gracie confronts Frank, who is about to detonate an explosive hidden in Cheryl's crown. Eric intervenes, leading to a dramatic showdown that ultimately resolves the chaos but leaves Gracie questioning her path.

With Kathy and Frank arrested, Gracie reflects on her experiences with the pageant and the lessons learned about self-identity and confidence. Eric invites her on a date, culminating in a sweet kiss that opens a new chapter for her.