Smile

A pompous used-car magnate who serves as the head judge for the state pageant. He clings to a public image of traditional American values while managing family dynamics that blur personal and professional lines. His authority is tested as his own son’s misbehavior and the pageant’s expenses threaten the veneer of dignity he wants to project.

The pageant’s executive director, married to Andy. She oversees the production, guiding the contestants through interviews and performances while bearing the physical and emotional toll of the pageant’s pressures. Her resilience is tested by violence and workplace politics as she navigates the politics of the pageant world.

Brenda’s resentful husband, a morescent figure whose frustrations surface over the pageant’s expectations and his own standing in the community. He resists the pageant’s rituals and ultimately acts violently, underscoring the moral fragility running through the event.

Big Bob’s son, a curious and opportunistic teen who pores through contestant applications, analyzing breast sizes, and conspires with friends to photograph contestants in various states of undress. His behavior exposes the moral blind spots of adults around the pageant and foreshadows the consequences of exploiting others for personal fascination.

Los Angeles choreographer hired to teach dance routines. He is blunt and cynical about the contestants while driving the production’s artistic direction. He negotiates with producers over stage design and finally reinstates a crucial ramp to accommodate the show, showing how art and money intersect on stage.

The pageant producer clashing with Tommy over creative decisions. He embodies the business-side of pageantry, pressuring talent and staging to maximize spectacle while navigating budget tensions.

A veteran contestant who offers advice to rookie Robin, guiding them on how to excel in the pageant world. She represents the insider knowledge and experience within pageantry, as well as the fragility of long-term participation.

A novice contestant who wins one of the Thursday preliminaries and seeks guidance from a veteran. She embodies the new generation’s hopes and the pressure to perform during the pageant.

A contestant who becomes a target of sabotage during a patriotic routine. Her experience underscores the ruthlessness and competitive danger inherent in the contest.

The outsider winner of the final state title, whose victory seems unexpected. Her status as an outsider highlights the pageant’s unpredictable dynamics and the idea of breaking into the top ranks.

Miss Simi Valley who appears in a full-frontal nude photograph in a policeman's view; her appearance underscores the exposure of contestants under public scrutiny.