In a small town in Minnesota, an annual beauty pageant becomes the focal point of cutthroat competition and twisted ambitions. Amber Atkins, a sweet and determined high school student, enters the contest with aspirations of escaping her tumultuous life by winning the scholarship prize. Her chief rival, Becky Leeman, comes from a wealthy family with significant local influence, making her the favorite to win. As the contestants prepare for the pageant, a series of bizarre and deadly accidents begin to thin the competition, raising suspicions about foul play.

As the pageant approaches, tensions rise between Amber and Becky, their families, and other contestants, highlighting the darker side of small-town ambition. The judges, town officials, and pageant organizers become entangled in the escalating drama, showcasing their various biases and moral failings. Underneath the glittering facade of beauty and grace, lies a web of deceit, manipulation, and greed that threatens to destroy not just the participants, but also the very fabric of their community.