Beauty Queens

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Bibliography

 Bray, L. (2012). Beauty Queens.  New York: Scholastic Paperbacks.  ISBN:  9780439895989, 400 pp.

Summary

This satirical novel about the world of beauty pageants begins with an airplane crash. The fifty “Miss Teen Dream” contestants are on their way to the beach for a photo shoot when they are struck by tragedy. Most of the girls and all of the crew do not survive. The twelve remaining contestants must find a way to survive on the island without killing each other. Miss Texas quickly takes charge, but as she starts to lose her wits the other girls are forced to look within themselves to find their true identities instead of what has been created for them through pageantry. The girls briefly think they may be rescued by the crew of the reality television show “Pirates Bodacious IV: Badder and More Bodaciouser”, but when that does not work out they must create their own plan. The only problem is the island may not be as deserted as they once thought…

Critical Analysis

Beauty Queens is a satire about beauty pageants, America’s obsession with reality TV, and the ridiculous marketing techniques of products. However, while poking some fun, Bray also creates a well-written story about young girls discovering their true qualities and appreciating what they have to offer that is more than skin deep. A transgender contestant introduces the idea of what sexuality really means and how society views it, and through this story line Bray gives a wonderful lesson on tolerance and open-mindedness. The story is told while focusing on each character individually. The reader learns more about the characters through contestant fact sheets with uniform questions the contestants have answered about themselves. There are also footnotes to explain some of the made up products, television shows, and people created by the author. The only extra material that really interrupts the story instead of adding to it are the commercial breaks which are meant to show the ridiculousness of product marketing and television. These commercials are a bit over the top and aren’t necessary in order for the reader to understand the satirical nature of the overall story. Despite this flaw, the story is quick with lots of adventure, and it conveys a powerful message while also soliciting a good laugh.