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How to Fix a Pageant

2023

TV-MA

Director

Nicole Rittenmeyer

Runtime

49 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

The rigging scandal and contestant revolt that took place as Miss USA and its parent company, Miss Universe, came under female ownership for the first time, as well as the legacy brand’s attempts to increase profitability by embracing women’s empowerment.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

7.4/10

Good


Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Good

The film examines the Miss Universe Organization during a period of structural transition. While specific character arcs are not detailed, the narrative context suggests an interrogation of gender norms and identity within the pageant industry.

Gender Representation

Excellent

The documentary centers on women reclaiming agency from a legacy system. By focusing on a contestant revolt and the shift to female ownership, it disrupts traditional hierarchies where male executives dictated female competition.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Good

The narrative explores how diverse bodies navigate institutionalized beauty standards. The globalized nature of the Miss USA framework suggests a non-homogenous cast representing various ethnic backgrounds during the organization's modernization.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Good

The film adopts a critical lens toward traditional Western institutions. It explores the friction between corporate profitability and social progress by highlighting a revolt against the legacy brand model.

Disability Representation

Fair

There is no explicit evidence regarding the inclusion of characters or contestants with visible or invisible disabilities. The representation of neurodivergence or physical disability remains unverified.

Strengths

  • Strong focus on female agency and the disruption of traditional male-dominated hierarchies.
  • Effective critique of institutional corruption and the tension between profit and social progress.
  • Exploration of how diverse contestants navigate systemic beauty standards.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lack of verifiable representation regarding physical or neurodivergent disabilities.
  • Limited specific detail regarding individual LGBTQ+ character arcs or identities.

AI Analysis

How to Fix a Pageant succeeds as a study of institutional deconstruction. It reframes the beauty pageant from a superficial spectacle into a site of political and social contestation. By prioritizing the agency of participants over the stability of the organization, the film effectively disrupts conventional media tropes. The documentary excels in its portrayal of gendered power structures. The transition to female ownership and the subsequent contestant revolt provide a strong framework for discussing empowerment and the reclamation of agency. However, the film's depth regarding specific identity markers is uneven. While it touches on systemic reform and globalized beauty standards, it lacks clear evidence of disability representation or specific LGBTQ+ character arcs.

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