Willowdean’s mother buys Will a dress for the pageant, and Will promises herself that she will at least try it on. It’s tight, but her mother says they can let it out a few inches. Willowdean agrees that they can make it work.

Willowdean sits with Millie, Amanda, and Hannah on the day that the pageant contestants show their talents and get the costumes the girls will wear for their talent performances approved. The judges admit that Amanda’s kicking, head butting, and juggling of a soccer ball isn’t a traditional talent, but they accept it. Hannah, surprisingly, sings “Send in the Clowns.” Millie plays “Somewhere over the Rainbow” on the xylophone.

Willowdean’s attempt to perform a magic trick fails, but her mother approves her anyway. However, Mrs. Dixon accuses Willowdean of not taking the pageant seriously. Willowdean agrees and thinks about how her attitude is not fair to her mother or to Millie, Amanda, and Hannah. She enlists Lee Wei, the drag queen, for help by sending an email to Dale, the bouncer of the drag club the girls visited a few weeks before. Lee teaches the girls how to walk and makes them all practice. The girls also get lessons on stage makeup and clothes.