"The Freshman" (1991)Satire on gangster movies contains a few offbeat digs at the Miss America Pageant.
"Last Dance" (1991)Murder movie set around a strippers' competition called Miss DTV (Dance TV). For adults, or at least not for children.
"Paris Is Burning" (1991)Critically acclaimed documentary follows the lives of Harlem drag queens who organize their own pageants. Not to be confused with the war picture "Is Paris Burning?"
"Nightmare in Columbia County" (1991) Made-for-TV movie about a deranged killer in South Carolina who targets the family of a pageant winner. This film was based on a real, genuinely horrifying crime, and though it is dramatically well done, it is not for children.
"The Naked Truth" (1992) Comedy about two men who flee mobsters and disguise themselves as female makeup artists in the pageant business. Critics found it a poor imitation of "Some Like It Hot," but many familiar Hollywood faces make minor appearances in the film.
"Miss America: Behind the Crown" (1992) Carolyn Sapp, who was Miss America at the time, plays herself. It's the story of her relationship with an abusive boyfriend.
"Miracle Beach" (1992)
Alternate title: "I Dream of Genie"A beach bum meets a woman with magical powers, and part of the "fun" is a completely unbelievable international pageant. "Miss Iraq" and "Miss Kuwait" are bickering blondes. But it does feature cameo appearances by Hawaiian Tropic founder Ron Rice and some Hawaiian Tropic winners.
"Round Trip to Heaven" (1992)A teen-oriented sex comedy about girl-crazy young men and inept gangsters who are drawn to an international pageant. There's a fair amount of nudity and bad taste, but ultimately it's a simple boy-meets-girl tale.
"The Raffle" (1994)Three friends stage a model search to find the "most beautiful woman in the world." Then they hold a raffle for men who want to date the winner. Sentimental comedy focuses on the uncertainties of life as a show business promoter.
"Bare Exposure" (1994)Young people stage a wet T-shirt contest to make money. Low-budget "exploitation" film.
"Wild Malibu Weekend!" (1994)Sexually oriented comedy about a televised bikini pageant that is staged in the form of a TV game show. This one is funnier than most such films of its kind.
"Beauty's Revenge" (1995)Grim story of a pageant winner who killed another woman in a dispute over a man. Loosely based on a true story, which of course was anything but typical. Made for TV. Also known as "Midwest Obsession."
"No Contest" (1995)Gory thriller about a pageant hostess who battles terrorists. Surprisingly for a movie of this type, there is no nudity and little sexual innuendo.
"To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar" (1995)Drag queens on their way to compete in an offbeat pageant find themselves stranded in a remote town. Big-budget comedy that would once have been considered provocative caused little stir upon release.
"Miss India Georgia" (1997)Well-done documentary about an ethnic pageant examines the modern immigrant experience in America. The focus on Georgia is particularly interesting, because the South for a long time had many pageants and very few immigrants. It's hard to say which seems more jarring: Southern beauty queens wearing saris or Indian beauty queens with Southern accents.
"Bikini Summer 3: South Beach Heat" (1997)Contestants scheme to win the "Miss Mermaid" bikini contest. Thinly plotted exploitation film with considerable nudity.
"Crowned and Dangerous" (1997)Tongue-in-cheek tale of mayhem in the pageant business, with some slyly realistic touches. Debuted on ABC-TV, which made a point of advertising it during the Miss America Pageant.
"Swimsuit: The Movie" (1997)A chemical company decides to publish a swimsuit catalog, and various models audition to be on the cover. Weak attempt at Hollywood satire.
"Behind the Scenes at Miss USA" (1998)Documentary follows Miss California USA through the national pageant. Made by the E! Entertainment Network.
"Behind the Scenes at Miss Universe" (1998)Documentary follows Miss USA through the Miss Universe Pageant. Made by the E! Entertainment Network.
"The Secret World of Beauty Pageants" (1998)Documentary is extremely favorable to the pageant industry, especially the Miss Universe system, which cooperated extensively with it. There is more historical context than in most such films.
"Behind the Scenes at Miss World" (1998)Documentary, in the style of two earlier films made by E! Entertainment Television, following Miss World USA as she competes in the Miss World Pageant.
"The Murder of Miss Hollywood" (1999)"The Murder of Miss Hollywood" (1999) Documentary about a model who was a claimant to a "Miss Hollywood" title (not the Miss America preliminary), then descended into drug abuse and street prostitution and eventually was murdered. An episode of the "E! True Hollywood Story."
"Drop Dead Gorgeous" (1999)Violent, cartoonish spoof of teenage pageants. Critic Pamela Lamont called it "pre-feminist" in its attitude toward women. The script was written by a former runner-up at America's Junior Miss.
"Happy, Texas" (1999)Escaped convicts flee to a small town, where they are mistaken for pageant directors and have to live the part. Low-key comedy was popular with critics.
"Behind the Scenes at Miss Teen USA" (1999)Part of the E! series of soft documentaries on major televised pageants.
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