Character Clues
Character Analysis
Speech and Dialogue
Besides all The Corporation extras, there are two types of scenes in this book: passages about the characters' backstories, and dialogue. Dialogue shows how the beauty queens meet each other and make friends—a lot of the initial stuff. It does the work to help readers get to know the characters, too.
Check out how, early in the book, different beauty queens comfort Miss New Mexico about the airline tray stuck in her forehead.
"'You know what would look cute on you?' Petra said with new authority. 'Bangs. So 1960s chic. You'd hardly notice the, um, the…addition.'
'Love bangs!' Mary Lou said." (3.56-57)
Aw. That's sweet in a weird, pretending-there's-no-medical-emergency kinda way. These characters have only recently been introduced, but already, we can tell that Petra's into fashion, particularly vintage—especially when it can help cheer people up—and Mary Lou is generally kind and supportive.
When Miss New Mexico isn't comforted (can you really blame her?), Taylor gives what is quickly becoming a Taylor-esque comeback: "Miss New Mexico, let's not get all down in the bummer basement where the creepy things live." (3.60) Above all odds, however ridiculous, Taylor strives to be perky and positive.
It's funny, too. It's dialogue that does double-duty: makes us laugh and gives us clues about the characters.
Physical Appearances
For a book whose message is that looks aren't everything, Bray isn't above using physical appearance to make a point. Take how she initially describes two of the beauty pageant contestants, Brittani and Tiara:
"They were both artificially tanned and bleach-blond, with the same expertly layered long hair. If not for the ragged state sashes they still wore, it would be hard to tell them apart." (1.43)
That sounds like a solid stereotype about to be debunked. And Brittani and Tiara's similarities don't stop with looks. At first (before Tiara learns and changes), they both seem, well, not so bright, and make stereotypical airhead remarks. Their description is an early clue to their personality similarities. And as Tiara changes during the story, the fact that Brittani stays the same helps to emphasize the difference between them.
Yet another clue that in the critique of society Bray is creating, appearance isn't everything.
Family Life
Beauty Queens is All About that Backstory. The long passages explaining how each Teen Dream was raised show readers where each of the girls comes from and what they have to overcome while on the island—emotionally as well as, like, giant-snakily.
These stories explain behaviors that might otherwise seem like stock roles. Adina's mother chasing after the wrong men explains Adina's own aggressive independence. Nicole's mother's obsession with looking more like white women makes us understand how freaked out Nicole gets when her hair goes natural without products. And because Jennifer was told, again and again, that she wouldn't amount to anything, we can understand why she's got some insecurities to beat down.
These family stories are the heart of the book. They turn it from a simple satire into something deeper.