Chapter Text
The team had been working frantically to set up everything for the upcoming Miss United States final event, which was scheduled to air live in just two days. After their failed attempt to convince the networks to cancel the event, they decided to take matters into their own hands and approached the event organizers and hosts, Maggie Shaw and Jane Tennant.
Maggie and Jane, though an unlikely pair at first glance, complemented each other remarkably well both on and off the stage. Maggie's short hair perfectly complemented her overall polished look. Its light shade resembled the purity of white, added a touch of sophistication. In contrast, Jane possessed a distinct allure of her own. Her tan complexion and dark brown hair exuded a natural radiance. Her edgier demeanor brought a unique energy to their dynamic. Together, they effortlessly captivated audiences' hearts and have done so for the past decade.
"I'm sorry, I'm not sure I'm hearing this correctly," Maggie exclaimed, her hand instinctively placed on her chest as if to steady herself.
"Maggie, I think these people want one of their agents to participate in the pageant," Jane chimed in, trying to make sense of the situation.
"You want her to win?" Maggie questioned, her eyebrows furrowed.
Jesse stepped in to clarify. "No, no, not to win," he assured them. "We just want our agent to make it to the top five. This will grant her access to all the areas on the stage, allowing us to closely monitor the event for any potential risks or threats."
"Absolutely not," Maggie refused firmly.
"Ms. Shaw, please consider the safety and well-being of the women," Kate urged. "We're there solely to protect them. We tried to have the competition canceled, but the network refused, and we couldn't force their hand. We are kindly asking you to allow us to do this for your girls."
Maggie pondered the question for a moment but finally, she responded with a resigned tone.
"Fine."
They hadn’t prepared for the pushback from the hosts, but Maggie's reluctant agreement was enough for them.
"Thank you, Ma'am," Kai said over the table.
Jane, still grappling with the revelations, sought clarification. "But how is this even possible? All the contestants have been chosen months in advance."
"Don’t worry about that," Kai said, leaning forward. "We recently discovered that Miss Washington is, in fact, Mrs. Washington."
"-and Mommy Washington," Kate quipped, unable to resist a snort. Realizing her slip, she quickly muttered a soft apology. She hadn’t meant to say that out loud.
"Well then," Jane said with astonishment. "Do you have an agent in mind?"
Kai glanced at Kate, who sat beside him. The corner of his mouth curled into a knowing smile as he nodded in her direction. Kate sat up straighter and fixed her blazer.
“Me." She raised her hand slightly, drawing attention to herself.
Maggie and Jane gasped, their eyebrows shooting up in unison. The shock was evident on their faces as they tried their best to processed how the agent in front of them was going to blend in.
Without wasting any more time, Maggie Shaw reached over the table to a little silver button and buzzed for her assistant.
“Alan, get me Ernie Malik’s number.”
According to her, he was one of the best coaches, and luckily for them, he didn't have a contestant this year.
They had jotted down the phone number of a pageant coach and left.
Meeting Ernie shocked the agents, he hadn’t been what they were expecting. The renown pageant coach didn’t dress extravagantly but instead he was in an aloha shirt and shorts. Convincing him to take Kate on as a client proved to be a challenge. However, after negotiating a contract with an enticing figure, he finally agreed. Within hours, Ernie had assembled a team of talented professionals who dedicated themselves to transforming her into a beauty fit for the competition.
That night was undeniably the most painful night Kate had ever experienced. Her eyebrows were meticulously threaded, and her legs were left raw from the waxing process. Tears had streamed down her face, leaving her cheeks red and swollen.
"What could possibly motivate anybody to go through all this torture just to enter a beauty pageant?" Kai had said as he watched Kate endure the painful transformation.
“Scholarship? Money? Opportunity to see the world and broaden their horizon.”
“Is it really worth it?”
Kate hesitated, her eyes scanning her reflection in the mirror. "I suppose that's for each person to decide," she finally said.
But now, with her transformation complete, Ernie and Kate stepped out of the taxi and were immediately greeted by the grand view of the Hilton hotel. The bustling energy of the event surrounded them as women giggled and embraced each other, celebrating their journey thus far. They maneuvered past the mountain of suitcases scattered on the gravel near the taxis, which were being unloaded by hotel staff.
As Kate made her way through the crowd, she couldn't help but notice the lingering gazes of both men and women. It was an unfamiliar feeling, one she was unaccustomed to, the feeling of being desired. The hours of tanning, waxing, plucking had paid off.
Ernie couldn’t help but look at the blonde, his work, even he was impressed by himself. From the ‘dorkish frump’ she once was, he had managed to turn her into a passable Miss United States contestant.
“Testing, testing. Okay, Whistler, touch your ear if you can hear me.” Kate heard from her earpiece as she pulled her blue skin tight dress down closer to her knee. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
“Alright.” Kai cheered. “Commence Mission: Childhood Dream.”
Kate groaned in response.
The men erupted in cheers from a hidden car across the road, exchanging a triumphant high-five. “I knew she would like that.” Kai said to Jesse.
Ernie and Kate made it to the registration table, where they handed her the schedule official orientation pamphlet and her sash “Miss Washington" written on a ribbon, she looped it around her body. It hung perfectly across her body.
"You go on the bus. I'll meet you at the arena," Ernie instructed, guiding Kate towards the line of contestants waiting to board the vehicle. She nodded and joined the other women.
Despite spending hours practicing walking in heels higher than her usual one-inch heels, it didn’t stop her ankle from rolling. Her body fell against the side of the bus, making a loud metal thump.
"My God," she heard Ernie mutter behind her, likely hiding his face from embarrassment. But she didn’t look back to find out.
Alan stood next to the door of the bus, clipboard in hand, checking off names of contestants as they boarded. Kate followed the line and made her way onto the bus.
She walked down the aisle, scanning for an available seat among the sea of excited women. She couldn't help but overhear snippets of whispered words about her. The fact that she was a new face in the competition sparked a natural curiosity with the others. But their hushed discussions added an extra layer of insecurity, making her feel like an outsider once again.
“Hey Washington, this seat’s free.”
Kate turned to see the owner of the voice. Dressed in a manner similar to Kate, the woman wore a sash across her body proudly displaying the title 'Miss Texas'. A quick glance revealed flawless nails, perfectly styled hair, and impeccably shaped eyebrows. Every detail seemed to be perfectly fitted. As a blush tinted Kate’s cheek, she reassured herself that she wasn't admiring the other woman’s appearance but rather assessing potential threats as part of her reconnaissance.
“Thanks,” the blonde replied, grateful for the offered seat.
“I’m Lucy Tara from Texas” She stuck out her hand for a handshake which Kate reciprocated shyly.
“Nice to meet you. I’m-” Kate began to introduce herself, only to be cut off by Lucy's enthusiastic rambling.
"Katie Mae Anderson!" Lucy interjected, her words flowing rapidly. "I went down a deep rabbit hole, memorizing the names and faces of all 49 contestants. But your picture wasn't there, so I knew it was you."
The blonde nodded, impressed by Lucy's dedication and attention to detail.
They continued with the pleasantries when a small group of women gathered around them, their curiosity piqued by the newcomer. Lucy took the initiative to introduce the other women to Kate.
"This is Melanie Dawes from Utah," Lucy said, gesturing to a woman with a confident demeanor.
"Sup," Melanie replied, exuding an air of casual coolness.
"And Hina Kekoa from Hawai'i," She continued, pointing to a woman with a welcoming smile.
"Aloha.”
Lastly, she turned her attention to a woman with a similar shade of blonde hair as Kate's, neatly styled in a ponytail with gentle waves.
"And that's Adriana Velazco from California," Lucy introduced.
"Hi," Adriana greeted with a nod before returning her focus back to her phone.
Kate took a moment to absorb the presence of each one of them, realizing that she had never been in the company of so many women before.
The bus fell silent as Maggie stepped on board and clapped her hands twice. Jane followed closely behind and stood silently by her side. The women turned their focus towards the front of the bus, waiting for Maggie to address them.
"Ladies, if you refer to your pamphlet, dance rehearsal is right after the orientation brunch. So, let's not get too excited and overexert ourselves." As Maggie spoke, Kate couldn't help but notice the occasional glances directed her way. Gosh was she a bad actress.
The bus engine starting jolted Maggie back to attention. "Then it lights out at 9pm," she declared before taking her seat, allowing the women to return to their conversations.
Kate was beginning to settle into her thoughts when Kai's voice came through her earpiece. "Hey Whistler, keep an eye out for Texas. Of all the contestants, she was the one we couldn’t get much on.”