Paula Shugart

The Miss USA Pageant is a beauty contest that has been held annually since 1952 to select the United States entrant in the Miss Universe pageant. The Miss Universe Organization operates both pageants, as well as Miss Teen USA.

Pageant Place is an American reality show that follows Miss Universe Organization pageant winners Miss Universe Riyo Mori, Miss USA Rachel Smith and Miss Teen USA 2006 Katie Blair, as they live together in an apartment in New York. They are guided by Miss USA 2006 Tara Conner, in a chaperonal role.

Every year women apply to compete in Miss Universe, subjecting themselves to being judged on their looks, dress, poise, and presentation. Through unprecedented access and first-hand accounts, filmmaker and former Miss Universe Canada Elena Semikina takes us beyond the stereotypes and clichés, showing the pageant as a vehicle for empowering women, humanitarian outreach, and for one contestant - even social reform. Miss Universe Canada drew world-headlines after Jenna Talackova was denied the right to compete for not being a 'naturally born female'. Donald Trump revised the Miss Universe rulebook and Jenna became the first transgender woman to compete in any Miss Universe pageant. Behind The Dress introduces us to the contestants of Miss Universe Canada who are more than fighting for a crown, these are women on a mission, not for a prize, but for a voice.