Ep 12. Beauty Contest

Dawson's Creek season 1 episode 12, titled "Beauty Contest," follows the small town of Capeside as they gear up for their annual Miss Windjammer beauty pageant. The episode opens with Joey, who has accidentally become a contestant due to her sister's absence, practicing her talent portion with Dawson's help. As she struggles to find the perfect talent, Jen, who is also competing, offers to help her out.

Meanwhile, Pacey becomes enamored with Miss Kennedy, one of the pageant judges, and spends much of the episode trying to impress her. However, it quickly becomes clear that Miss Kennedy has eyes for Dawson, and Pacey must confront his feelings of jealousy and insecurity.

As the pageant gets underway, tensions rise between the contestants as they navigate the challenges of the competition. Joey finds herself struggling to fit in with the other girls, while Jen begins to feel the pressure of living up to her reputation as a city girl.

Throughout the episode, the theme of beauty and its impact on self-esteem and self-worth is explored. While many of the characters initially see the pageant as shallow and superficial, they come to realize the importance of feeling confident and proud of oneself, regardless of appearance.

Ultimately, the pageant results in unexpected outcomes for many of the characters. Secrets are revealed, relationships are strained, and new understandings are formed. "Beauty Contest" is a powerful episode that highlights the complexities of beauty, self-esteem, and identity in a small town context.