Mona Hibbord has always dreamed of being a "Miss America Miss" contestant ever since she was a little pageant contestant. But one day she discovers she's pregnant and must quit being a contestant. Instead of actually giving up the pageant days, she instead lets her best friend claim the child as hers. One day, Mona's best friend is accused of murder and must now take care of her child, only the child doesn't know who her real mother is.

This is a good film. Why? One reason. Minnie Driver. She is a gem in this, as the Jersey born beauty queen. I've always thought she was beautiful, she displays it well in "An Ideal Husband" and "Good Will Hunting". In this, she gets to really strut her beauty around. She makes attempts in the movie to outdo and outwit her jealous pageant contestants and a vindictive news reporter all the while, putting up with her daughter. Joey Lauren Adams is, as always, adorable as the timid and geeky friend of Driver, who adopts Driver real daughter to keep driver from being eliminated from the contests forever. The whole plotline is cute and simple, with no real moments when you have to put your thinking cap on. The comedy timing is excellent, especially when Driver sabotages another contestants pageant act. The movie succeeds in forcing some tears out of the audience, and has a radiance that today's movie do not succeed in giving us. Some movies have attempted it but failed, like "Hanging Up". I loved "Beautiful", and suggest it for all audiences.

The only bad is, the movie stems from heart-warming to just plain ridiculous. How did she ever manage to sneak the child birth past the press or Beauty Pageant committees? The end is especially ridiculous with her admitting in front of everyone she has a daughter, yet she still become Miss America Miss. Whatever.

A sappy but sweet comedy with nice performances all around.