Each girl competing in the Miss Teen Blue Bonnet Pageant gets the Friday before the pageant off from school. Because of Hannah’s visit, Willowdean decides to remain in the competition. Since she can’t wear the dress her mother bought her, Will chooses a black dress with sequins that she finds in a pile of Aunt Lucy’s clothes to wear. On the way to the auditorium on the morning of the pageant rehearsal, Mrs. Dixon tells Willowdean that she loves Will. She also tells her that she hopes Will makes her mother proud.

The girls get served a barbeque lunch, and afterward, Willowdean finds Ellen trying to wipe barbeque sauce off the lapel of her blazer. Willowdean tells Ellen that the stain is not a big deal. Ellen doesn’t answer her. Will finally tells Ellen that she doesn’t want them to be in a fight anymore. Will admits that she was wrong about Ellen not entering the pageant. Ellen tells Willowdean that it isn’t that easy because they’ve turned into different people, but Will replies that just because they are different doesn’t mean they are not good for each other.

When the girls find their assigned dressing rooms, Willowdean finds that her mother has written “Dumplin’” where Willowdean’s name should be.