Ep 2. The Beauty Contest

Designing Women was a popular television show that premiered on CBS network in 1986. The sitcom follows the lives of four women who run an interior design firm in Atlanta, Georgia. The women, Julia Sugarbaker, Mary Jo Shively, Charlene Frazier Stillfield, and Suzanne Sugarbaker, are strong, independent, and intelligent women, each with her own unique personality.

Season 1, episode 2 of Designing Women is called The Beauty Contest. In this episode, the ladies find themselves drawn into a beauty pageant that is being held in Atlanta. The pageant is sponsored by the local television station, and the winner will receive a cash prize of $5,000.

At first, the women are skeptical of the pageant and the message it sends. However, when Julia discovers that one of the contestants is her young neighbor, she becomes invested in the outcome. Julia starts to become more involved in the pageant, offering advice and coaching to the young woman.

Meanwhile, Mary Jo is adamantly against the beauty pageant and the emphasis it places on physical appearance. She is also dealing with her own personal struggles, as her ex-husband has just moved back to Atlanta and is seeking reconciliation.

Charlene is torn between her loyalty to her friends and her desire to compete in the pageant herself. Suzanne, on the other hand, is her usual self-absorbed self, more concerned with her own beauty regimen than anyone else's.

The episode explores themes of beauty, self-worth, and societal pressures. The women all have different opinions on the beauty pageant, and their differing viewpoints create tension and conflict among the group. It also shows the complexity of female relationships and the lengths that women will go to support each other.

Throughout the episode, the women face a series of challenges. Mary Jo has to confront her past with her ex-husband, Julia has to navigate the politics of the pageant, Charlene has to come to a decision about whether or not she wants to compete, and Suzanne has to deal with her own vanity. In the end, the women find a way to support each other and come out stronger as a group.

The Beauty Contest is a lighthearted episode that deals with serious issues. It showcases the strength and resilience of the women of Designing Women and their ability to come together in times of need. The episode also highlights the importance of inner beauty and self-love in a world that often places too much emphasis on external appearances.

Overall, The Beauty Contest is a fun and engaging episode of Designing Women that will leave viewers feeling inspired and entertained. The show remains popular to this day and is considered a classic of 80s television.