Riverdale – Chapter One Hundred Thirty-Two: Miss Teen Riverdale

As Betty’s (Lili Reinhart) “Girl Next Door” starts to receive letters seeking advice from Riverdale’s teenage female population, bigger events are in play. For Alice (Madchen Amick), it is time for the annual Miss Riverdale Teen Queen pageant. And with Ethel (Shannon Purser) as her assistant, Alice is ready to crown a new reigning queen on national television. However, Betty is not moved to compete until Alice mentions a potential scholarship for a college of their choosing to the winner.  

At school Betty quickly learns that Cheryl (Madelaine Petsch), Toni (Vanessa Morgan), Midge (Abby Ross) and Veronica (Camila Mendes) are all entering the competition for their own reasons. With the competition being inclusive, Toni wants to represent the black community. Cheryl hopes to make a more profound difference if she wins. Midge hopes to win so that her and Fangs (Drew Ray Tanner) can have a better life together. Veronica hopes to help her business thrive and prove she’s more than just a pretty face. Everyone’s answers leave Betty with more questions. But when Veronica later approaches Betty and encourages her to join the rest of the girls and take a stand, Betty is convinced. Realizing that the scholarship would allow her to attend her dream college choice, Betty signs up with her friends…and Evelyn Evernever (Zoé de Grand’Maison). 

Later, at home Alice is suspicious and surprised in Betty’s sudden interest in joining the pageant. While Alice sees that Betty has no need for the scholarship with her exemplary grades, she still snubs her daughter’s dream for college. However, Alice shares a secret that she has been harboring for many years: while she may have been crowned Miss Riverdale Teen Queen in her day….she ultimately dreamed of a life outside of Riverdale as a stewardess. Betty wonders why she didn’t pursue her dream and Alice reminds her that she met and married Hal and that it became her life instead.  

The next day at school Alice preps the pageant girls for the upcoming competition with lessons in poise and later on…a fitting for their evening gowns. While the girls continue to practice, Ethel looks on with a smile and begins to daydream of herself winning the pageant. In her dream her parents (Jenn MacLean-Angus and Adam Lolacher) are still alive and cheering her on, her artwork will be recognized as her portrait will hang in the Guggenheim Museum and she lands Jughead Jones (Cole Sprouse) as her boyfriend. However, Alice interrupts Ethel’s daydream to make sure that the appointment with Mary Andrews (Molly Ringwald) at her local dress shop is set. 

While being fitted for their dresses Mary starts to tell the girls about the year she entered Miss Riverdale Teen Queen. Alice may have won that, but Mary advises that there is more to life than just winning a pageant. During Midge’s fitting Mary notices that the dress is a little snug and goes to grab her measuring tape. Alice takes note of this and, recognizing the signs, asks Midge to meet with her later for a chat.  

During the hemming of Betty’s dress Betty hears Ethel crying. Later at home Ethel admits that she would love to enter the competition and be Miss Riverdale Teen Queen…but does not feel that she embodies what the judges are looking for. Betty continues to encourage Ethel to enter as she deserves a chance to win as well. Meanwhile, at Pop’s Diner Midge meets with Alice and learns that Alice has realized Midge is pregnant. 

The next day Alice announces to Betty, Veronica, Cheryl, Toni and Evelyn that Midge is no longer in the competition and is now staying at the Sisters of Quiet Mercy. Rattled by the news the girls head to the student lounge and discuss Midge’s plight. Toni and Cheryl explain to the others that Midge is pregnant, and this is why she was sent away. They go to tell Fangs the news, which he does not take well, and Betty finally pushes Ethel to take Midge’s place and enter the pageant. 

Alice walks in to see Betty coaching Ethel for the pageant. Questioning who her assistant will be if Ethel competes, Betty has commissioned the help of Dilton Doiley (Daniel Yang) to help out in Ethel’s place. Trying to keep a calm demeanor, Alice pulls Betty out into the hallway at school and explains how Ethel should not compete as she is not the ideal look for Miss Riverdale. Later, Betty explains Alice’s issue with Ethel competing with Veronica, Toni, and Cheryl. The girls agree to withdraw from the competition if Ethel cannot compete. However, Veronica has an even better plan to get Ethel in. 

With Alice standing firm in her decision, Betty and Veronica confront Hal and explain how the girls will withdraw and ruin the national televising of the pageant…unless Ethel is allowed to participate. Furthermore, the bathing suit competition will also need to be scrapped as two of the judges are male educators from Riverdale High. Hal agrees and fights with Alice to keep Ethel in competition. 

On the night of the pageant Jughead, Fangs, Clay (Karl Walcott), Archie (KJ Apa), Reggie (Charles Melton), Julian (Nicholas Barasch), and the rest of the boys from Riverdale convene at Pop’s Diner to watch the pageant live. With Principal Featherhead (William MacDonald), Dr. Werthers (Malcolm Stewart), and Clifford Blossom (Barclay Hope) as the judges, the girls strut their stuff and try to win over the audience. When it comes time to the talent portion of the competition, Ethel wins everyone over when she sings an original song called “Who Will Love Me As I Am?” At Pop’s the boys are fawning over Ethel’s talent as the audience at the pageant cheer loudly. Backstage, Alice watches Ethel’s performance with tears in her eyes. As Hal and Alice receive the decision from the judges, it is official: Ethel is the new Miss Riverdale Teen Queen! 

At home, Betty sees Alice in the kitchen and commends her for giving Ethel the chance. However, Alice hands over the envelope to Betty and shows her that she was the winner…not Ethel. When Betty asks why she said Ethel, Alice tries to be callous and insult Betty but admits that she wanted to give Ethel a chance for a better life. Betty believes that her mother is capable of being a good person and finally starts responding to the letters the “Girl Next Door” received at the beginning of the episode. She tells the writers, Veronica, Toni, Cheryl, Midge, and Evelyn that they are capable of great things and they will change the world. It’s up to them.