This is the behind-the-scenes story of America’s beauty pageants. Chasing the Crown charts the drama, humour and pathos of the competitive beauty contest world. From ethnic pageants to plus-size women, bikini contests and grandmother competitions, pageants are a way of life for millions of American women.

With unprecedented backstage access to pageants throughout the country, host Kate Shindle – actress, activist and Miss America 1998 – takes us on a tour to learn what really goes on at the local level, and what it takes to win the crown.

Along the way, we dispel the myths and uncover the facts of the pageant world and meet Americans of every walk of life – a veritable cross-section of the nation’s women.