Bliss is from Bodeen, Texas a small town in the mioddle of nowhere. She feels trapped in this town where she works with Pash at the local restaurant giving the local high school kids, "Squealers," huge sandwiches that if they finish in three minutes they get them for free
The movie opens with Bliss Cavender (Ellen Page) participating in a beauty pageant. The contestants are lining up on stage and introducing themselves. Her mother Brooke Cavender (Marcia Gay Harden) is seated with the other parents since Bliss told her she didn't want her in back with her. The scenes with the mother with the other parents and the girls on stage are spliced with Bliss dying her hair with best friend Pash. When she is introduced to go on stage it is clear that her hair is a bright blue and her mother is not pleased.