Lisa gets her caricature done at a school carnival, and is horrified by the unflattering depiction. Believing she is ugly, Lisa is plunged into a depression. When Homer finds out what has been troubling his little girl, he decided to enter Lisa into the little Miss Springfield pageant and prove that she is beautiful. At first Lisa refuses to participate, but when Marge tells her Homer sold his duff blimp ticket to pay the entry fee, she decides to go for it. Lisa shines at the pageant, showing off her beauty, talent and brains, but is chosen as runner-up to Amber Dempsey, a superstar on the pageant circuit. However, after Amber is struck by lightning, Lisa must take on the title and duties of little Miss Springfield. She seems to be enjoying her new status as a Beauty Queen until she learns that she will be used to promote laramie cigarettes at a parade. When Lisa sees other children start smoking, she decides to take a stand and announces that cigarettes are evil. Lisa is ultimately stripped of her crown, but her self-esteem has been regained.