Inside Choices: Miss Behavin'
Welcome to the world where rhinestones meet real talk.
Miss Behavin' isn't your typical pageant story. Sure, there's all the glitter and drama you'd expect, but underneath those perfect smiles and sparkling gowns is something much messier and more honest. This is about coming home to a world that shaped you, even when you're not sure it still fits.
Maribeth Montgomery is back in the pageant game after years away, and nothing is quite how she left it. Old rivals, new stakes, and family expectations that feel heavier than any crown. Every choice you make backstage carries just as much weight as what happens under those bright stage lights.
We sat down with the team behind Miss Behavin' to talk about bringing pageant culture to life, writing characters who are equal parts vulnerable and fierce, and why sometimes the real competition isn't for the judges.
Get ready for some serious Southern charm with a side of secrets.
Setting the Stage ✨
What was the inspiration behind Miss Behavin’?
AME was a reality TV based book we released a long time ago, and players enjoyed the various outcomes available based on the choices they made and stats they amassed. Similarly with Queen B, players loved the stat system, as well as the catty drama. So Miss Behavin’ really felt like a natural return to what this team loves to do, and does well. -Maya
This one came straight from my life. I grew up in pageants with my mom and sister, and while I was never the most graceful kid on stage, I thrived in interview and talent. Ventriloquism was my thing, and it even took me to Showtime at the Apollo when I was eleven. Pageants were my first taste of performing, and they eventually led me to theater, acting, and now writing. Miss Behavin’ was the perfect way to mash up that world with the drama and romance that make Choices so fun. -Kat
Pageants are a pretty specific world. How did the team land on that as a backdrop for this story?
Kat is an ex pageant girl (her talent was ventriloquism!!), so it was the perfect opportunity to write about something a lot of people are interested in, from the point of view of someone who’s done it themselves. -Maya
That was me pushing for it. I knew how juicy the mix of sparkle and stress could be, and I wanted players to feel both the magic on stage and the messiness behind it. -Kat
How did the concept evolve from the earliest pitch to the final version we’re releasing?
My early pitch was very close to home, almost like a diary. Over time it grew into something bigger, with more twists and player-driven drama. I laid the foundation, and the team layered on all the glitter. Shoutout to Maya for being an expert in all things Choices and making this book, even better! -Kat
Bringing Drama to Life 🎭
Miss Behavin’ really digs into family expectations, self-worth, and second chances. How did the team approach telling such a personal, emotional story in the middle of all the pageant glitz?
What happens off-stage is just as important as, if not more important than, all the glitz and glam that happens in front of the judges. At the heart of things, pageants are just a part of what makes each of these characters. -Maya
Pageant girls are pros at putting on a mask. You see the lashes, the lipstick, the perfect walk, but behind all that makeup there’s usually way more going on. A lot of girls came from rough home lives or put everything they had into competing. I wanted to show that side too. -Kat
Were there any tropes (like rivals-to-lovers, small-town charm, or fierce competitions) that you knew you wanted to highlight from the start?
Rivals-to-lovers for sure. Anyone who’s ever stared down the girl next to them backstage knows how quickly rivalry can turn into something else. I also wanted redemption arcs, because not every win comes wrapped in a sash. -Kat
Which moment or twist are you most excited for players to experience? (No spoilers, of course!)
I’m not sure how else to say this without spoiling, but at some point, someone(💝) does something shocking(🗡️), forcing you to reevaluate everything(👑) -Maya
There’s a big twist with your mom, and I cannot wait to see the reactions online when people hit that chapter. -Kat
Spotlight on Characters 💋
What makes Maribeth Montgomery (or MC) stand out compared to past Choices heroines?
Instead of coming into a situation as a total outsider, she’s returning to a world she’s already lived in, albeit years ago. That not only gives her an edge, it gives her a fresh perspective to pageantry. She’s not the total underdog her competition may think she is. -Maya
DITTO - Kat
Maribeth’s mom is a big force in the book. What was it like to write a parent–child relationship that’s equal parts love and pressure?
I think it’s fairly normal for people (not necessarily parents) who love you to also want big things from you. It comes from pride, but sometimes the lines between pride and expectations, selfless and selfish begin to blur. In short, writing the relationship felt like writing something very real. -Maya
This one was maybe a little too close to home. I grew up with a Southern belle mother who never let me leave the house without lipstick, so writing Bunny came naturally. Honestly, my mom is such a funny, larger-than-life character that I find myself sneaking versions of her into a lot of the stories I write. -Kat
Rivalries are central to the story. How did you find the right balance between playful competition and serious drama?
There are the rivals, and then there are the Enemies. But do you always know who’s who? 👀
That balance is baked into pageants. One minute you’re sharing lip gloss, the next you’re fighting for the spotlight. It’s sweet and cutthroat all at once. -Kat
What do you hope players take away from Maribeth’s journey back into the pageant world?
No matter how hard it is, it’s always worth it to do what’s important to you in your own way. -Maya
That you get to decide what “winning” means for yourself. Sometimes it’s the crown, but sometimes it’s just choosing to do things that make you feel proud of the person you’re becoming. -Kat
The Look and Feel 👀
The art in Miss Behavin’ is gorgeous. Was there a particular outfit, background, or scene that was especially fun or challenging to bring to life?
Thanks! There were definitely a few art assets that were unexpectedly challenging! I probably had the most fun (and the most challenge) with the scene where you choose what to bring to your talent routine. I don’t want to spoil anything, so I’ll just say that the challenge was keeping this scene from looking too creepy ;) I think our players are going to love it! -Tom
The talent round. It was my strength in real life, so I felt pressure to get it right. Once it clicked, it felt like such a love letter to that part of pageants. -Kat
How did the art team capture the glitz of the pageant stage while also showing Maribeth’s more personal, emotional moments?
While Maribeth’s outfits are very glamorous, her color palette is on the warm side to make her look more friendly and approachable. The pageant stage itself has two faces: the glitzy brightly lit side that the audience sees, and the quiet, more humble setting of the backstage closets and prop rooms which provide plenty of secret spots for deep, emotional interactions. -Tom
Definitely. My own pageant days, but also shows like Drag Race and Cheer. Anything that mixes sparkle with sweat inspired me. -Kat
Was it more fun to write the dazzling on-stage scenes, or the quieter backstage drama?
I wouldn’t say that the drama backstage is quieter, but it’s definitely been a lot of fun writing the messy, catty moments that happen when the contestants are off stage and can show their true colors. - Maya
There’s a moment where Maribeth questions why she’s even back in this world. It’s raw and a little messy, but it rings true. -Kat
Behind the Scenes 💞
Which scene was the trickiest to nail down, but most rewarding once it clicked?
Without giving too many spoilers, it's the scene where Valentina opens up to you about her secret. -Kat
Were there any real-world inspirations (from pageants, reality TV, or elsewhere) that influenced how you built the story or characters?
Toddlers and Tiara's, Drag Race, any competition show! Maybe even a little Honey Boo Boo, Lol. -Kat
What’s your favorite line of dialogue or scene you wrote for Miss Behavin’?
Juliette is practicing for her talent performance in chapter 6 and I loved tying her spoken word into the platform she’s representing this pageant season. Spoiler: it’s a mess. -Maya
Literally any and all of Sally's lines! I love her! -Kat
If you were a contestant, which rival would intimidate you the most?
Valentina for sure. She seems so unshakable. -Maya
Juliette! She’s at the tail end of her pageant career so she’s got nothing to lose! -Tom
Valentina. I’d be terrified of her, but also 100 percent in love with her. -Kat
Just for Fun 💅
If you were competing in Miss Behavin’, what would your talent round be?
Performing K-Pop dances. -Maya
Playing online competitive games. I’d probably lose, but I’d have fun doing it. -Tom
I’d bring out the ventriloquism dummy! Her name was Lucy Lynne! -Kat
Sweet tea or black coffee: which one gets you through a writing sprint?
It’s just me and my water bottle against the world. -Maya
If I can add a bit of whisky to my black coffee, then black coffee. -Tom
Sweet Tea, DUH! -Kat (but, I also consume way too much coffee)
Who’s your personal pick for the crown?
Me, duh (as in MC) -Maya
MC of course. But if not? Valentina. She’s that girl. -Kat
Miss Behavin’ is currently available to all Choices VIP members and will be available for Wide Release later in the year. Check it out, besties!