Rom-Com BFFs Get the Spotlight: Cheryl from Miss Congeniality
Heather Burns tells us what happened to Miss Rhode Island after the credits rolled.
The best friend is at least the third most important person in a rom-com (we might even say that sometimes she's more important than the love interest). The protagonist's right-hand lady is many things: the voice of reason and a co-conspirator, the one moving the plot along and providing comic relief. But the characters themselves are often thinly written, without their own backstory, full arc, or—worst of all—happy ending. What a waste! So we asked the actresses who played some of the genre's most iconic best friends to write the full stories their characters never got.
Here, Heather Burns tells us what happened to Cheryl, the sweet, unsuspecting Miss Rhode Island to Sandra Bullock's Gracie Hart in Miss Congeniality.
Cheryl spends her reigning year as Miss United States traveling the country representing the pageant. She serves as Grand Marshal for many parades and does lots of public speaking for the Miss United States Scholarship Fund. She also works extensively for her local Rhode Island chapter of the ASPCA. She gets kidnapped with Stan in Las Vegas, of course, but thanks to Gracie, they both end up fine.
With the growing popularity of Burning Man and other music/art festivals, Cheryl's baton skills become very in-demand. She begins training fire dancers and other baton-based performers. She moves to the Pacific Northwest to be closer to the festival scene, but she always returns to Rhode Island for Christmas and summer vacation.
Whenever she's in Rhode Island, Cheryl makes sure to drive down to the Tri-State area to visit Gracie. They also go on a lot of girls vacations together, too; their last trip was to Sweden.
Her life is really easy going now. Cheryl misses the excitement of the pageant days, of course, but doesn't miss getting bombs put on her head. She loves her family, loves training dancers, and loves that she gets to travel so much with her work and especially with Gracie.
Since Cheryl's eye-opening experience at the Miss United States pageant, she no longer considers red underwear "the devil's panties." Red will always have a special place in her heart, but she wears many colors, including tie-dye. April 25th is still her ideal date, though. She gets a real kick out of being a meme. She always gets free coffee and cocktails on April 25th! Also, because she lives in the Pacific Northwest, she owns a ton of light jackets. Things really worked out that way.
Stay In The Know
Marie Claire email subscribers get intel on fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more. Sign up here.
It's there that Cheryl met and fell in love with a vegan chocolatier. They had a daughter together, Gracie-Lou, who will be attending the University of Texas on a baton scholarship in the fall. Cheryl is very proud.
MORE ROM-COM COVERAGE, RIGHT THIS WAY
-
Our Complete Quiet Luxury Shopping Guide
30 quality closet classics that always have—and always will—endure.
By Emma Childs Published
-
Kaia Gerber and Cindy Crawford Medal in Mother-Daughter Olympic Matching
The pair touched down in Paris wearing coordinating navy looks.
By Julia Marzovilla Published
-
Prince Harry Reveals Royal Family Rift Was Worsened by Tabloids
"Yeah, that’s certainly a central piece to it."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
How 'Drop Dead Gorgeous' Pulled Off Its Iconic Wardrobe With Gowns From the Mall of America and Crafting
As the cult classic turns 25, its costume designer opens up about creating magic on a scrappy production.
By Sadie Bell Published
-
How the 'Twisters' Soundtrack Rides Country Music's Mainstream Storm
The summer blockbuster is blowing into theaters with storm-wrangling sequences and killer needle drops.
By Sadie Bell Published
-
Breaking Down the Shocking, Satanic Ending of ‘Longlegs’
The horror film and box-office hit stars Maika Monroe as an FBI agent hunting a serial killer played by Nicolas Cage.
By Sadie Bell Published
-
'Maxxxine' Is an Homage to the Sleazy Horror Genre Giallo—But Does Away With Its Violence Against Women Cliché
The new 'X' movie is inspired by the sleazy Giallo genre, but its lead flips the misogynistic horror style on its head.
By Sadie Bell Published
-
Maika Monroe Opens Up About Crafting a Nuanced Final Girl in Her 'Longlegs' Character Lee Harker
The actress opens up about her affinity for playing final girls and crafting her character in this year’s runaway horror hit.
By Sadie Bell Published
-
32 Movies to Watch if You Like Sci-Fi
Whether you're into films set in space or time travel.
By Katherine J. Igoe Published
-
The 17 Best Feminist Horror Movies Ever
Calling all scream queens.
By Sadie Bell Published
-
'Janet Planet' Is the Latest Must-See Entry in the Mother-Daughter Movie Canon
The sweet A24 movie marks the feature debut of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Annie Baker.
By Sadie Bell Published