Game of Crowns

In the premiere episode of “Game of Crowns,” fitness model Lori-Ann Marchese is preparing for Mrs. America after she entered Mrs. Connecticut America on a whim and won. With help from Shelley Carbone (Mrs. America 2011) and Vanassa Sebastian (a 2012 Mrs. America semi-finalist), Lori-Ann hopes to get the professional advice she needs to take the crown. Meanwhile, pageant lifer Lynne Diamante helps the reigning Mrs. Rhode Island America, Leha Guilmette, prepare for Mrs. America as well. The competition continues off stage when pageant newcomer Susanna Paliotta wears the same outfit as Vanassa on the way to the pageant. Do New England’s best have what it takes to win the mother of all pageants, Mrs. America?

Shelley, Vanassa, Lynne and Susanna make a friendly bet on Lori-Ann and Leha’s fate at Mrs. America. The wager goes south when Leha’s husband gets wind of it in the audience, causing insults and threats to fly. Back in New England, the ladies try to plead their side of the story to Leha who has trouble believing the women’s allegations about her police officer husband. As always, there are three sides to this story: his, hers and the truth.

Lynne, Shelley and Susanna recount the drama at Mrs. America, including the alleged violent threat made toward Lynne—that no one else heard. Donning her "momager" hat, Susanna throws a fashion show starring her daughter Bella and featuring Shelley and Lynne’s daughters. After talking to Vanassa, Leha confronts Susanna about the abuse accusations made about her husband. Lynne and Leha have a sit-down that may end their friendship forever.

Vanassa and Shelley fess up to trash-talking Leha. Lynne reflects on her annual vow renewal as she begins planning for her 15th anniversary. With the Ms. New England States Charity pageant just around the corner, Vanassa is unsure about competing because she feels less than pageant ready. Meanwhile, Lori-Ann trains hard to make this pageant everything Mrs. America wasn’t.

Shelley encourages Vanassa to have a face-to-face with Lynne, while Susanna, Lori-Ann, and Lynne bond over a common frenemy. Shelley arranges a peace-making trip to Newport to work out everyone’s differences. The trip goes south when Nick calls Leha to tell her that someone hired a private investigator to follow their family. Vanassa reveals that her breast cancer walk takes place at the same time as Lynne’s wedding, putting Shelley in a hard predicament. Can the girls even share the spotlight – let alone the same house – for 24 hours?

Shelley is put in the uncomfortable position of deciding between attending Vanassa’s breast cancer walk or Lynne’s wedding. Lynne hopes her 15th anniversary vow renewal will help her heal from the haunting memories of her original wedding day. Meanwhile, Vanassa gives her speech at the breast cancer walk with the support of her family. When Leha shows up to support, she’s tight-lipped about what happened in Newport, but claims the truth will come out soon.