Chapter 19

The last judge arrives in his seat and he has an earpiece to converse with her Grandpa who is talking with one of the directors of the school. The two are watching the competition as her Grandpa thinks that Tiffany is just as stubborn as her mother but he won't let her make the same mistakes she did.
Tiffany is up next and gets asked the question by Bernice minion. She brings up the fact that it's a beauty competition and tells her that there's nothing impressive about her appearance, wondering what motivated her to stand on stage and if she doesn't think her participation is an insult to the other contestants. Jeff stands up to warn Bernice minion about the question matter and to tell Tiffany she doesn't have to answer the question. She's okay with it though, instead, asking a question to the audience and judges about what their definition of beauty is based on their understanding of it. She says she understands they live in a society that categorizes them based on how they were born, their physical attributes, to define them and tell them that that's all they are as a person and thereby that's how they should live their life. However, she informs them that there's nothing that has only ever declared beauty as skin deep, saying that the definition of beauty should be in the eye of the beholder, that things they find touching should also define beauty, that it shouldn't be differentiated by country or region.
She asks everyone if someone who isn't up to the mainstream definition of beauty actually not beautiful and not worthy of being complimented or loved wondering who said that and who set the rules. Bernice minion is unhappy with her answer saying she's creating a ruckus on stage, but Tiffany begs to differ saying that she's a product of the stage and her being there actually showcases that the contest has brought possibilities to diversify the standard of beauty.
She ends her answer and goes back to her place but the audience and judges are stunned. Howard, of all people, begins clapping for her first causing a huge round of applause and a standing ovation for her answer. Her Grandpa looks kind of proud as he watches on.
Bernice goes on stage for her talent portion, playing the violin. Tiffany is next with her mandolin, but since she doesn't have anyone to play with her, it's only her. Some students in the audience begin to wonder if her performance is too simple with some preferring Bernice performance instead. Jeff and Laurence hear some of it.
However, as the performance goes on, Tiffany begins to hear the faint sounds of a piano and she slightly turns to see Howard joining her, which brings a smile to her face. The two continue their duet on stage and Bernice sees their performance as she heads back.
The two stand side by side at the end of the performance to bow to the applause and Tiffany mentions that she didn't think he was going to help her. Howard says he just didn't want her to embarrass herself and Tiffany wonders if he was the first to applaud for her earlier. He pretends like he doesn't know but he does compliment her, saying that she looks really pretty. He even takes it one step further by saying that she's already Miss Campus in his eyes. Internally, Tiffany's heart beats faster.
It's time to announce the winner, who just so happens to be Bernice. Tiffany's face slightly falls as it hits that she didn't win and Howard has an unreadable reaction, perhaps remembering that she told him she might not be able to stay if she didn't win.
The confetti goes off as Bernice is crowned. She looks over in Howard's direction but sees he's not looking at her the winner, his eyes are on Tiffany. She gives a slight smile and he nods his head, causing her smile to widen. Bernice stands on stage with a look of despair. The judge from earlier informs Grandpa that, like he instructed, transferred the votes to the other contestants. That means that he rigged it.
In her room, Tiffany packs her things. Laurence comes in and notices it, wondering if she's leaving because of the results of the contest telling her to talk to her if she doesn't feel good about it. Tiffany begins to say that it's not what she thinks but before she can say anything she receives a text from her grandfather congratulating her on her performance and revealing she actually already succeeded in being Miss Campus. Therefore he will hold his end of the bargain and she'll be able to continue to study at the Art university Bournemouth under the pretense that she can't reveal her identity or else she'll come home.
She tells the good news to Laurence and their good mood immediately comes back. The slow motion as the confetti went off, Bernice being happy she won but her happiness slowly being replaced with the realization that it didn't matter whether she won or not, Howard's attention was on one person only, and that's Tiffany. Tiffany who notices him in the crowd but probably thought he was looking at the winner, like everyone else, only to realize that he was looking at her. His slight nod of the head could either mean that he was acknowledging that he was indeed looking at her or telling her that she made a good effort.
But either way, his attention was all on her. He even complimented her appearance. Tiffany should be aware, based on her interaction with him as Jessica, that when he tells someone they're pretty, he really mean it, so that should mean she knows he really meant his compliment and it's probably not going to be something he makes fun of her for later. He was the first one to clap for her after her awesome speech about the definition of beauty and also stepped up to help her on the piano, not that he wasn't going to in the first place, he just wanted her to ask him again because he wanted to be the one who helped all along.
T
iffany's speech about beauty was really incredible and great. Just because one has a preference doesn't mean that their personal preference is wrong and just like Tiffany brought up, no one ever truly defined what beauty is, therefore no one really has a place to judge on it. The only thing we can judge on is the mainstream standard which defines people based on their personal attributes, things that are actually beyond their control, rather than inner beauty, the thing that people can actually change.
Howard is perhaps becoming more aware of his own feelings, beyond Jeff pointing it out. Tiffany out of the party, but full acknowledg them to himself now as he continues he knows that there's more at stake with the competition. Perhaps with Tiffany pointing out that there was the possibility of her not being able to stay, Howard realized that their time could be limited. He did seem a little hurt that Tiffany wasn't able to tell him the reason she might not be able to stay, but that's just because he wants to know things about her.
based off of her speech Tiffany was going to win. However, she's glad that he allowed her to stay at school. He clearly saw her determination in staying and basically determining her own happiness by finally making her own decisions so her grandpa thinks that staying there will be a good growing period for her.
Jeff knows, about her transformation but Tiffany doesn't now he knows and as for everyone else, they are still clearly in the dark. Tiffany just suddenly comes out as her actual self and just blows everyone away. Howard previously stated that he doesn't like to lie, which probably means he doesn't like it when people lie and Tiffany has been lying to him since day one.