In this modern retelling of the classic Cinderella tale, Samantha “Sam” Montgomery (Hilary Duff) is orphaned following the 1994 Northridge earthquake that devastated Los Angeles County. As a result, Sam is left in the care of her evil stepmother Fiona (Jennifer Coolidge) along with wicked stepsisters Brianna and Gabriella (Madeline Zima and Andrea Avery), who make her life miserable throughout high school. As an outlet, Sam engages in an online relationship with pen pal “Nomad,” equally disillusioned with his circumstances. Little does Sam know her cyber–Prince Charming is none other than the popular quarterback of her high school, Austin Ames (Chad Michael Murray).