If anything when you open a chest, first click on the "Turn all cards over" button, then you can click on an individual girl's card BEFORE clicking on the 'collect' button. That will bring you to the page where you can upgrade her. It might not let you select any girl to upgrade, but it's better than nothing I guess, so if anything that might be a slight help to you buddy.
I just go to the deck, get rid of all of my girls, go to the element that has the girls I can't reach, and upgrade them when they appear on the screen as the more accessible girls are put into the deck temporarily. What I mean is that I can't upgrade the aztecs or angels of hell etc. as groups like I can the elven women princesses etc. because I can't scroll down to them in the collection.