Beauty Pageants?

Question

I am a parent.

I cannot understand the fascination with "dressing up" very young girls to make them look older.Then entering said "girls" into a contest against other "young girls".

These beauty pageants are not the same thing as a "beautiful baby" contest.

Surely these pageants must be a Mecca for paedophiles.

I would not let a child of mine anywhere near such activity.Would you?

Answer 1

I am guessing your asking this because of poor JonBenet, I agree it's just flat out wrong having her in those pageants.

Answer 2

Well in our town pageant the children are not allow to wear makeup or anything like that, or they are disqualified. The only thing they do is dress up in a dress, not any expensive gowns, and the judges talk to the girls and are asked questions about what they want to be when they grow up and why, and that is how our little girls are judged. So we don't dress our girls up to be "older", it more like they get to get together with a bunch of friends in their dresses, and be in a competition. So yes I did let my children participate in these events, after all they are little girls. And this lets them get to be "Beauty Queen" for the day. They all get roses, ribbon, and a trophy, but the winner gets a tiara also. And they get a new Sunday School dress in the process, so it doesn't hurt a thing letting them be in these events.

Answer 3

hi there i couldnt agree more beauty pageants should be band ,dont get me wrong there is nothing wrong with a little girl wanting to play dress up and destroy the make up bag (had that done to mine many a time !!??) but to take it to the next stage .......thats not a child that these type of people want its a sodding puppet that must walk a certain way and stand a certain way and learn a routine and most probably get screamed at if they get it wrong why cant these type of people not let there kids be kids they are only little people for such a short time and surely they are entitled to that ,and as for youre last point those perverts that eye up kids well they must have a field day ,god they have only just found the man that was connected to that wee girl that was killed 10 years ago how was involved in pagents ,so in a simple sentence those things should be banned !!!!!!!

Answer 4

I'm putting my daughter in the pageant this year. She is 3. I'll put her on a beautiful dress, and fix her beautiful blond curly hair. And I'll walk her out on that stage b/c I'm more proud of her than anything else in the world besides my son. I don't care if she wins...pageants are a means to make the child feel good about themselves too, loved and adored.

I'm not in any way trying to make my daughter look older. Fixing her hair and painting her nails and putting her in a pretty dress is not an attempt to make her look older, it's the same thing I do every Sunday when I take her to church.

There's always going to be sick people out there. That's why I won't be letting my daughter wander in the crowd alone afterward. It's common sense. But I won't let the sick people in this world ruin something fun that has been around for many an era.

As far as "exploiting" my child, the pageant comes once a year here. I don't think that quite classifies as exploitation. There's nothing wrong with my daughter taking pride in her appearance. She has been raised to know that it's not the most important thing, and that's what matters.

Answer 5

Well I am not a parent, but my mother has entered me in contests similar to beauty pageants before (stuff like amateur modeling competitions, etc.) My mother is a very ethical and conservative person in most aspects, so she's not the frivolous vain type to enter her child just because of the "glamour" appeal of it. It's just something new to try, you know? And I loved the experience. It's just nice to look pretty for an audience and make lots of friends with the other girls. I think my mother did it for me because she knew I would like the experience. And I did! It really hasn't harmed me or made me stupid and vain. All I got out of it was a good time.

Answer 6

I am a pageant director myself. My pageants are for young girls, but they are NOT "full glitz" pageants like Jon Benet type. Instead- I have rules like no girls can wear any make up or have any fake hair peices. I have beauty pageants themes. No one wears pageant clothes in mine. They are asked to wear Christmas wear for Christmas pageants, red, white and pink for Valentine pageants- Well, you get the idea! AND- I crown EVERYONE with the same 5in or sometimes taller crown! Everyone wins a trophy. So you get try to win stuff like monogrammed banners and plaques, medals and giant giftbags. I do this so that No girl will ever leave feeling like they didn't win. Its the smaller stuff you try to win instead of one girl in each age group getting the crown-They ALL do! And every parent that puts their little girl in my pageants love it! They come back because its not about the rhinestone dresses and fake hair. Its about havin fun a meeting new friends and getting cool gifts and treats. So No not all pageants exploit children. Its the full glitz pageants that give pageants like mine a bad rep. All girls love to dress up and you shouldn't down them for wanting to be a queen. Just limit them to what you want them to wear. EASY STUFF NO BIGGIE!

Answer 7

my daughter was in pageants for a long time...she enjoyed being on stage and has gained a lot of confidence in her self.you can find pageants that don't allow the makeup and its a fun thing for them to do

Answer 8

No, I wouldn't either. I agree with you though about these so called "beauty pagents" enticing pedophiles to come forward. I am assuming this is in response to the JonBenet case? Her parents exploited her. I couldn't do that to my child. JonBenet never had a childhood and that is just wrong.

Answer 9

I wouldn't. My kids are all boys, but if I had a daughter I would let her be her own "beauty queen," right at home.

I wouldn't share her with the world. That will come too soon as it is.

Answer 10

No I would never allow my small child enter a pagent. Why a parent would make their small child look like a life like barbie doll is insane. I am sure there is some sick paedophile preying on children in pagents.