What do you think of beauty pageants for little girls?

Question

I remember wanting to be in one when i was little. But my mom didn't want to spend all of the money. My neice wants to do one now, she is 6, and we do have the money for it. Do you think it is a good idea?

She doesn't have any problem with regection at all. She knows that sometimes you win and sometimes you lose, but it is still fun either way. She has never done anything like this before.

Do you see anything wrong with it?
Have you ever put your kids in pageants?
Did they enjoy it?

Any other info would be great! Thanks

Answer 1

You should consider putting her in an all natural beauty pageant. If you are going to go ahead with this make sure you mix it up with other activities not just a pageant. You never want little girls to put all their self worth on how they look. There is always going to be someone prettier then you out there. Your niece should always know that her self worth isn't based on her external beauty that how she is inside and how she treats others is far more important. Everything in moderation is good I think. If you are going to be a stage Aunt and get hooked your daughter may look for that high in a winning trophy if she places her value on winning and her looks.

Answer 2

Personally, I think it's wrong. Little girls should be just that little girls. They can learn so many more social skills by participating in a sport, a dance class, plays, a music group, just about anything. What does this teach them actually? To wear a ton of make up, wear these little outfits and strut their stuff around a stage like a piece of meat for a bunch of men? And don't think the pressure and all the other children and mothers aren't horrible to deal with. Why does a little girl need this? I think many Mothers do this for their own ego. I think it's terrible. Let children be children. They grow up far too fast as it is. Frankly the videos of these things make me sick. Reminds me of something that child molesters get off on. Yuck!You can't have any real "talent" much as a little kid, so then it's all based on your looks or the ability to have looks and have "moves". Pathetic. These are not the values we should be teaching little girls. Gee, all I have to do is play sexy and look cute and fix my hair and make up and wear the right clothes, have the moves and men will give me attention. Very very wrong.

Answer 3

I was never in pagents when I was little. But when I was a teenager I LOVED them. I thought they were sooo much fun! Just very girly. I do not think there is anything wrong with putting your child in a pagent.. BUT I do think that when they are old enough 4 or 5 or maybe even younger.. that you need to be ASKING that child if they want to do it or not. Kids will tell you if they like something or not. I do think the money you win should be saved for future educational assistance or something of that nature for the CHILD not the parents. If she is wanting to do one.. I say for it. what is the difference in letting your children do pagents than letting your children do sports (competetions) or dance (competetions) Either way it is all a competition and there is a prize to be won.

Answer 4

I think that it is a bad idea to put that little girl in pageants. I say that because she is a little girl that will soon become a young lady faster than you can see it and its too many sick men and sometimes women who thrive on little beauty girls- you don't want her to be looked upon like a sex thing for any man, especially at that age- its too grown up, the make up and clothes and all of that it brings to much attention and you dont want her going through that kind of life- I had a friend who was a model since she was small, probably younger than your niece, she wanted to everything else, she enjoyed modeling,but it brought her down when she saw what it started requiring as she got older, she had to get thinner and thinner, her weight was never good enough- my friend wanted to do sports, she did both but after awhile it gets tired

Answer 5

Definatly, if she wants too. I participated in pagents for two years when I was 6 1/2 to 8 1/2 I stopped because i moved. i loved it, the way that some kids love dance or gym, It did wonders for my self confidence and I learnt heaps of things. However my parents never pushed me they were not "stage parents" and were not living out their dreams thru me. I just had fun and they supported me, sure I got upset when I lost but it passed and i learnt that losing is a part of life, you cant win all the time. If your niece wanted to do jazz ballet would you take her to the classes and watch her recitals?? that involves dressing up and wearing pretty clothes. Just make sure shes doing it because its what she wants. The main thing is to support not push. Talk to her about the pros and cons and if she wants to play baseball as well let her. Girls love to dress up and look pretty, just let her be a kid!
Have fun, its always so exciting waiting to go on stage!!!!

Answer 6

I think beauty pageants are wrong. Beauty pageants are all about the mother and her selfish needs. Why put children through such torture. It is all about living the mothers' dream, unfortunately there are alot of pedophiles out there that love it especially when they see them online. I feel sorry for any child that has to go through a pageant.

Answer 7

Ok, true story....

I live in a part of Canada where beauty pageants are not paid any attention to, but I can tell you about the experience of a little girl I know.

When she was six she told her mother that she wanted to try modeling. Her mother (who takes excellent care of her body and has posed for several posters, magazines, and newspapers) decided to let her try it. When the girl turned eight she told her mother she wanted to quit. Since her mother didn't want to encourage quitting, she asked her daughter why she wanted to stop modeling. Her response:

"None of the girls there care about their bodies, they just care about how they look."

She learned a lot by observing people with bad habits. Now, if your niece wants to try pageantry, be sure to point out behaviour you find unacceptable, and don't let the grown ups who care for her get caught up in it. I don't think there's any harm in letting her try it so long as it's for her, and not for anyone else.

Good luck.

--Ginny

Answer 8

My 9 year old step-daughter wants to do pagents really really bad!! She just wants the attention and all the pretty clothes!! Which is fine, most little girls LOVE to play dress up!

I think that pagents can be big self esteeme builders for young girls! They get to prance around in the pretty girlie dresses and have everyone clap for them...what kid wouldn't love that??

Like you we have been wondering the same thing about my SD...she wants to be in every pagent and fashion show that comes to town!! One of these days we may just let her! I think that she would love it!

I do think that some parents take it way to far!! The angry, mean, perfectionist parents that want their girls to win win win everytime!! There is the real problem!!!

I don't really think that there is much more presure doing pagents then doing dance or gymnastics...they have to practice practice practice and then proform in front of people...not much different in my eyes!!

Answer 9

People ask why we cannot be rid of prejudices, racial hate, widespread depression, religious and cultural intolerance........maybe we should start by banning the parading of our little girls on stage under layers of makeup, competing for the "who's prettiest" honor. We need to teach our kids that life is more about what is inside your mind and heart that who looks best on the outside. Until we put our foot down as a society, anorexia will still be on the cover of vogue, our teenage girls will keep getting pregnant, and teen suicide will never stop. It's our responsibility to teach our kids how to love themselves, and showing them like AKC puppies is just not the way.

whew. sorry... long story, but these things make me so mad.

Answer 10

Little kids need to be little kids. Why put them through the pressure of practicing and being proper? For a child, It's pretty devasting to go through so much and not come out the winner.