How do you feel about little girls being in beauty pageants?

Question

My daughter received an invite to be in the state miss pageant. I'm not sure how I feel about it. I don't like the idea of pitting girls against each other in a competition to see who is the most beautiful. Especially when I try to teach my daughters that what is inside is so much more important than appearance. Ok i guess I do know how i feel about it..... but what you guys think?

my daughter doesn't care one way or the other....she said she already knows she'd win....major self-esteem issues...lol. She'll be 10 in August.

Answer 1

This is so controversial... some people say that these pagents help give a child confidence, while others say it breaks it down. Sounds as if yours has the confidence part already- so I wouldn't worry about that! : ) I agree... our country is so focused on what is on the outside, why stress it when a child is even younger? She'll start second guessing herself as she approaches the teen years anyway! There are a variety of contests out there, and the ones that stress the "natural child" are better... if your child has to get contact lenses, have her teeth whitened, wear makeup and a dress that costs more than a small car- it's the wrong kind of "pagent". If she really has an interest in trying it, I'd let her. You won't truly know about the pagent business unless you give it a chance, and then you'll have the experience to draw on when deciding if this is truly something your family wants to participate in. Some of these pagents have quite costly entrance fees, and require days beforehand to practice routines, etc. Some also require that if your child is chosen as the winner, that you commit to entering your child in the next level beyond that. Research the pagent you are thinking about entering by checking out websites, talking to other participating families, and contacting the Better Business Bureau (to check and see if it is a legitimate "pagent"). There have been scams where a person "runs" a pagent, only to run off with the exorbanant entrance fees. But, if after you do some research, you decide you want to try it, go ahead. It may turn out to be a fun one-time event, or you may decide it just wasn't the kind of experience or had the kind of focus you want for your daughter. Personally, the only time one of my daughters has been in a "pagent" was the local mall's baby one they had (where everyone got a ribbon). It was very informal, the babies weren't prepped up or pitted against one another and there wasn't the focus on ONE winner. It can be hard to combat peer pressure and the need to be perfect that our children are inundated with on a daily basis, so I agree that you need to keep it all in perspective when thinking about "beauty pagents" (whether they call them that or "scholarship pagents", it is really all focused on the outer person). You are right in wanting to keep the focus on the inner person. This could be an experience that helps you to illustrate that point to her in a concrete way.... I guess you won't know unless you give it a try.

Answer 2

If your daughter doesn't care one way or the other, I would say don't do it. If she was really pushing to do it, she's old enough to understand the process, so I think it would be ok. I think competition is good in general, since life is a competition-what college can you get into, what job can you get, etc., but I'm not really a fan of beauty pageants. After all, we all know we have the most beautiful children ever!

Answer 3

Personally i feel that child beauty pageants are the same as prostituting a child. I believe that it teaches them that looks are the only things that matter and that you can use them to get ahead in life. I put my daughter into a baby pageant when she was only 3 months old and i was disgusted at the way some of these pageant moms where fussing over their babies appearance. That's just my opinion, take it or leave it.

Answer 4

I think as long as she's in the pageant for the right reasons I don't see any harm in it. You just have to make sure this is something that she wants to do for fun, sorta like a sport, keep her a CHILD, (watch the dresses and the make-up) make sure she can withstand the disappointment if she doesn't win and I don't see any harm in it. It becomes a problem when mom is living through there child at these pageants.

Answer 5

Personally I AGREE with you... Aren't we supposed to teach our children equality and all of that... Yes i want my daughter to know she is beautiful, but i don't want her thinking that it is her only good quality... I want her to know i think she's smart and funny and well i really don't know her other personality traits yet LOL she's 2 months old.. I'm sure she'lll be everything to me... Congrats on her Invite, but I would turn it down... What's on the inside should be more important... If more mothers thought like this we would have a much better society... There is nothing wrong with being beautiful... but be Kind and compasionate and smart and all of those things too...

Answer 6

I think they are not healthy, especially at a young age. I feel it is way too easy for the girls to misunderstand what the focus is supposed to be about. I also don't believe it is healthy to always compare (or compete) in that way. If it isn't a big deal to her then don't put her in it...if it was a big deal to her I would have to find out why it means so much.

Answer 7

I think it depends on the pageant. Some are interested in a child's looks, while others are truly interested in the whole package: brains, talent, service, etc.

It is more important whether your child wants to do it or not - she should be the one making the decision.

Answer 8

Life is an 'effing beauty contest itself.

Girls should not be put agiast each other to show themselves off. You are completely right, it's the inside. Normally the girls wo have a perfect outside have a shrill, dried up, burning inside. But the girls who arn't perfect on the outside who are happy with themselves has the purest inside.}

I am agaist buity contests. I was watching a show eariler calling the ugly pagent, but it was for dogs. Isn't that so sick?

Answer 9

Although i think those little girls are cute, i personally don't agree with the whole little girl pageant. but add more details like how does your daughter feel about it and .... how old is she? those details make a significant difference in answers

Answer 10

I have mixed feelings. It's almost as if you're telling your little girl to always be concious of what she looks like, and to put on a happy face and tell the camera, judges, and audience things that they could care less about, and things that they don't mean. Sure, the little girl may want "world peace", but how much does she really care about it?