Children's beauty Pageants - sick or acceptable?

Question

I have just seen a documentary about children's beauty pageants in the US. These girls are so very young, none older than 8 or 9. They wear bikini's and they are told to flirt. They ahve a full face of makeup, fake tans and even fake teeth, they are unrecognisable as kids, they look as though they have 25 year old heads on a child's body. It is clear in many cases that the mothers are forcing them to do this, personally I feel as though they are being taught to hide every imperfection which will give them condifence issues when they are older. It's like a freak show!!! I would NEVER let my daughter take part in something like this? How do others feel?

Katrina G - I agree that a contest for kids with no makeup and wearing normal clothes in quite sweet, like they do on holiday camps in th UK etc..

These poor girls do not even resemble kids, to be honest they look frightening with their big plastic white teeth and false eyelashes - what the hell is the world coming to?

TX Beauty Queen, I never mentioned JonBenet or any connection.

TXbeauty and Mum, thanks for your honest answers, It's good to hear opinions from both sides of the fence. The main point I was trying to make was the very young girls who are made to look like adults, wearing so much makeup that you don;t even recognise them when they take it off. The documentary I saw showed the mothers being really pushy and forcing their daughters to grow up way before their time. I'm glad you have had such a positive experience, well done on your achievements so far and good luck with the future.

Answer 1

I think child modelling is ok, but the American pageants are sick. I would never make my daughter wear revealing clothes, fake tan, and more slap than I do.
I think it looks vile, and the parents who make these kids do this are the type of people who have nothing going for themselves.
I feel sorry for thos kids, the same way I feel sorry for the kids whose parents force them into competing in sports competitions too. Some of these kids work harder than we do, and still have to go to school, but have no time for a childhood. ;-)

Answer 2

I think my daughter, TxBeautyQueen was referring to some of the answers in bringing up Jon Benet. Kudos to you for NOT bringing it up. Obviously my daughter competes in pageants and has since she was very small. She did take a break from pageants when she was 4 and did not compete again until she was 12. The first time she competed as a Pre-Teen she did not win or even place in the top ten. She did not give up and watched the video of the pageant. She focused on what the winners did during formal wear, modeling etc and used that as a model. That year she went on to compete in 16 different pageants, winning 13 and getting 1st runner up in 3. Pageantry has taught her skills of life that she would not have learned until much later. When she has a job interview it will be so easy for her because she is used to being interviewed by judges, tv crews and radio shows. She is a very articulate and wonderful young lady. I have watched her self-esteem blossom over the past two years. She loves to be on stage and thrives on competition. I understand your question is adressing the 8-9 yr old contestants and I must say most of these girls and boys, love to be on stage. Many of them are also involved in acting and it's just another avenue for them to express themselves. Dont get me wrong though..I know its not all smiles and roses....I have seen "stage moms" that I would love to shake senseless. These are the moms that make little susie feel she is not pretty enough without covering every freckle on her face with concealer. This is damaging to a child and teaches them that appearance is the only thing they have going for them and even that needs lots of make up to perfect. I can say that thank goodness I dont see many of these..More often I see the moms who cry watching their daughters perform talent because they are so proud of them for just getting on the stage, and when she makes a mistake the mom/dad is the first one to tell her it was perfect. My daughter is also very involved and by all means pageants are not the only thing in her life...she is a cheerleader, plays volleyballl, runs track and loves to talk to boys on the phone! She is a normal teenager who once a month plays dress up..sometimes wins (money, scholarships etc) and sometimes doesnt and its ok either way! :)

Answer 3

Yes, I agree. Every mum thinks their child is beautiful and that's normal and healthy. But to parade them on stage like celebrities do when they stick a miniature dog in their handbag is just sick. I can't remember the little girls name, something like Jon-Bennet (sorry if that's totally wrong), do you remember her being taken from her bed and murdered? Sicko's will take any child but I'm sure she was targeted because of how she was made to look like an adult.
It's so wrong. As a mum, I want my little girl to BE a little girl. She will have enough pressure when she's a teenager that I feel as a mum, it's my duty to protect her and see that she has an innocent childhood.

Answer 4

Well in this day and age obviously 'sick' - how are adults supposed to be reacting to these under-under aged Lolitas? Same as some kids clothing I saw on holiday, a seven or eight year old in a pair of shorts which had 'gorgeous' emblazoned across her ****. What are we suppose to make of that? Here in the UK I'm not sure we have these types of beauty pageants.

Answer 5

My daughter wanted to enter the little miss Dyer county pageant, because her friend was entering and she thought it was fun. I was about to enter her but I did some research 1st. When I thought about my daughter with so much make-up on her face that she looked like Jon-Benet Ramsey, and remembering something I read about a few of the guys in the audience are pedophiles, I had to say no. It's too bad the pedos have ruined it for the kids who enjoy pageants, but lets face it, they have.

Answer 6

I find the US style pageants totally disturbing! The kids look like miniature Barbie Dolls! Remember Jon Benet? Well, I have two boys ,so no chance!!!I prefer UK "cute Kids" photo competitions and pageants run by local newspapers and holiday camps!

Answer 7

Very sick. How can those parents do this to their kids and give them the education that beauty is the most important thing in the world?
I think those mothers have serious insecurities.
Britney's mom must have been extremely insecure.

Answer 8

I hate them too. Surely parents can see that some of the kids don't even enjoy doing it. They are made to look "tarty", not natural. They look like freaks. Like you, I would never let a child of mine take part in such a contest.

Answer 9

What about children acting in a horror film?? For these kids, those few moments of being on stage, in make up is a very small percentage of what they do w/ their life. I competed as a young child (because I wanted to~my mom actually discouraged it) To these kids those stage moments are like acting..when you see them behind stage or at the parties, they are playing chase and being kids. Most of these kids enjoy the competitions so much and would not want to stop. I dont feel that Jon Benets death had anything to do w/ her being in pageants..if that were the case, we would have dead pageant girls all over the country especially in the south!! Children are stolen and murdered every day..its a horrible thing..I am so sick of it being connected to her pageant competitions. As a teen contestant I have won thousands in scholarships, cash awards and expensive crowns. I have also made friends all over the country, met celebrities and have done numerous tv and radio interviews...you really should not criticize something you really know nothing about...educate yourselves..

Answer 10

It`s disgusting, i`ve said this on many occasions. Why do people want to do this to their children. Let them be kids for gods sake!!!!
I think that it`s maybe the parents want the limelight and the only way they can get it through their children, feeds some sort of sick longing they have