what do you think of beauty pageants for children?

Answer 1

I think they'd all be better off climbing trees and picking their noses.

Answer 2

Im a child pageant girl...now 14..I have had a completely normal life and am very happy...I have addressed this question many times here on YA...pageants for kids are a HOBBY just like soccer, and gymnastics. Kids dont spend the whole time done up..they do climb trees, pick their noses, and play in the mud...for a few hours they dress up and have a great time. Its a competition..a sport..I have seen a few "Pageant Monsters" in my days but luckily those are few and far between..what I do see are moms and daughters doing things together and having fun..

Answer 3

I was in them from the time that I was 5 until I was 15 and I liked them. I only one 1 time and I placed 4 times, but I only did the local pageants where I live, which was basically only the 4th of July Pageant. It's up to the parent whether they want to put their child in one or not.

Answer 4

I think they're ridiculous. Why would anyone want to paint their 5 or 6 year old daughter up like some common street hooker and parade them around in front of a bunch of lecherous old men judges and other moms who will scoff at them and turn up their noses because they want their OWN daughters to win? Kids need to be kids--they need to concentrate on their school work and having FUN. Save the beauty pageant b.s. for when they're older, and they can decide for themselves if they want to enter pageants or model.

Answer 5

I grew up with two girls that were pageant fans. They were my best friends. Both of them turned out completely abnormal. They can't hold down a decent relationship. They both have been through divorces, they both have children they have given to their parents.
I am not saying that this always happens, but my experience shows that pageants breed self-centered, shallow, vain, egotistical people. These girls had it all money, looks, etc.. and I think the pageants were a big part of ruining their life.

Answer 6

they're awful, they violate everything I stand for.

I understand why a child would want to participate. It's the message every disney princess movie sends: to be loved, you must also be beautiful. That's your job as a woman. But when little girls compete against eachother for the MOST beautiful, the winner winds up with a false sense of her own value, and it will STICK, and the loosers end up with an insecurity about why they "didn't measure up" and why they weren't good enough. It's a strong message that they're going to get pounded into their heads anyway, why start so young? Why reinforce it? Why not spend individual time getting dance classes or getting enrolled in a swimming team or taking voice lessons instead? Something ELSE to boost self confidence and awareness of talent without all that unhealthy focus on appearance?

Little girls are starting to develop body dismorphia earlier and earlier, and this is part of the problem. When you try to emphasize a waistline and hips on girls who are too young to develop them, when you try to paint on make-up for children who are too young to understand it's purpose, then you create children who think they're not naturally beautiful, and will spend hey're lives seeking unhealthy ways to alter their looks.

As an adult and a late teenager, I like to dress up, wear make-up, etc. But as a child, I'm glad my mother banned the beauty pageants even though I fought her on it. I had enough problems with my self esteem as a young performer through all my school years.

Answer 7

A little creepy. They dress these little kids up to look like adults....and I bet these people will say that they want their children to stay as children for as long as possible....is a little weird. Leave the pageants to the grown ups.

Answer 8

I completely disagree with child beauty pageants. They are ridiculous. It instills in the children that looks are what's important, instead of character. Let kids be kids while they have the chance.

Answer 9

I think it's pointless and disgusting. Children don't need to be taught that one person is prettier than another. They don't need people telling them if you're pretty, you can get anything you want. And, the amount of makeup they put on the kids is just horrible. Why do you think rapists are targeting younger children?
1 - they're easy to steal
2- they're more attractive now that they dress and act like adults with all that makeup.

Answer 10

Children, that is under the age of 16 should not be permitted to dress in such an adult way, and makeup should not be allowed at all until the 'child' reaches an age when they know why they use it, or do they need it at all?
You see children dressed in ways that is so not right, where are the parent's morals - this is the worry!!!
Parents should set examples, not encourage their children to dress and act like tarts basically!!!!
As far as I am aware beauty pageants for children are not encouraged in the UK but they are in America, children should be treated as that - not like 'little adults'. It's such a shame!!!!

Answer 11

Creepy. They dress them up like grown women and it's scary. My daughter is beautiful and many people have told me to put her in modeling and pageants but I will NOT. Not until she's old enough to decide that for herself.