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Toddlers, Children and Beauty Pageants

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What Does It Mean When Little Girls Are Sexy?

When I was in the 5th grade I was in a fashion show. They put me in a 'straight' skirt, which meant that there were no pleats or gathers, but just a fitted skirt that showed what budding figure I had. I wore it to one show, I was one of many models from 3 to 65 years old. I am told that when I walked the run way, my father said, "Too tight; to soon". Everyone laughed. They thought I was cute, they knew what he was talking about and that was the end of it.

I remember that skirt, it was fun. I remember wanting to be grown up and dressing in some of Mom's things. I remember that my friends and I did a reinactment of the movie, The Giant Claw. As the best actress, I was chosen to play the last human on earth and had to fight the Claw.

I really loved that kind of thing. I also loved being in the dance recitals that my dance class did, but I didn't much care for going to class or practicing. I also liked riding my bike and pretending that it was the horse, 'Fury'. There were just so many things to do.

But when I watched the Miss America Pageant, dreaming that some day I would be Miss America, it never occurred to me to want to do it when I was 5 or 10. Heck, even when I found out about the Miss Teenage America, and still thought about the real thing, I wasn't interested. I don't think any of my friends would have either. I know their parents wouldn't have allowed it anyway.

What Is The Difference Between Six Year Old Girls and Vegas Show Girls?

Jon Benet Ramsey bought the nation's attention to a subculture in which little girls become miniature Vegas Show girls. This lens is not about her, or her grisly death. It isn't about the incessant speculation about who killed her. Its about the culture in which that little girl lived.

Returning to 'the good old days' basically babies were entered into beautiful baby contests where the winners got professional portraits and none of the babies really cared who won. Then, except for a random fashion show, the next step might be trying to get Home Coming Queen, or for the sponsored, entering one of thousands of local pageant leading to Miss America or USA. Lots of tears and hurt feelings, but the girls are now 17 or older.

But, from the Jon Benet case, we learned that there are thousands of little girls who, from as early as two years, are made up dressed up in feathers and plumes, with heavy makeup and big, no huge hair and taught to wiggle their 'money makers' for the audience while singing songs that we hope they don't understand. They do this for audiences many times a year. There are always winners and losers and lots and lots of tears. In between those events there is dieting and practice an fittings and numerous other 'activities'.

While the Ramseys showed that there are affluent families do get involved in this, there are also working class families that go into hock over this. Those racks of sequined gowns and bikinis, lessons and entrance fees aren't cheap. Driving miles to pageants all over the state and further is also costly, not to mention the time for Mom and child (boys are now doing this also) away from home and the rest of the family. Unless, of course, the other children are brought along.

I have seen parents interviewed about this. They always insist that the kids want to do it. Some will even say that it was the child's idea. I have never seen anyone say that they push the kid or that they are living vicariously through the child. Never.

Now, we don't know who killed Jon Benet Ramsey, so we can't blame the pageants for it. But I don't believe that there aren't any pedaphiles in those audiences. None of them may have hurt anyone, but it is creepy.

I think the whole thing is creepy, at best. What do you think?

Sad Faces and Fake Smiles: So Early in Life

Child Beauty Pageants- Sad Faces and Fake Smiles: by lostchild06 | video info

1,532 ratings | 716,193 views

curated content from YouTube

What Do You Think of Child Beauty Pageants?

I Think They Are Soft Core Kiddy Porn

If you think my statements are too drastic, just post what you think. Surely you have some opinion about this.

Do Child Beauty Pageants Help Children or Hurt Them?

They Teach Girls and Boys Poor Values and Sexualize Them Too Early

NaturalVamp says:

Athough I believe in training and self-discipline at a young age. I do not believe that children should be judged on their physical beauty. Children should learn about inner beauty and sadly, that is not what these pageants are about. This is my opinion dahling.

Tipi says:

Children just should not be sexualized.

June says:

ANY ONE THAT SAYS BAD THINGS LIKE THAT ARE PERVERTS!!!!!! I'm sorry to be like this, but I must say I understand a little what you are saying to which you are coming from a perverts view like those people who do all those hurtful nasty things with children. They really teach the kids some times is that there everything to this world, You know what pageants have more cons then pros. Plus sometimes it seems to be that the mother seems like she's having more fun then the kid. Can someone answer me this does any body really know who is walking in, or out of the pageants just wondering. Most likely yes, but I had to ask. I don't necessarily think that way. I think how cute, and there going to be so pretty when they grow up. They sometimes have their future laid out for them, but like I said there is so many more cons then pros to child beauty pageants. I just wish sometimes that people saw that they were beautiful just because they are.

Jimmie says:

These pageants are about the parents not the kids at all. They seem just a step above a dog show.

JoanneOtt says:

I'm strongly against them.

They Teach Kid's Discipline and How to Compete While Having Fun

OhMe says:

I just don't care for them at all but know that a lot of people do and I can respect that

7Suze7 says:

Well, they do stay out of trouble, but there are probably better ways.

view all 18 comments

Little Miss Sunshine

Little Miss Sunshine is a nice little independent movie that received awards and high critical praise. It was one of those sleepers that made it big.

The story is about a quirky and dysfunctional family that makes a long trip in a broken down van because the little girl has her heart set on entering the Little Miss Sunshine pageant.

The story is mostly about the family, the trip and what they encounter along the way.

But we learn again about what these pageants really are. This cute little girl, entering this contest was like a Girl Scout swimmer entering a tank with hungry sharks. Our heroine, the healthiest of her family, was crushed, but eventually gained from the experience. But watching this, we know that most girls are just eaten alive. Perhaps the winners are the ones that are the most damaged.

Little Miss Sunshine

Amazon Price: $5.45 (as of 05/30/2012)

This is a heart warming story about a crazy family and an eye opening about the world of children's pageant.

Child Beauty Pageants on Twitter

Toddlers in Tiaras

Reality TV, never a medium to take the high road, has a show on children's pageants. I admit I have never seen it. And I won't.

So What Do You Think of All This?

Reply

NaturalVamp Nov 4, 2011 @ 2:06 am | delete

All children are beautiful dahling. How can anyone judge them on this?!

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sousababy Sep 28, 2011 @ 7:23 pm | delete

Came back to google +1 this gem and add it to 'Living Articles on Squidoo.'

Reply

Tipi Aug 1, 2011 @ 8:36 pm | delete

I just don't understand the mindset behind the pageant scene, shaking my head, just not understanding.

Reply

Sylvestermouse Jul 2, 2011 @ 12:52 pm | delete

All children like to play dress up and play in their mother's makeup, for us that was just lipstick :) I don't personally like the pageant world. I believe each person is beautiful and I don't like choosing one person's beauty over another.

Reply

vallain Apr 7, 2011 @ 8:39 am | delete

I vote for scouting and 4-H and other all-around activities for children to get involved in. In 4-H, I learned lots of skills that have proven useful though out my life and gained confidence in my ability to do things.
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