Blog #2: Children Beauty Pageants

Is it just me? Or do you think that child beauty pageant contestants look like some sort of middle aged drag queen? Alright, that's a little harsh, but kids aren't supposed to look like that!
I really wish I could have a conversation with the mother's of these girls. In one article I found, one woman was hiding the bills from her husband because she bought a dress for her daughter that was almost $1,000. Half of the time, these kids don't look happy either. I think its just too much. Child beauty pageants are from ages 0-18. AGE 0. That means babies. In a beauty pageant. When they're babies. They should be worrying about where their soother is, not how they're going to place in a beauty pageant.


We've all seen it. Whether it is on TLC, or in Little Miss Sunshine we've all had some kind of exposure to child beauty pageants. We've seen 5 year olds wearing more make up than a 16 year old would; we've seen more money being put into one's hair and appearance than something more important. Has it gone too far? Is it too early for little girls who should be in, like, gr. 1 to be wearing bikini's and have their hair teased and wear a faceful of make up? I think so.


Toddlers and Tiaras is a reality show on TLC that follows around child beauty pageant contestants and documents them and their families as they prepare for their pageant shows. The show goes without narration to avoid passing judgement. The viewers will do that all on their own.

Some of the contestants are two years old. TWO YEARS OLD. They shouldn't even be in school when they're two!

Half the time, I think the parents are doing this for themselves.

I don't believe in child beauty pageants. I think that it is unhealthy to promote such a thing like superficial beauty so early on in life. Basically, pageants introduce competition and dissapointment too early in life. One of my biggest issues with these pageants is the effects they have on the contestants and the girls watching them. Do you think they are being pressured into looking that good (*cough*fake*cough*) and think they should do that to make their parents proud of them? Will they feel ugly compared to the young girls in the pageants? Will they start to wear make-up at a younger age?

Pageants (of all ages) are basically a construction of the individual, either by her mother, or beauty coach. Although, everyone will interpret child beauty pageants in different ways. People may think that child beauty pageants are good, and that they could teach the young girls self-confidence. Or, as I mentioned before, others might believe that they are show young girls competition and disappointment too early in life.

Basically, my point is that I disagree with the idea of child beauty pageants. Sometimes, I think the parents are doing this for themselves rather than their daughter.