Absolutely nauseating...Toddlers and Tiaras

[Cantw8]

I know I don't have to watch but just saw a trailer for this. It honestly makes me sick to see people do this to little babies...and yes, that's what they are. They have no business wearing make-up and hair doos and acting like grown women. I think their parents should be shot

http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/tv/toddlers-tiaras

 

[Michelle67]

I'm really turned off by children's pageants too. To me making little girls look sexy and grown up is rather sick. I think beauty pageants in general are pretty shallow and demeaning to women, but to do that to a little girl crosses a whole 'nother line to me.

I'll just go get ready for the barbecue now...

 

[Handbag Lady]

I know I don't have to watch but just saw a trailer for this. It honestly makes me sick to see people do this to little babies...and yes, that's what they are. They have no business wearing make-up and hair doos and acting like grown women. I think their parents should be shot

http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/tv/toddlers-tiaras

I'm really turned off by children's pageants too. To me making little girls look sexy and grown up is rather sick. I think beauty pageants in general are pretty shallow and demeaning to women, but to do that to a little girl crosses a whole 'nother line to me.

I'll just go get ready for the barbecue now...

I agree with you both. I even watched a bit of a show to make sure I was understanding the gist of the show. I found it sad and pathetic on the part of the parents.

 

[SandrA9810]

Most of the parents look like they're trying to live and fulfill their life through their children, no matter what the cost is.

In the higher competitions, the claws come out and the credit cards. Now in some of the local city pageants, I have seen some down to earth girls and down to earth parents. It's more of something to do, rather than about the $10,000 dress they'll probably only fit into for three months.

 

[chager]

Most of the parents look like they're trying to live and fulfill their life through their children, no matter what the cost is.

In the higher competitions, the claws come out and the credit cards. Now in some of the local city pageants, I have seen some down to earth girls and down to earth parents. It's more of something to do, rather than about the $10,000 dress they'll probably only fit into for three months.

I agree! I actually watched a couple episodes and just wanted to smack a few people. It was like watching a train wreck. I just can not imagine what monsters some of these parents are turning their kids into!
That being said, I did watch one episode where the kids actually seemed to have fun with it and the parents were not pushing them at all. It showed a dad having fun and being the pageant parent instead of the mom. It was funny watching him. Definitely NOT the norm though!

 

[Andtototoo]

It's more of something to do, rather than about the $10,000 dress they'll probably only fit into for three months.

Well, but it's a choice. If you're looking for something for your daughter to DO, how about enrolling her in dance or gymnastics or soccer or an art class or a drama program? All of those are activities that result in acquiring a skill, being active, and expanding horizons whereas pageants are all about narcissism.

 

[MM27]

Wow, now I want to watch that episode
Toddlers and Tiaras is one of those train wreck type of shows. You can't help but watch.

I'm all for girls feeling good about themselves, but some of these little girls are taught that they are the best thing in the world and when reality hits, it's going to hurt. A child should not need fake teeth, spray tans, botox or anything else to compete in a beauty pageant.

 

[bicker]

So I agree with your general sentiments about this specific thing, but probably disagree with you about comparable sentiments related to other things. So there is no practical difference between this and, say, bluegrass music (which I don't like). If we're unwilling or unable to get laws passed against it, then it isn't our place to say what is or is not "no business".

And no, I don't think people who enjoy bluegrass music should be shot.

 

[Swan4Me]

I actually caught an episode with that brunette girl-what a diva!

I might have to watch this one-for the sheer cat-fighting of the two divas!

 

[luvsJack]

I have watched a couple of shows to in hopes that my first impressions were wrong. They weren't.

I am afraid these girls are heading in one of two directions--either so self absorbed and thinking they are so beautiful that no one can live with them. And the kind of woman that thinks their beauty should get them anything they want. OR they will have no self esteem at all. They will think they only way they can be beautiful is with fake hair, fake tan, fake eyelashes and fake TEETH! (the last one really gets me becasue it just shows how far they are willing to go to change these babies into grown ups).

There was one child on the show a long time ago (or maybe it was another child's pagent show ) whose grandma insisted she compete "naturally". I think she did make-up and high dollar dresses, but no teeth, no fake tan, etc. I was very impressed with her grandmother for that. I think the child did place in the pagent.

 

[Gigi22]

Watching Toddlers and Tiaras I am constantly reminded of the old saying, "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree." The mothers are truly dreadful.
Most of the little girls would be far better off if their parents saved the money they use for pagents to pay for an education, IMO.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I know I don't have to watch but just saw a trailer for this. It honestly makes me sick to see people do this to little babies...and yes, that's what they are. They have no business wearing make-up and hair doos and acting like grown women. I think their parents should be shot

http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/tv/toddlers-tiaras

Wishing someone shot because you don't agree with what they do is a bit extreme.

While they may not parent per your accepted standards, wishing them dead isn't the way to go.

ETA: Yes, I am aware it is an expression.

 

[princessmom29]

While all of the makeup, fake hair, fake tan, fake teeth, ect definitely don't belong on children they are not my main concern with this lifestyle. My problem is what it does to these little girls psychologically. I have several family members who were heavily involved in the paegent circuit, and I have watched it turn thwm into non-functional adults. For them, thier entire worth lies in thier looks and maintaining them. It has been drilled into thier head so long that pretty wins. I don't know a singel "paegent girl" who has not been effected by this on some level. This, more than the makeup, wigs, teeth, and tans tells me that it is NOT a world I want my DD in.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

While all of the makeup, fake hair, fake tan, fake teeth, ect definitely don't belong on children they are not my main concern with this lifestyle. My problem is what it does to these little girls psychologically. I have several family members who were heavily involved in the paegent circuit, and I have watched it turn thwm into non-functional adults. For them, thier entire worth lies in thier looks and maintaining them. It has been drilled into thier head so long that pretty wins. I don't know a singel "paegent girl" who has not been effected by this on some level. This, more than the makeup, wigs, teeth, and tans tells me that it is NOT a world I want my DD in.

I only participated briefly--but yes...I was affected by it on some level so I do agree with you. And that was without all the fake stuff.

Nothing like getting 4th runner up in a pageant with only 5 girls to boost confidence. (aka LAST place)

 

[lilosurf11]

It's interesting how ideas of beauty are embodied within us at such a young age.

 

[monkeyboy]

I have only ever seen the Tom Hanks epsiode

 

[FredinFL]

I don't see a whole lot of difference with this and with Competition Cheerleaders, Competition Dancers, Competition Gymnasts.

All full of divas, momma divas, money, glitz, and being in the limelight.

 

[Minnesota!]

Watching Toddlers and Tiaras I am constantly reminded of the old saying, "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree." The mothers are truly dreadful.
Most of the little girls would be far better off if their parents saved the money they use for pagents to pay for an education, IMO.

The thing I find weird is that these people are all from the south. Are pageants only big in the south? I know they aren't big around here, but I would have thought that they were big on the coasts, etc.

It's very very sad...

 

[princessmom29]

I don't see a whole lot of difference with this and with Competition Cheerleaders, Competition Dancers, Competition Gymnasts.

All full of divas, momma divas, money, glitz, and being in the limelight.

I have been involved in both on some level so I can give you the key differences.
1. Pagents are all based on the looks only. If you are not pretty, you will never do well no matter how hard you work. Competition dance and cheer are not about looking pretty but about developing a soprt or and art from to the best of your ability. Pretty doesn't even factor in. The costumes are just that, costumes. A gilr's individual beauty or lack thereof is unimportant. Same with gymnasts. They don't need to be pretty to score well. They need to train hard. You are scored on how well you perfrom the dance, cheer, or routine, not what you look like. Costumes and makeup are just tools that help persent a routine in its best possible light.

2. The girls are part of a team in competition cheer, dance, and even gymnasticts. In a pagent, it is all about YOU. Dancers, cheeleadsers, and gymnasts have to work together and all of the girls have to be commited to the sport and to each other for it to work.

3. You are right, there are diva moms in all of these sports, but there are diva parents everywhere children compete. Have you ever been to a little league game where one of the teams is really seriuos about winning and the dads are yelling and screaming? How about a travel soccer or softball team? "girly" sports don't corner the market on obnoxious parents.

 

[brookmey]

I can't remember if it was this show or another pageant show I watched once, but there were 2 sisters competing in the same pageant. One was definitely comfortable on the stage and had a lot of charisma, while the other looked awkward and forced. The mom kept talking about how it was great for the sisters' relationship to do this together and how much they enjoyed doing pageants together, how supportive they were of one another, etc.

The sister with the charisma either won or placed, again I can't remember, while the other sister got nothing. You could see how disappointed she was and the mom was.

What bothered me so much was the competition between the sisters. Competition between sisters is natural, but the pageant just seemed to feed that even more, which is not a good thing. I would not be surprised if one grew up feeling entitled and superior and the other grew up with resentment, jealousy and feelings of being less than. I can't see how this type of competition could better their relationship.

The pageants are blatantly putting it in the sisters' faces that the awkward one is not as good as, talented as or pretty as her sister. It's throwing their relationship off balance and not creating an even playing field for the sisters. It made me very sad for the awkward sister.