Toddlers & Tiaras - What the heck?

[EMom]

I rarely watch the show, but the title (Trezured Dollz) more than grabbed my attention.

I told DH that it was ironic that the mom with what looked to me to be the nicest house also seemed to be the most frugal and budget conscious. Of course, that may very well be why she's in the nicest house. But her family sure as heck did a whole lot of luxuriating...in one form or another.

One thing is for certain. Not one of those pageant moms is a math whiz.

 

[allison443]

I watch this show too, and as a mom of a 7yr old dd I don't think it is something I would do (but when my dd sees it on tv she begs to do one ). Anyway, my point is that most activities that parents put children in cost way more than any "prizes" they will get from winning. My dd is an all star competition cheerleader. Her team practices 12 mos per year at $200 per 2mos, they travel to 6 competitions per year and each one cost btwn $200-$500. If they win they get a tee shirt, trophy and banner for the gym. That is it. We have her in it because she has fun, it gives her confidence and keeps her active and fit. I would venture to guess (or at least hope) that those are the same reasons that motivate the pagent moms. Although from watching that show I'm not really sure of that

Like you, I have had kids in activities that cost! A difference I see is that with activities like cheering, soccer, basketball, etc. kids can have certain goals to practice and work toward. Like a certain tumbling or stunt, speed, footwork for soccer, etc. What are the pageant kids working for-how to be pretty and have the nicest dress? I prefer my kids be in competitions that have judging standards like a score, goals, certain stunts, etc. Yes there can be some subjectivity in something like cheering but not to the extent of pageants.
If kids don't win a game, they know the other team was faster, scored more points, etc. If kids don't win the pageant it's because they aren't pretty enough? That is not a message I would want to send to my dds.
JMO.

 

[C.Ann]

Sorry I never got back to this thread last night.. I ended up going to bed after I watched the news..

Anyhow - I've stated before how I feel about these pageants (don't approve of them at all) - but it really ticked me off that this director skipped out on the kids like that.. Did anyone see that one point where she was giving an interview (prior to skipping out) where she said, "These (you-know-what) parents drive me crazy.."? Right then and there I thought to myself, "This woman is a scam artist.."

When you think about it though, could it be possible for just about anyone to pull a scam like this? Do you have to be licensed to run a pageant? If not, anyone could claim they were holding a pageant and the parents would just come flocking in with their kids..

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

C. Ann,

I'm not aware of any "licensing" req per se. Essentially any Tom, Fred or Harry could host a pageant. That's where reputation comes into play. Not that it is any consolation to the kids, but these moms will never enter a pageant directed by this woman again.

I don't condone her actions. But from a legal perspective, it seemed she scammed only the winners whom were to get a cash prize. At least that is how it seemed to be edited. The one girl ( the blonde) was holding a DS still in the box and for one group, there was a boxed "Barbie jeep"blind of vehicle.

The only scam that I witnessed was the lack of a cash prize and it seems only the Supreme aka overall winners were to get those.

Another thing that caught my ear...and maybe I misheard...

It was this director's first pageant. She mentioned that girls could go on to the "national pageant"....but she "created" this pageant. I was a bit confused.

IME...I do know that national pageants will offer local/state level pageants...and seek out directors, no experience necessary. So maybe that is what that woman did? Or maybe she was just talking out of her butt the whole time.

Oh...and after all of that...in remembered another thing. The one mom said they didn't do any other awards like best in category for the 3 different outfits, best picture, etc...

At the end of the show, they put up a graphic that noone could get a hold of the director and that after 3 months, the blonde still didn't have her cash prize. I'm guessing those interviews with the director took place at the
pageant.

 

[C.Ann]

C. Ann,

I'm not aware of any "licensing" req per se. Essentially any Tom, Fred or Harry could host a pageant. That's where reputation comes into play. Not that it is any consolation to the kids, but these moms will never enter a pageant directed by this woman again.

I don't condone her actions. But from a legal perspective, it seemed she scammed only the winners whom were to get a cash prize. At least that is how it seemed to be edited. The one girl ( the blonde) was holding a DS still in the box and for one group, there was a boxed "Barbie jeep"blind of vehicle.

The only scam that I witnessed was the lack of a cash prize and it seems only the Supreme aka overall winners were to get those.

Another thing that caught my ear...and maybe I misheard...

It was this director's first pageant. She mentioned that girls could go on to the "national pageant"....but she "created" this pageant. I was a bit confused.

IME...I do know that national pageants will offer local/state level pageants...and seek out directors, no experience necessary. So maybe that is what that woman did? Or maybe she was just talking out of her butt the whole time.

Oh...and after all of that...in remembered another thing. The one mom said they didn't do any other awards like best in category for the 3 different outfits, best picture, etc...

At the end of the show, they put up a graphic that noone could get a hold of the director and that after 3 months, the blonde still didn't have her cash prize. I'm guessing those interviews with the director took place at the
pageant.

I believe that somewhere along the line it was stated (or maybe written up on the screen?) that she had "stiffed" the hotel as well..

At this point I'd be wondering about the "toys" that were given out.. For all we know, there were "hot".. LOL..

If there isn't any licensing necessary, that's something that should be corrected.. Can you imagine a bunch of crooks stumbling across this show last night and thinking, "Hey - there's a quick way to grab fifteen grand and run!" (At one point it was mentioned that she had pulled in 15 to 20 grand in registration fees and such - which she also took with her when she disappeared..)

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I believe that somewhere along the line it was stated (or maybe written up on the screen?) that she had "stiffed" the hotel as well..

At this point I'd be wondering about the "toys" that were given out.. For all we know, there were "hot".. LOL..

If there isn't any licensing necessary, that's something that should be corrected.. Can you imagine a bunch of crooks stumbling across this show last night and thinking, "Hey - there's a quick way to grab fifteen grand and run!" (At one point it was mentioned that she had pulled in 15 to 20 grand in registration fees and such - which she also took with her when she disappeared..)

At a minimum, maybe a business license? There's lots of little festivals that have their Watermelon Queen or Miss Sweet 'Tater. They charge their $25.

As for the 20k...due to editing, no real way to determine how many contestants there were. Also, the comment came from a mom. But the number is quite feasible.

I almost wonder if the director was inspired by this show to create this pageant. I've been in some craptastic pageants in my youth....but never anything that was a hot mess like this.

The kids and parents and all th glitz faux-cessories...I thought they gave pageants a bad name. Then they air this scum director.

I'm surprised they didn't follow up with the hotel to see if she stiffed the balance if that bill.

 

[loxie]

You do need a business license to direct a pageant unless its nonprofit, but most are not & you need the proper forms to prove it is. You also need to register the pageant name with the state you live in.

 

[Mrs. Darcy]

The man who runs the Little Miss Perfect pageant is a former Disney performer. You can kind of tell, with all his flamboyant cheerful animated body language and way of speaking about dreams coming true. I love that show.

Does anyone remember Mr. Tim the MC from some of those other pageants on tv? He used to sings songs like "when will our eyes meet, when can I touch you, when will this strong yearning end..." from the old Barry Manilow song. Creepy, even though I didn't get the impression he was a pedophile, just a guy trying to sell CDs. lol

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

The man who runs the Little Miss Perfect pageant is a former Disney performer. You can kind of tell, with all his flamboyant cheerful animated body language and way of speaking about dreams coming true. I love that show.

Does anyone remember Mr. Tim the MC from some of those other pageants on tv? He used to sings songs like "when will our eyes meet, when can I touch you, when will this strong yearning end..." from the old Barry Manilow song. Creepy, even though I didn't get the impression he was a pedophile, just a guy trying to sell CDs. lol

He was?????
I hope he wasn't a singer. I could see him as a dancer or dancing lip sync performer.

I have let my girls watch that show...I feel even with he glitz...that whole circuit is just very different. The contestants don't seem like pop tarts on parade. My girls asked about doing one of his pageants. I wouldn't do it, but did look it up and his concept puzzles me. You audition to be in his pageant. Ummmm....no. I'm glad though that a child can win as a natural look or glitz without a flipper. I was happy when a girl missing her front teeth one.

As far as his talent...we cringe every time he sang that song. Either he is way out of practice or he stinks at singing.

 

[Aristomommy]

The man who runs the Little Miss Perfect pageant is a former Disney performer. You can kind of tell, with all his flamboyant cheerful animated body language and way of speaking about dreams coming true. I love that show.

Does anyone remember Mr. Tim the MC from some of those other pageants on tv? He used to sings songs like "when will our eyes meet, when can I touch you, when will this strong yearning end..." from the old Barry Manilow song. Creepy, even though I didn't get the impression he was a pedophile, just a guy trying to sell CDs. lol

That Little Miss Perfect guy is sooo creepy. I think he likes to hear himself sing the "magic color rainbows" song at each pageant....

 

[Aristomommy]

"I luxuriated across the stage."

The fact that the mom was saying that to the child was the funniest part of it. This has become a joke btw. DD and I. Pageant shows are our guilty pleasure and every once in a while DD will "luxuriate" across our living room