When Are Child Beauty Pageants Wrong?

[evnted]

Interesting debate.
Personally I think (although some judges get me raising my eyebrow) they can be good when the kid enjoys them. I don't agree with spending $10k on a pageant with a max prize of $5k but hey, if they have the money to waste let them. When it gets wrong, for me, is when the parent is living through their kid and forcing them to be in the pageant.
Thoughts?
EDIT:Sorry for clarification issues, I posted that late at night. Speaking for a majority, pageants like the ones on that show are wrong, the ones where they get fake tans and wigs. I meant to refer to normal, natural ones that include overspending on outfits/travel/etc. Sorry about that, not really a debate if it was those weird ones...glitz are they called?
(From post 25)

 

[smitch425]

Interesting debate.
Personally I think (although some judges get me raising my eyebrow) they can be good when the kid enjoys them. I don't agree with spending $10k on a pageant with a max prize of $5k but hey, if they have the money to waste let them. When it gets wrong, for me, is when the parent is living through their kid and forcing them to be in the pageant.
Thoughts?

Personally, I think if a kid can't win a pageant on their own God-given looks, then they should accept the loss. I can't stand these shows where the kids get a spray tan, fake hair and false teeth. Their parents might as well come right out and say, "Sorry baby, you're too ugly to win a beauty pageant the way you look at home. Here let me "fix" you." Pathetic.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

Personally, I think if a kid can't win a pageant on their own God-given looks, then they should accept the loss. I can't stand these shows where the kids get a spray tan, fake hair and false teeth. Their parents might as well come right out and say, "Sorry baby, you're too ugly to win a beauty pageant the way you look at home. Here let me "fix" you." Pathetic.

I agree. Some of those parents are crazy!

 

[epcot.girl]

IMO, always wrong.

 

[Mokat76]

IMO, always wrong.

Agree!!

 

[aprilgail2]

IMO, always wrong.

I can't stand seeing these little girls dressed up and with enough make-up on to look like 2 cent hookers- the parents should have their head examined for putting their little girls into these things!

The time I saw one of those shows on TV and the mother told the little girl who was about 5 years old to "flirt with the judges" when she was onstage--it made my skin crawl.

 

[Buckalew11]

When are they ever right?

I can't stand seeing these little girls dressed up and with enough make-up on to look like 2 cent hookers- the parents should have their head examined for putting their little girls into these things!

The time I saw one of those shows on TV and the mother told the little girl who was about 5 years old to "flirt with the judges" when she was onstage--it made my skin crawl.

 

[LittleMissMagic]

I don't think it's a good idea to put such an emphasis on physical beauty. Young girls need to be taught that true beauty comes from within. Not to mention, as someone who competed in teen pageants, almost nothing that they are teaching those girls carries on to teen or misses (stick arms when walking, fake teeth, etc.) - they actually want a somewhat natural look for misses. I also laughed when one mother said that her daughter's goal was to be Miss America. If that's really her dream, the best thing she can do to prepare is quit spending money on useless baby pageants and start working on a real talent... preferably not dancing. There are too many talented dancers in pageants, and it's easy to pick out the girls who just learned one routine so they could do a pageant. Technique is everything!

 

[DebbieB]

Personally, I think if a kid can't win a pageant on their own God-given looks, then they should accept the loss. I can't stand these shows where the kids get a spray tan, fake hair and false teeth. Their parents might as well come right out and say, "Sorry baby, you're too ugly to win a beauty pageant the way you look at home. Here let me "fix" you." Pathetic.

I agree, I think it's kind of creepy to dress up little girls like adults.

 

[DisneyTraveller]

IMO, always wrong.

I totally agree!

 

[Hrhpd]

Since I have never attended a pageant, I am not going to judge the entire industry on a show that is edited for drama and the bizarre. Just as I won't judge the dance world by Dance Moms.

I can't wait to see how TLC trashes cheer with their new show. I know they were begging gyms for months to sign up for it and all the legitimate gyms laughed at the producers.

I know one girl who is a pageant girl and she is the loveliest child with a very sane Mom. They watch T&T with amusement and anger. So, unless I know more about it, I can't really judge.

Although, I will say that the families they find to participate in T&T are not the role models I want my children around. When one mom said it brought tears to her eyes when her 5 year old looked 16, I just about threw up.

 

[Buckalew11]

I've been to a few pageants for kids and it resembled this show. Of course, you could not hear what the parents were saying or their thoughts like on the T & T show but otherwise, it doesn't seem far from the show.

As a hairdresser, I had to do little girl's pageant hair a few times in the past (then I said no, not doing it) and we also had little girls come into the shop to have their hair done. This was years ago, before T & T, and yet, even then, attitudes were much like what we see on this show!
One mom had a terrific job (as did her DH) and she'd spend hundreds and thousands on pageant stuff and could not pay her bills (yes, she shared that!) It made no sense... also, she had 2 kids and life was all about this little beauty queen and the son was shoved to the side (so sad). It all left a bad taste in my mouth for sure.

 

[Reddy]

to me this is like some sports - are you pushing your kids to play football because you wanted to be the football champ in school?? I think anything that the kids are force to do isn't good (I had to be in several sports because my sister was in them - it upset my parents when I didn't sign up for them my Jr year but I didn't want to sit on the bench)

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I think any activity where you have to dress your child up like a tawdry adult is gross. Wearing makeup for performance (a play, a recital) so you aren't washed out on stage is one thing. Wearing more makeup than a drag queen imo is disgusting. Although- from the show I have noticed that most of the Moms are hot messes. Stop living through your daughter and fix yourself up. Maybe you will be happier and won't have to feed your child red bull and pixie sticks to "perform". JMHO.

 

[happygirl]

When you have to change a child looks. IT should be all natural

 

[Sgt Mickey]

Personally, I think if a kid can't win a pageant on their own God-given looks, then they should accept the loss. I can't stand these shows where the kids get a spray tan, fake hair and false teeth. Their parents might as well come right out and say, "Sorry baby, you're too ugly to win a beauty pageant the way you look at home. Here let me "fix" you." Pathetic.

This. If it is shown on Toddlers and Tiaras.

 

[Pigeon]

Always.


Beauty pageants in general are repulsive, but bringing children into it is just wrong.

 

[Rylee]

Instead of investing in pageants, parents should invest in their children.

Instead of investing $$$ into entry fees and pageant dresses, invest in your child... put that money into their college fund. Spend a little on travel, visit museums, experience new things. Spend money on lessons for classes your child enjoys or has a keen interest in.

There will always be someone prettier, faster, smarter, richer, stronger. Instead of placing emphasis on others, teach your child to put their energy into becoming the best he or she can be.


What exactly do they take away from the pageant experience?

Poise and Grace - Teach the child to communicate effectively, teach them to become a good listener, (by being one yourself.) Expose them to different cultures, experiences and situations and talk about acceptable and appropriate behavior. "Teach them there can be glory in failure and despair in success." Teach, by example, the basics for good manners and proper etiquette.

Competitive Spirit - Nothing wrong with that! Encourage your child to give 100% to whatever they're doing... academics, sports, music, etc.

Beauty - Beauty comes from within. Practice kindness, compassion and patience. Stress the importance of good personal hygiene and wearing clean, neat, and appropriate clothing.

Performance and Stage Presence - "All the World's a Stage." Seek opportunities through school and community theaters, band and choirs. Build confidence with lessons and moving up through different levels. Have children strive to beat their own accomplishments and exceeds their own goals.

 

[TacoBaco]

If all pageants are like the ones we see on TV then IMO they are always wrong and I find them completely repulsive.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABzMAuI1vj0

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I've watched a few episodes of Toddlers and Tiaras (it's like a train wreck; I can't look away).

One incident that stands out in my head was when an 8 or 9 year old wanted to get fake nails. The lady at the nail salon told the mom they don't recommend putting them on kids that young. They're still growing and the fake nails can damage their own nails permanently. The mom said, "OK. Just fix up her own nails." The girl sat there and pouted while she had her nails done.

As soon as they got outside, she started bawling. Mom said, "Oh honey! You really want those nails, don't you?" They went back inside and she told the nail lady to put the fake ones on, which she did. The mom then told the camera, "If my child's not happy, I have to do whatever it takes to make her happy. Especially before a pageant, she had to be 100% happy all the time."
Geez! Really? Happiness at the expense of her own health?

They also showed a pageant where the winner got a puppy. This little girl really, really wanted that puppy, but didn't win it. She looked at the camera and said, "I want to go kill bugs now." Serial killer in the making?