You know you want it.

Ok, since you girls are over the other thread, lets get on with todays topic.

I was watching TLC over the weekend (the channel, not the group) and there were multiple commercials for this new show coming next year where camera crews follow around little 'beauty queens' in their everyday life and throughout their competition process. Many of the mothers are portrayed poorly (almost like stage moms) and a few clips show them defending themselves saying that they are just helping their child get a head start on self confidence and how to establish self esteem.

What are you thoughts on this? Do you think a 2 years old asks to be a beauty queen? Do you think that this type of competition is healthy for a child? How do you feel about the cosmetic aspect of it? The make-up? the fake teeth? the belly bearing outfits? Is there any difference between this and putting a small child in ballet classes or dance classes at a young age?

Discuss

I dont know if a 2 yr old really asks for it but I guess by a certain age as a child comes into their own they will know what they are into or not (like playing soccer or modeling).

My sister brings her son who is 2 to tons of modeling things because she things that he is the most adorable kid in the world. Whatever he makes she puts in his bankaccount. I dont think I would do this with my child but thats just me. So I guess its really up to the parent. I guess if she continues with this as he gets older he will tell her if he likes it or hates it...

I do find it kind of disturbing whenever I do watch shows like that. If the child is being forced to do these completions then I think it is totally wrong! Sometimes you see these girls cry because they dont want to do it, yet the mothers force them...

Self confidence is not only about looking pretty and wearing fake teeth, heavy make-up, 10 lbs of make-up its about feeling good about your self with out doing any of that.

When a teacher asks a question to a student and the student answers it correctly, the child feels a sense of accomplishment and feels good that they answered a question correctly...

I say this is wrong and education and other forms or education (ie art, cooking, sports) should boost their confidence...

What are you thoughts on this?

I have no issue with competitions where some people don't win and some walk away with a trophy but I do have issues when it comes to beauty and a child. How do you measure beauty when you cover a child in more makeup then a drag queen and put fake teeth in.

The belly bearing outfits? or even better yet the bathing suit competitions! I am sorry if your having a child prance around on stage they should look like a child as I said above not a damn drag queen or some sick perv's wet dream.

I think the parents are living through their children - look at the parents. I am sorry I would never put my child in that situation - i don't mind putting your child in modeling but pageants are evil unless your miss teen's age.

they all pretty much make me sick... esp the stage moms

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Posted by nifheim

What are you thoughts on this?

I have no issue with competitions where some people don't win and some walk away with a trophy but I do have issues when it comes to beauty and a child. How do you measure beauty when you cover a child in more makeup then a drag queen and put fake teeth in.

The belly bearing outfits? or even better yet the bathing suit competitions! I am sorry if your having a child prance around on stage they should look like a child as I said above not a damn drag queen or some sick perv's wet dream.

I think the parents are living through their children - look at the parents. I am sorry I would never put my child in that situation - i don't mind putting your child in modeling but pageants are evil unless your miss teen's age.

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The bathing suit competitions are the worst part of it for me as well

I really dont like it. I understand why some parents do it but when they go overboard i feel that they are infringing on the little girl's childhood. Kids are kids, they should be worried about playing with dolls not feeling bad if they dont win a contest.
I remember when MTV had the show pageant queens and some of these parents were crazy!! It's like they would make the teenagers feel horrible if they didnt win. All it does is cause self-esteem issues when handled the wrong way.

okay there are kids who at like 3 say I want to do that. it might be dance class, acting, performaing, beauty queen, t-ball, piano, ice skating. Whatever. I think it is good for a parent to let them try it. Then if the kid wants to quit, the parents should encourage them to try a little longer and give it more of a chance. Then if they still dont like it, let them try something else. they are young. They need to try different things and see if they like it.
I come from a family that did musical theater while I was growing up. My sister and I asked to go to auditions. My parents didn't even suggest it! We wanted to go to drama camp. There were some parents who were insane! Like put so much pressure on their children. This is the same for some parents in my school when it came to sports. If the child truly loves it, no matter how bizarre it may seem (like the things you mentioned they do for the beauty pagents) i think its important to support the child. But there is a BIG difference between pushing them into something and supporting them. If a parent is pushing their child to be a beauty queen and they dont love it, then thats wrong. If the child wants to do it and loves it, then i think it is fine to an extent. Personally I'd never get my child into beauty pagents at a young age. If ever...

I honestly think it is the parents living through their children. It is weird to see the kids in bathing suits and with tons and tons of make up.
I think children are beautiful with out all that make up and such.

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Posted by GinaZ

did any of you see 'Little Miss Sunshine'? That movie was so great!

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YES it was! And she was sooo cute too!

I also agree its crazy. Though when I was 4 my mom asked me if I want to be in the little miss long island pageant. I actually wanted to do it. But it was different back then I just had to wear a pretty dress. No fake hair or makeup. Just all natural. I can actually remember me doing this. I was in two other pageants when I was older. I did miss Junior teen Ny, still nothing but a dress and sporting competition. And the last one I did was when I was 19. I did the miss Little Italy pageant. LOL. It was fun. But like I said my mom never acted like these crazy moms you see today. I think its ridiculous!!! Iam sure at 2 years old they arent being asked to be in it. They are being forced!! Shame on these parents!!

I think that all these pageants do is oversexualize a child at an early age. It puts too much an emphasis on physical beauty and the so-called confidence they may get from this is misleading.

I think it completely differs from putting you child in ballet, gymnastics or figure skating. I started ballet when I was 3 and then it became my profession. Ballet instills discipline and grace, the only negativity I would see here is if the child did not want to do it and it was the parent trying to live vicariously through the child.

Personally I do not think that these pagents help build the self esteem of a child, rather they tend to destroy it.
These pagent babies are being taught that they NEED to wear makeup and have their hair perfectly coiffed in order to be beautiful. They are taught to be sexy, yet they have no idea what sexy means, nor should they.
These pagent babies should be running around the playground, playing with dolls, and yes, even playing dress up in princess costumes.
Beautiful to them should be two missing front teeth.
A child needs to be a child, not a mini grown up.

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Posted by Shelleybean11

I think that all these pageants do is oversexualize a child at an early age. It puts too much an emphasis on physical beauty and the so-called confidence they may get from this is misleading.

I think it completely differs from putting you child in ballet, gymnastics or figure skating. I started ballet when I was 3 and then it became my profession. Ballet instills discipline and grace, the only negativity I would see here is if the child did not want to do it and it was the parent trying to live vicariously through the child.

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I absolutley agree.

My mom put me in ballet at the age of 3 and I loved it. As soon as I turned 10, I didn't want to do it anymore and my mom said fine. I was never forced to do something I didn't want to do.

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Posted by SusiBtoM

Personally I do not think that these pagents help build the self esteem of a child, rather they tend to destroy it.
These pagent babies are being taught that they NEED to wear makeup and have their hair perfectly coiffed in order to be beautiful. They are taught to be sexy, yet they have no idea what sexy means, nor should they.
These pagent babies should be running around the playground, playing with dolls, and yes, even playing dress up in princess costumes.
Beautiful to them should be two missing front teeth.
A child needs to be a child, not a mini grown up.

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I agree with you. One of the moms on another pagent show was trying to teach her 8 year old how to flirt with her eyes.

Disturbing!!!!!!!!! I think the moms do it b/c they couldnt do it. If anything, they are ruining the childs self esteem.

All that makeup on their faces cant be good for their skin either at such a young age.

I wish these pageants didnt even exist!!