WE TV plans a documentary on kiddie beauty pageants

by starlabranche | August 28, 2008 at 07:50 am

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WE TV is planning on filming a documentary on child beauty pageants entitled Little Miss Perfect. It's supposed to be a look into the Southern pageant circuit. Three other documentaries have already been made about these little beauty queens; Living Dolls, Painted Babies (as well as Painted Babies 2, a follow up several years later) and Little Beauties. But are beauty pageants beneficial to the little ones?

At this point in time –- post Jon Benet –- there are few left in the general public who will actively endorse kiddie beauty pageants. Those who will are the contestants, their stage moms, and the people who make the pageants happen. There's something overtly wrong about dressing up five year old girls to look like thirty year old women. But is the problem with pageants only skin deep?

There is something unnerving about the photo manipulated "pageant photos." Beauty is one thing, but when the pageant picture doesn't resemble the original girl but instead looks like a CGI image for a new Pixar film, things have obviously gotten out of hand. But let's face it. In real life the girls don't look like this. How can they? These photos were created via photo shop.

Even in their shows the girls look like the same bizarre mixture of innocence and misplaced sexuality. On the VH1 show Little Beauties the moms and those involved in the pageants talk about all of the things that the tiny beauty queens need in order to compete. Fake teeth. Fake tan. Pixie sticks. Tons of make-up. Enough hairspray to put a hole in the ozone layer. Incredibly expensive outfits. Pageant coaches. An overzealous stage mom. The list continues.

One of the pageant organizers in Little Beauties states "-It's about a child's inner beauty that shows through the face." So then it's about outer beauty, while trying to make it sound like it's not. There is nothing natural or child-like about these girls anymore. They are taught to prance down a runway, to smile like a lobotomized zombie and twirl while wearing a ruffled bathing suit. The contests are not about individuality. They're about producing the best show pony that you possibly can.

Mothers even admit that the judgments are completely subjective and based on whatever the judges are partial to or even how they're feeling that day. So their decisions about these little girls are made based on whims and the girls who lose, lose because they're not what the judge "likes". Isn't it a little creepy that the judges decide what kind of six year old girl they prefer?

Pageant producers and parents are still trying to fool themselves that the pageants will be positive experiences for their little ones, that they will make friends, gain self-confidence and have the opportunity to make money. Because nothing says healthy experience like walking away with money in your pocket.

Little Beauties' predecessor, Painted Babies, is even more disturbing than the former. Also both Painted Babies, Living Dolls and Little Beauties have the same overly-exuberant MC, even though the shows were years apart. Strange?

In the first part of the Ptainted Babies, the voiceover states that one girl has won almost $10,000 while participating in beauty pageants. The child's mother wants to enter the daughter into a pageant where one of the prizes is a car because her grandmother needs one. It's not only sad that parents would exploit their vulnerable children for cash, it's even worse that they are so blatant and casual about it.

The effect on the girls themselves might not be immediate. Most of them don't even understand what's going on. One of the children in Little Beauties wins a small consolation prize in the final pageant. She thinks that she has won the entire pageant and her mother is more than happy to let her think that. A girl in Living Dolls shows off her trophies and admits that she has no idea where she won them. But when these girls reach their teens and their physical appearance becomes paramount to their existent their beauty history isn't going to be innocent fun.

Then of course, there's the swim suit competition. Pageant websites claim that this part of the pageant is supposed to showcase the girl's athleticism and health. Why do you have to see a girl almost naked to decide if she's healthy or not?

But if nothing else, stage moms cling to the idea that their daughters love performing in pageants and wouldn't want to give it up for the world. Most children I know want to eat ice cream for every meal, but that doesn't mean that it's a good idea. Children are not supposed to make huge decisions on their own, that's why they have parents.

But when parents are too sucked into the pageant world themselves, they pretend that their daughter is the one responsible for their continued work in the pageant sector. Nothing like claiming that a six year old controls the lives of several adults that are supposed to be teaching and guiding her.

In the end, children love attention. They want to feel special and they want to please their parents. What little girl wouldn't want to be in front of a room of people who clap and cheer for them?

But just as some children can be crowned and take a triumphant strut down a catwalk, some girls walk away with nothing. In Painted Babies some girls start crying on stage because they didn't win. They know that they've let down their parents, that they're not as special/pretty/talented as another girl, that they haven't won any money. Putting a child under that kind of pressure can create serious self-worth issues.

But why do these beauty pageants still exist when most of the population disagrees with them (by the way, does anyone notice that the only people at these pageants are the parents and other contestants?)? One of the stage moms in Painted Babies states that beauty is incredibly important in society and it will open any door and help you achieve any goal. She seems to conveniently forget that no one becomes a doctor because they're pretty.

Canada has outlawed beauty pageants. In 1968 feminists protested the Miss America pageant. But these shows are still around and have categories in every age group, including children so small that their parents have to hold them up on stage because they can't even stand on their own. Why these pageants still exist? Why no one has put a stop to them on the grounds of child protection? Why doesn't everyone realize that little girls should not be sexualized and made to prance on command?

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Yuliya Talmazan

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 10:34 on August 28th, 2008

starlabranche, I like this story. It's good stuff. Thanks for a great post. It is tragic kids can't be kids anymore.

kimu (not verified)

at 10:45 on September 5th, 2008

i think if i did allow my daughter to be in pageants there would be no swimsuit competition before age 14 or 15. and no super heavy make up!

kimu (not verified)

at 10:46 on September 5th, 2008

that should have read if i had a daughter...lol

Your every day soccor mon (not verified)

at 11:28 on September 14th, 2008

Who ever does this to there children should be put in a nut house. This is sickening & sad. Ur child is not a trophy, there put on this earth to be loved & cared for. If u want to make money get a REAL JOB!!!!!! And let your child be normal. I am a real mother with a real job, i make money for my daughter, SHE DOES NOT make money for me!

Miriam Mannak

at 10:16 on December 14th, 2008

Exactly. And even if the money went to the child's university tuition - it is wrong. You cannot have your young children working for their education. Parents need to earn money to support their child, and not the other way around.

S HAMMACKER (not verified)

at 14:13 on October 20th, 2008

I KNOW SOME OF THESE GIRLS IN THE PHOTOS AND THEY LOVE DOING PAGEANTS, ITS GREAT FOR THE GIRLS, THEY LEARN TO SPEAK IN FRONT OF LOTS OF PEOPLE IN INTERVIEW AND BUILD THERE CONFIDANCE ON STAGE. MY DAUGHTER WAS VERY SHY AND WHEN SHE GETS ON THAT STAGE SHE TURNS INTO THIS LITTLE OUTGOING DOLL BABY. AND WHAT LITTLE GIRL DOSNT LIKE PLAYING DRESS UP? ALSO LOOK AT THE OLDER MISS AMERICAS AND MISS USA CONTESTANTS, THEY ALL GO ON TO DO GREAT THINGS FOR THEMSELVES AND CHARITYS . IF YOU DONT LIKE THEM THEN DONT WATCH IT, BUT NOT ALL THE FAMILYS INVOLVED IN PAGEANTS ARE NUTS.

jasonheather6204

at 05:20 on October 21st, 2008

My child is a kid, she goes to school, takes dance classes, and also is interested in cheerleading. She is also a pageant girl and loves it. The day she wants to quit she can, but as for right now she wants to do this and she will. Do not make false statesmants about her or any other child as you dont know them or have any idea. You only know what you hear and that is second hand information and not the real truth. Also my daughter does resemble herself when she is "made-up", this person is only showing one side of it, what do these girls look like in normal life? pretty much the same but with no make up. Grow up, get a life, focus on your own children and leave mine alone. She is none of your business.

heidi h (not verified)

at 11:34 on November 4th, 2008

.. my daughter is in pageants and does not wear a lot of makeup... none of the children in her age group does.. if they do then they dont win.

she is 2 and i dont apply makeup and she wears her hair down and pulled back out of her face.. there is no certain way i make her walk.. i just put her on stage and let her do whatever she wants... if u ask her she will tell you she likes it.. and i mean hell she even wins money for it.. and not all pageants are LONG some are like a two hour thing.. and i mean i have seen the jonbenet ramsey kids and seen the stupid pageant moms that make their child go through all of that torture but you have to keep in mind not EVERYONE is like that... just like not EVERYONE is voting for the same person today

some people just like them for fun.. why would someone ban it... its like saying that we are banning football because women dont agree with it or we just wont take score!

you should really do more research on pageants before you say negative things about them.. NOT EVERY PAGEANT IS HOW YOU DESCRIBED THEM... THEY HAVE BEGINNER LEVEL, INTERMEDIATE LEVELS, AND NATIONAL LEVELS!!!

bettie (not verified)

at 07:40 on December 10th, 2008

I think you guys are the sick ones referring to a swimsuit event as sexual. I don't know of one person in any pageant ballroom that looks at the kids in a sexual way, but the media and people like you seem to do it a lot. So who really has the problem here? Also, the reason you won't see anyone not affiliated with the pageant or who isn't a parent or relative of someone competing in the pageant ballroom is that parents and pageant people watch out for each other's kids, just like you would if you were taking your kids to soccer games every weekend. If someone you did not know started hanging out where your kid was playing soccer, I think that all of you would find out who that person was, and what they were doing in such close proximity to your kids. At pageants, one has to pay to be in the ballroom usually, and I have never seen anyone at any pageant ballroom, of a questionable character. All you media whores just need to get a life, realize it is just a hobby, people, and get over your obsession. It's no different that having your kids play sports, or take dance. It is just a hobby.

shockedmom (not verified)

at 19:20 on December 13th, 2008

I happened to catch the show tonight on WE, it is very CREEPY. Sad for the young ones and just pathetic for the older kids that were on the show. The makeup and the hair looks disgusting. All I can say is WOW, are these parents nuts or what. They let these poor kids go on stage and act like they actually have talent and it is the saddest thing I have every seen. I think the parents are the ones with the hobby, and the hobby is exploiting your children.

pageantgirl (not verified)

at 09:38 on December 14th, 2008

I have seen many young girls compete in pageants and I have seen young ones run off stage crying righ tinto the arms of parents who love them for who they are anf not if they won a crown. I don't think pageants should be offered at such a young age, because i have had hte expierence of knowing a great little girl who won the Miss Wisconsin title for a pageant and if I would walk up to her with my crown on she would be so excited but I would then walk up to her five minutes later without my crown and she didnt know who I was or how I knew her. She is now eight and she does make decisions heself she decides if she wants her hair up or down is she wants it curly or straight and the only make up she wears is the clear lip gloss she got from me when we were competing at the national pageant. I think some parents do indeed go all out and are ticked off when their child does not win and yes some are angry at their children but most are not. People can say all that they want to about beauty pageants but they do help young girls as long as parents know how to handle themselves and not become that crazy pageant mom. Pageants today now have restrictions and rules against children wearing make-up, and if anyone is looking for a great family pageant that does not allow make-up or big poofy hair, tanning and all the drama the media can only pick up on I would recommed looking into the National American Miss pageant system and then you can see for yourself first hand not everything about pageants is bad. I have been competing in pageants for sometime now and I am thinking about Miss America and big pageant like that and I dont think that means my mother has been pushing me my whole life just for that, the only thing my mother asks of me is to do my best and havr fun while doing it and I dont think that makes her a nut.

Miriam Mannak

at 10:12 on December 14th, 2008

I find it sad that some mothers project their dreams through their children. It might not be the same, but not too long ago I joined a friend of mine (photographer) to a kiddies casting. Most of them were girls between 6 and 8. At least that is what I was told as most of them looked like they were 14 or 16. They had make up and even kiddies bra! I mean - common people!!!!!!

I have seen girls breaking down in tears, because of the pressure and because of the rejection.

The problem is with this age is that you cannot explain to these girls that they were rejected, simply because they didnt have a certain look and not because they were ugly.

Let kids be kids. Let them play, run around and enjoy their child hood instead of posing in front of a camera and growing up with the idea that looks are the most important thing in the world.

Pageant mommy (not verified)

at 09:43 on January 17th, 2009

I want to first start out by saying I DO ENTER MY DAUGHTER INTO PAGEANTS! I do not see what the big deal is! I did them as a child and I have had no negative side affects sa a result from them I was able to stand up in front of a crowd and speak as to where many of my friends were not. we have been to plenty of large birthday parties where the child whos birthday it was was so shy she would not even enjoy her oun birthday!!! Now not letting that child have any social experance is rediculace!!!

It is always the beauty pageants that get all the heat and that I just cant understand. Yes there was 1 little girl who got killed and that is terable but how many football players die on the fild in the heat every year.... just turn on your tv and the south is sprinkled with them from july to aug. every year. But football starts at the age of 4!!! in august you will have a 4 yearold in FULL gear helment, pads and all and he will be in a fild with no shad practicing for 3 hrs 4 times a week!!! you neer hear anyone saying that is child abuse! also my daughter is in cheeleading and dance. Have you ever been to one of those commpitions??? ther is fake hair and fake tans and over the top make-up!!! My daughter spends MORE time in practice for those then pageants I can promise you! and cheerleading and dance is also scored on apearance!!! but if you do cheer and dance you are seen as a well rounded child! I dont understand when all these sports are the same how you only dislike 1!!!

DOXIE_SISTER (not verified)

at 22:27 on January 24th, 2009

I THINK THAT ANY ONE WHO PARTICIPATES IN KIDDIE BEAUTY SHOWS SHOULD BE SHOT IN THE FACE WITH A CANNON

ALL KIDS ARE EQUALLY BEAUTIFUL

BECAUSE CLEARLY THAT SPACE IS EMPTY

BEAUTY SHOWS ARE SEXIST GARBAGE!!!!

CREATED BY RETARDED MEN TO KEEP WOMAN AS EYE CANDY MERE OBJECTS!!!

THERE KIDS SHOULD BE YANKED AND THEN THE ADULTS SHOULD BE NEUTERED WITHOUT AESTHETICS THEN SHOT!! POINT BLANK!!

Doodie (not verified)

at 13:00 on August 19th, 2009

I just wrote something about this today.
Apparently it’s acceptable in the United States to dress toddlers up like full grown women and parade them on a stage in their swimsuits so they can be rated on their body, face and outfit by a panel of judges. This is not only a waste of time but it’s totally twisted. I sure these pageants are swarming with dirty old men too.
http://doodiepants.com/2009/08/19/pedophiles-wonderland-the-world-of-kiddie-pageants/