hersha frederick

Child Pageants

Hersha Frederick

Introduction

Child beauty pageants consists of many events which includes;

modeling sports and elegant evening wear. Child beauty pageant

are admired by some and condemned by many. Later, we are

going to view the pros and cons of child beauty pageants.

Brief History

Beauty pageants became part of the American society in the

1920's.

Child beauty pageants began in the 1960's

Pageants consist of modeling sportswear, evening attire, dance

and talent

The children are judged based on individuality in looks, capability,

poise, perfection and confidence (“the full package”)

Beauty pageants started in America in 1921 in Atlantic City to

promote tourism and sales.

The Little Miss America pageant began in the 1960s at Palisades

Amusement Park in New Jersey.

It was originally for ages 13-17.

Now child pageants begin as early as zero years old, as soon as

a child can sit up on his or her own.

Since then the industry has grown into a multibillion dollar

business.

What the pageant entails…

All pageants have different rules and regulations.

Some of the events include sportswear, evening attire, talent,

interview, writing skills, and modeling.

Children are judged on individuality, capabilities, poise, perfection

and confidence.

They spent countless hours practicing for the actual competition,

traveling to the pageant, and getting ready for individual events.

Hair can take 45 minutes or longer to complete, while make-up

takes up to an hour. Extensions are added to hair for elaborate

hair styles.

In extreme cases false teeth are sometimes fitted to close gaps

made by lost baby teeth

Prizes can include electronics, toys, scholarships and grants, cash,

tiaras, sashes, robes, and trophies.

Some pageants do their best to make every competitor feel like a

winner, while others don’t.

Pageants are costly which includes, hair and make-up, traveling

and lodging expenses.

Evening wear can cost anywhere from $1500-$12000.

Spray tans and accessories also must be paid for.

Estimated cost to put a child through a beauty pageant is about

$2070.

Many times parents have sponsors to support the cost of these

pageants.

Child beauty pageant winner displaying her prize of tiara, cash and a stuffed toy .

Reasons for entering into pageants…

Some parents believe that they are granting their children the

opportunity to boost their child’s self esteem.

It helps children not to be shy and to be themselves at all times.

Again, some parents get involve for the prizes: cash, trophies and

tiaras.

Opportunities like gaining public speaking skills, listening skills and

to develop new and improved talents.

Parents believe that their children will become more determined

because of tough competitions they face.

Pros and Cons….

Cons:

Parents control their children.

Children have little or no say.

Although, scholarships are granted to children, there are other academic

programs that provide them.

Children are deprived of proper education, or even furthering their

education.

Parents go into major debt losing their homes and trailers due to the

increase cost in these pageants.

The question remains , is child pornography being portrayed in beauty

pageants?

Suicide is another major problem that children face. Children are taught to

be perfect in everything that they do. When in fact, the world is not perfect.

Some parents want their children to maintain a “perfect” body, so excessive

exercise and dieting encouraged. Children may develop eating disorders

Parents want their children to mature faster.

At eight months old, an infant mile stone should be focused on sitting up

and developing their sensorimotor skills which will more likely boost their

confidence.

Children are forced to wear fake dentures, excessive make-ups and

extremely high healed shoes. In most cases, some of these kids acquire

foot injuries from these shoes.

•JonBenet Ramsey(August6,1990-

December 25, 1996)

•She was a child beauty pageant

contestant and a winner of many

pageants.

•Found murdered in her upscale home

in Boulder, Colorado (US).

•Murder mystery still unsolved.

Pros: Beauty pageant is a great way for kids that belong in the same age

group to interact.

It helps children display their own personalities.

Some parents claim that it help boost their child’s self-esteem.

Children will be no longer shy.

It’s a great opportunity where kids get to play dress-up and

innocently play with make-up.

Some parents are very supportive and allow their children to make

decisions on their own.

Who is the winner of these pageants?

In my opinion, most of the pageants involve young kids who cannot

make certain decisions on their own. Guidance is good, but total

control can be detrimental to children.

Some parents are totally disappointed when their child takes home

the second prize. They feel totally depress and disappointed.

As a result of this, they project their frustration into long hours of

practicing their children for upcoming pageants.

Best way to handle such situation is to reassure your child that they

did their best and that you will always be proud of them.

An unhappy mother’s reaction after judge’s decision.

How are these children protected?

There aren’t any specific laws that regulates the pageant programs,

even though there are laws that regulate education and safety.

With all the long hours put into these pageants, federal child labor

laws(Fair labor standards Act, 1938) do not consider the pageants as

jobs.

There are many pageants that create their own rules and

regulations that also reassures the child safety and emotional needs.

Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment and Adoption Reform act,

protects children from being exploited and abused.

For example, the Universal Royalty pageant, is considered to be

one of the largest beauty pageants in the US, based on sources.

Every contestant receives a prize for entering into the competition.

It helps parents to feel less disappointed of the child’s mistakes on

stage.

They have a daddy competition that allows the fathers to be

involve.

Some agencies allow little or no make-up or snug fitted costumes

during pageants that portrays sexuality.

Conclusion

Although, changes to child beauty pageants are far from totally

reality, there can be subtle changes if parents and the beauty

pageant agencies take full responsibility for providing a safe and

courteous environment for their children.

Children should be allowed to be children, rather than being

premature adults.

Bibliography

http://www.minorcon.org/pageants.html

(cited 15 May 2009) www.universalroyalty.com

(cited 15 May 2009) www.truthout.org

(cited 15 May 2009) www.msnbc.msn.com

(cited 15 May 2009)