Toddlers & Tiaras

Okay, so I know that when I was a little girl, people approached my parents about putting me in pageants. They said no, and for awhile I was kind upset about this fact. Then I saw TLC's "Toddlers & Tiaras." It's a show about beauty pageants for girls usually about 7 and younger. It's disgusting and creepy.

I'm not saying that anyone who participates in beauty pageants is disgusting or creepy, but the way the parents highlighted on this show push & exploit their children is. These little girls are spray tanned, wear fake eyelashes, prance around in swimsuits, and dance in sexual ways. Their parents spend thousands of dollars on dresses, coaches, and things like fake teeth. Many of these little girls are so spoiled and have terrible attitudes. One mother of twins, showed open favoring of her twin who won more pageants, looked more like her, and who was "prettier." The biggest problem with all this is how some of the parents react to their child losing. Moms will start lecturing and telling their daughters how disappointed they are, and how the daughter should have done better. Dads will rage and storm out of the pageant hall and yell at their wife and children.

I think the ideas to have children in pageants to help them earn scholarship money, develop social skills, and make friendships are great. I think the problem comes when parents take things too far and get lost in the glitz and winning.