Whether or not parents are justified in entering their children into beauty pageants, there are physical and psychological effects that come with them. Often, these effects aren’t worth the prizes that may be won in return.
The most obvious effect is sexualization, where a child’s value is placed solely on her appearance and not her personality or behavior. The issue of sexualization is a problem in all aspects of life, but especially in child beauty pageants.
If you’re considering entering your little one into a beauty pageant, I highly recommend reading up on the topic first. A great place to start is with Susan Anderson’s High Glitz: The Extravagant World of Child Beauty Pageants. It’s a beautiful, and somewhat terrifying, coffee table book full of photos and commentary.
It’s also worth watching the Oscar-winning 2006 movie Little Miss Sunshine. It poked fun at the whole child beauty pageant scene, but ultimately, Olive (played by Toni Collette) was allowed to be herself and celebrate her own uniqueness.
Pageants can be a great learning experience for kids, especially when they’re able to manage their time wisely and participate in competitions that require a lot of preparation. Balancing schoolwork, extracurricular activities, and competition preparation teaches kids how to prioritize tasks and develop a work ethic. These skills will carry over into their lives outside of the pageant circuit, as well. It can also be a great way to build self-esteem and confidence in a safe and supportive environment.
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