Beauty Pageant Problems

The dress is fitted perfectly, the makeup is flawless, the tan is the epitome of sunkissed and you are ready to walk that stage with such confidence, Hollywood producers may call you for a role as their next Bond Girl. All the prep has paid off and now it’s time to answer those questions that will be asked in your interview.

Beauty pageants objectify women and girls, treating them as sexual objects (Cartwright). The contestants are taught that success is only found in their physical appearance, which dilutes their true beauty and leaves them with a false sense of self-worth and security. The pressure of looking a certain way can also lead to eating disorders and harmful dieting rituals. Furthermore, starting pageants at such young ages can cause emotional and psychological problems that last a lifetime.

In addition to focusing on their appearance, the contestants are forced to spend a lot of money on preparation. This includes enhancing their looks through the use of full makeup, fake eyelashes, spray tans and hair extensions. It also includes costly cosmetic treatments such as Botox and fillers, which is considered child abuse (Dante).

The final problem with beauty pageants is that they impose absolutist criteria of what beauty is, and how beautiful one person is over another. By doing this, they teach the contestants to pit themselves against each other instead of focusing on their individual strengths. The only way to overcome this problem is to change the focus of beauty pageants, making it about more than just appearance.