Beauty pageants – they are as popular as ever but also often get a bad rep among the general American population. After all, while they're not exclusively a beauty contest, they partially focus on good looks and are often deemed destructive to the self-image of those who participate in and watch pageants. As well, child pageants get even more heat from the public; they're typically viewed as exploiting children who are simply being ordered around by their abrasive stage mothers.
But what is really going on behind the scenes of a pageant and what are the advantages and disadvantages to entering your child into a pageant?
Pageants showcase the beauty, talent, and charisma of its contestants and for young aspiring performers, they can be a great experience that also doubles as valuable media exposure. For example, if your child is sincerely interested in becoming an actor when he or she grows up, or something along those lines, learning how to compete in a pageant can teach them many social skills that will help them in the entertainment business, as well as help get them into the spotlight and practice dealing with the pressure that comes with it! Celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Vanessa Williams, Diane Sawyer, Halle Berry, and Sharon Stone all competed in pageants.
Still, many children simply find pageants fun and just like a sport's team or a talent show, every child can learn a lesson or two by engaging in some healthy competition. And a pageant is ultimately, just that – a competition.
Moreover, many pageant winners, and even runner-ups, can get valuable prizes, even scholarship money for college. This is definitely an appeal and makes many pageants worthwhile.
However, entering your child into a pageant can be an immense hassle and damaging to your child's self-esteem and general wellbeing. So if you're more intrigued by the idea of the pageant than your own child, it's probably best to refrain from entertaining the idea at all. In the recent film Little Miss Sunshine, a young girl participates in a beauty pageant and even though she doesn't ultimately fit in with her fellow competitors, she is determined and passionate about it. So, whether or not you should enter your child into a pageant really depends on your child, not necessarily his or her individual talents or stage presence and definitely not on what you, as a parent, want.
In 1921, Atlantic City hosted a “National Beauty Tournament,” and the winner was called Miss America. Ever since, women have competed for the title of Miss America and now there's even a Miss Universe! And such a title is not one to be taken on lightly. For example, 2006's Miss USA, Tara Connor, may lose her title after indulging in excessive partying. So, one could say that these pageants promote respectable behavior among young women and that the Miss America's and Miss USA's of today and the past are meant to be positive role models for girls everywhere.
So if you wish to help your child continue this American tradition, how do you enter your child in a pageant? First, you have to scout out what pageants there are in your area! The Internet is a great resource for this. Then, you'll have to investigate what types of skills and what kinds of clothing are required to participate and then you will quickly find out if you can indeed afford to enter your child in a pageant in the first place! If so, you'll want to get get the best tips on modeling, hair and makeup, clothing, and rehearse with your child, honing in on whatever skills and strengths they have. It's certainly a hefty investment of time and effort and is not worth it if it cost's your child happiness or comfort.
Basically, approach child beauty pageants with caution. HBO recently aired a stinging documentary about child beauty pageants that implied they are created for the parents, not the children. It focused on a young female competitor who was essentially taught to flirt by her mother, and thus was sexualized at an inappropriately young age one could argue. Not to mention, those who enter their children in pageants regularly almost take on a part-time job and end up investing thousands of dollars into it!
So, pageant life is certainly one that should certainly be entered into after only the most thoughtful research on the part of the parent and only with the best interest of the child in mind.