I had always hoped that American style child beauty pageants would never make their way to Australia, but alas, they’re here. And may I add, right on my doorstep too, in the bayside area of Melbourne. The Little Miss Bayside Pageant organisers insist that the new competition will not be “over the top” like those seen in the reality tv show “Toddlers and Tiaras,” but I’m afraid I’m just not buying it.
The reasons I’m not falling for it are all pretty evident in this article, including the fact there will be a swimsuit section (why? WHY?), formal gown section and a ‘glamour’ photo competition where makeup is permitted. Oh – and the winners will of course get a tiara and modelling contract. Despite the protests by the organisers that “diamantes and that sort of stuff” will not be encouraged, I’m afraid the similarities to the big business that is US child beauty pageants is just far too close.
If you are of the opinion that these pageants are nothing more than harmless dress up fun for girls, I encourage you to take just five minutes to watch this series of clips from Jezebel. I am heartbroken for that eight year old girl and angered beyond belief at her Mother who clearly thinks it is acceptable to place a growing child on an extreme crash diet involving only eating fruit for a week Why? Because she is supposedly growing too fast and cannot fit properly into a $1200 pageant dress. It’s cruel and it’s dangerous. Nothing will ever convince me there is one thing right about that. Not one thing. If anyone should require further convincing of just how exploitative and vile these pageants are, maybe this very scary clip might help.
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
Bravo bravo bravo Julie for bringing this to light. This is an evil thing to do to little girls.
The clip of the 8 year old and her mum was disturbing, I had to switch it off.
They're not children, they're dolls for their mother's to dress up.
Ella xx
Oh, Julie, I'm so sorry for the children in Australia who will now be subjected to this horrendous practice. I felt sick reading this, knowing what will be done to these poor children so that their mothers can live out their own fantasies vicariously. The whole trade should be outlawed — everywhere. As a mother of two daughters, I cannot imagine doing this to my own girls. My girls have plenty of confidence that stems from reinforcing important qualities in who they are — their curiosity, intelligence, creativity, compassion, etc. And they know I think they are beautiful inside and out, and I am confident that they think that about themselves as well.
*big heavy sigh*
Oh geez, I saw a show about these a few years ago and I just wanted to throttle these mothers. Let little girls be little girls! This is a surefire way to implant bad body habits and a lifetime of confusion for these girls.
Even worse, some of the 'talents' these girls perform are not appropriate for their age, such as suggestive dancing in skimpy costumes. No no no!
McKella
http://kellapillar.blogspot.com/
Wow! Those Jezebell clips were intense. How sad. I don't believe these boost confidence, it's a fake confidence based off of what other people think and their approval. True confidence is there no matter what, even if other people don't approve of your truth.
These pageants just make me so sad
They should be banned!!
Beauty pageants are a horrible idea. They do nothing but teach children our society's false standards of beauty at any even earlier age. I've seen some of those shows that follow little girls and their mothers around as they get ready for pageants. Those show make me so angry. The things that some of those mothers make their daughters do are ridiculous (like making them get spray tans!)
Bayside mothers – If you have a spare $100, spend it taking your gorgeous daughter out for a swanky Mother-Daugter lunch, showing her you value her company and that you're proud to be with her will do so much more than a sickening beauty pageant.
will you dress her up for the luncheon or rock up in a tracksuit?
I agree that putting a child on a restrictive diet and buying $1200 dresses is ridiculous. However, my daughter will be participating in Little Miss Bayside. She will have just turned 1, so I can't discuss the issue with her, but if on the day she's uncomfortable I won't put her on stage.
I see Little Miss Bayside as a modeling competition. My daughter is well behaved, confident, attractive and rarely cries, and I feel modeling is a way for her to learn skills such as working with others, while providing finances to pay for things like music lessons and trips to the zoo. The $100 entry fee is much cheaper than the $550 annual fee of a child modeling agency, and if she's not chosen to win the prize, it's unlikely she'd be cast from an agency.
As to the categories, the swimsuit is to assess their physical proportions and their confidence. The glamour photo is to assess how well their face handles make-up. The formal gown is to contrast the casual wear and see if the child can pose appropriately in both styles. As a one-year-old, for her talent she'll probably dance to some Wiggles music – something she does every day at home anyway.
Some argue that pageants are "heaven for pedophiles", but I've seen strange men staring at children at the beach and the local park too. A man at our local library sits next to the childrens section and pretends to read a book while watching the kids. Should we avoid these places?
I feel that pageants are not inherently evil, but what some (repeat, some) parents do to their children for pageants is cruel. I will let my child be a child. She plays with trucks, reads books and "sings" along to the radio like any other child. She won't be wearing make up and the outfits are ones we already own.
I agree that people should be judged based on their intellect and personality more so than their looks. Sadly, they're not. Rachael Finch and Jennifer Hawkins, both former pageant queens, are everywhere and purely for their looks. Lara Bingle was paid $250K for an interview, and all she's done is be a model and date some guys. As long as media companies are willing to pay copious amounts of money to beautiful people for doing not much, beauty will be valued. Why not give my daughter the opportunity to be part of such a lucrative career path? If she doesn't like it, we won't do it again.
oh my gosh, i guess its all been said about the pageant itself but in reference to the dodgy guy in the library, yes avoid him or do something about that. you cant say that exposing your child on the level of a pageant and dressing them up to look like little women is not attracting the wrong sort of attention. i dont think you can argue that one.
fyi lara bingle was paid for an interview because she was a victim of of her personal life being thrown around around the internet in a very intrusive and embarrassing way. that was not about her looks but about someone betraying her. hmm way to go for self esteem.
Hey, I came across this page in a web search and felt that I needed to share my opinion.
I compete in child Pageants (shocked? you shouldnt be) and I love them. I am 12, and have been doing minor and major pageants in Australia and over seas.
I have seen the worst of the worst- pushy parents, $10 000 dresses and tempermenatal children. But, this is not the norm. Most children want to be there; I cerentainly did. I have learnt so much from Pageantry, with the main one being good sportmanship. I have done other activites, but Pageantry is my passion.
Your probably thinking my mother is pushy and doing it for her own good. No. Way. It was my choice and she encourages me no matter what I wish to do. If I said I want to stop, she would be a-okay with that. Pageants are for my own reward and not hers. And what "reward" would she be getting from her 12 year old doing pageants?
She doesnt live through me.
You shouldn't critisize something you dont know-the winners of pageants are usually the girls who want to be up there, and not the pushed by parents ones.
xx Katiaa
For gods sake there is nothing wrong with child pageants!!!!!!!!
I did Little Miss Bayside!!!! I loved it!!!!!
It made me feel good about myself!!!!! BEFORE U CRITISIZE A CHILD PAGEANT GO WATCH ONE!! DONT CRITISIZE SOMETHING U DONT KNOW!!!!!!!!!
I agree 100% with Katia. MY MUM DOESNT LIVE THOUGH ME!!! YES SOME PARENTS DO BUT MOST DONT! DONT STEROTYPE!!!!!!!!!! Clearly you all must be blind because pageants truly celebrate beauty. EVERYONE LITTLE GIRL AND BOY AT BAYSIDE FELT 120% BEAUTIFUL! INSIDE AND OUT!
DO
NOT
STEROTYPE!
You hate it when people sterotype women? But that very article that you wrote sterotypes mothers who's daughters compete in pageants!!!!!!!!!!
Hmmm. Pageants are debateable. Every women is beautiful, and what do you say to the little girl who loses?
That the other girl was prettier, her dress was better, she was a better public speaker?
hi ,as a mother of two beautiful girls,one very slim and tall and graceful and the other the complete opposite i am confused on what i believe,i have a 7 year old who is funny sensitive and amazing lovable but she is on what society would say is the tubby side,She constanly has family memebers compare her to her sister and tell her we dont like tubby here in our house so off you go….. (we dont see my husband sister any more because of this ) no matter how much i tell her she is fine and not to listen to anyone she doesnt belive me,so yes are these pageant wrong they are but would i love for my daughter to win one ,yes i would maybe then she could have her self confidence that society has destroyed.
This is a bit like Halloween infiltrating Australia. SCARY.
Our next generation of anorexics and bulimics…. here we come.
Real classy !
i think that if the child wants to do it the parent should let them!!
there is nothing wrong about a child feeling good about them selfs!!!!
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