Queen Rama

10/25/2013
English 102
The Harms of Child Beauty Pageants on The US Society
Introduction
I remember when I first saw the picture of a child pageant on Facebook. It was a little girl
who was about three years old. On the left side of the picture she was wearing typical baby
clothes. On the right side she was holding a purse, was wearing makeup, high heels, and clothes
that would normally be worn by a grown up person. The caption underneath the picture said
Children then and children now. When I read the comments below it, I kept seeing references
to the Toddlers and Tiaras show. I decided to look up some videos about it on YouTube. From
the videos that I saw and the criticism they generated, I found child beauty pageants to be a very
intriguing subject. This led me to researching for more information about it. In this paper I will
be discussing about Child Beauty Pageants. I will talk about their advantages and negative
consequences in the US society from different perspectives. I will explore some of the pageantry
world requirements and opportunities. In this paper I will be using the mnemonics CBP to
refer to child beauty pageants.
What it is
CBP are beauty contests that feature children generally from six months up to eighteen
years old. Nonetheless, competitions are broken into age divisions in order for them to be
objective for the participants. Age divisions generally have an interval of two years. These
competitions are divided into two categories. They are the "natural" pageants that have strict
rules about what kinds of clothes contestants wear, the amount of makeup, etc. They are only
1

allowed non-shinny lip-gloss and a little bit of mascara on stage. Then there are "glitz" pageants
that wear a lot of makeup, have fake nails, spray tans, and other different kinds of makeup. Both
kinds of child pageants have different routines presented by the contestants. The competitions are
held in different countries such as the US, the UK, and France. The latter, however, recently
banned CBP. There are no general rules set for all CBP, so some pageants can have different
requirements from others. As Kareen Nussbaum says in the article Children and beauty pageants,
Individual beauty pageants set their own guidelines for their participants, since they are exempt
from the federal child labor laws. In other words, the organizers can set rules of how they want
the children to look in order to win the competition. The cost for the contests can be really high.
Martina Cartwright who conducted a research on CBP found that the average total of money
spent on one pageant is between three thousand and five thousand US dollars (Healy 2). This
amount would include entry fees, outfits, hairstyling, makeup, and for some, modeling or other
talent lessons.
Historical background
Looking into history, beauty pageants in general started a long time ago. An article by
Samantha Critchell reports that the first beauty pageant to ever be recognized was in Rehoboth
Beach, Del, in 1880. She reveals that the event had the purpose of finding Miss United States and
was entitled The most beautiful unmarried woman in our nation". Then, in order to attract
tourists after Labor Day, the Miss America pageant was initiated in the early 1920s, in Atlantic
City, New Jersey. She adds that other pageants such as Miss USA and Miss Universe started in
1952.

Child beauty pageants, the focus of my research paper, didn't start until the 1960s as Anya
Sostek discloses in one of her articles. Little Miss America pageant, as it was called then, was
launched in Palisades Park Amusement park in New Jersey. The pageant center website gives
some highlights about CBP and their evolution, and emphasizes that CBP were created to help
adorable little girls in party dresses develop confidence on-stage. As it informs, in 1962, a
woman named Marge Hannaman initiated the Our Little Miss Scholarship Pageant contest as a
way to help little girls better themselves socially, professionally and communication-wise in the
business mans world. In 1975, that contest stopped for a year after five contestants became
members of the cast on the TV program Mickey Mouse Club. In 1985, the mother/daughter
beauty contests were started. In an article about the history of child pageants, Hannah Miet
states, It is around that time (the mother/daughter pageant beginning) that frilly gowns, known
as cupcake dresses emerged and makeup became part of child pageant culture. At that time,
CBP were more popular in the south than any other part of the USA.
However, in 1996, the murder of Jonbennet Ramsey, a 6-year-old beauty pageant
attracted the attention of the US society to the pageantry world. If not for Jonbenets murder,
that world might have thrived in relative anonymity (Hilboldt-Stolley 3). She was murdered in
the basement of the house where she lived with her parents. She was sexually assaulted and
strangled with a cord as the police report stated (Adler, Jerry, Osborne 1). Her unfortunate and
violent death shocked The US society and made the world of child pageantry known to the
world, which until then was not very famous. Following her death, child pageants were heavily
criticized for stealing the innocence of pageant children by encouraging sexually seductive
behaviors at a young age (Hilboldt-Stolley 3).

Since CBP gained fame, many media networks have promoted it. Hilboldt-Stolley reports
that the first pageant to ever be televised was Little Miss Universe which was hosted by Miami
broadcaster, in 1960. A television network called TLC hosts some of the child pageant shows
such as Toddlers & Tiaras and "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo" which follow some child
pageants from their personal lives to when they are on stage performing. Some episodes of the
Toddlers and Tiaras show can also be found on Netflix.
The controversy about CBP
The CBP issue is a controversial issue and the subject of debates among the US society.
Some people argue that they are detrimental to a childs self-esteem and encourage pedophiles,
causing negative impacts to not only the participants, but also those watching the contests on
televisions and social media from their homes. On the other hand, there are those who believe
these contests are the best way to shape a childs self-confidence and prepare them for the
competitive society we live in. After weighing the advantages and bad consequences of CBP that
I will be discussing in this paper, I agree with those who are against it. I find that CBP are more
harmful than beneficial to pageant children and the society in general. My reasons are that some
children are exploited and abused in the whole CBP process, some become narcissistic and
egocentric while others have their self confidence crushed, and it promotes eating disorders
among the society, and sexualization at a very young age.

Child exploitation or bonding-time with parents?

CBP are appraised for being a way of exploitation of children by their parents, especially
mothers who are trying to live their dreams through their daughters. In an article by Katherine
Bindley about the exploitation of child pageants, Breedwell who is a former child pageant said
4

this from her time in beauty pageants: Since I was three I was pressured by my mom to be
perfect. But living up to her expectations was impossible. This suggests that some mothers are
not after the childs happiness and wishes when they put them through these competitions but
rather their own satisfaction. Another former pageant child Daney meyer explained how she was
exploited by her mother in an article written by Yvonne Mazzulo, that talks about the abuse that
some child pageants undergo. She said how after deciding to stop pageants, her mother who had
always wanted to be a pageant queen herself was very angry, and this later led them to stopping
all communication. Billy Reed endorses this in his article about negative impacts of CBP by
stating that, Some parents are so warped, so starved for attention or some kind of self-validation
that they will shamelessly exploit their childrens physical beauty without regard for the possible
consequences.
Opposing viewpoints to this concern claim that CBP are fun for children and strengthen
bonds between parents and their children. In the article The high cost of beauty by Jeannie
Raltson, Griff ONeil who is the founder and president of international Pageant Association
asserts that benefits of these pageants include promoting mother-daughter bonding. Moreover,
its not anymore the mums only who get to enjoy quality time with their children because there
are also pageant dads nowadays. In the article Father knows Glitz by Joey Bartolomeo,
Pageant dads discuss how it is enjoyable and fun to work with their children and help them with
different tasks such as preparing their clothes or rehearsing for their routines. One child pageant
whose dad is very involved with getting her ready for her contests said: I am very lucky my dad
can do that stuff. This confirms what San Clemente a pageant dad emphasizes, that it is not so
much the glitz that parents are after, but rather good bonding time (Bartolomeo 2).
Are children being abused in the process?
5

The child Abuse Prevention and Treatment and Adoption Reform act defines child abuse
as the physical or mental injury, sexual abuse or exploitation, of a child under circumstances
which indicate the childs health or welfare is threatened or harmed(Reed 3). Many people
argue that CBP violate this act and that some of the situations seen on child pageants TV shows
are child abuse. Some pageant parents have been repeatedly criticized for subjecting their
children to both physical and psychological abuse. There have been some outbreaks in the child
pageantry world about abuse such as a mother on the TLC show who forced her daughter to have
her eyebrows waxed. The little girl is seen begging her mother not to make her do it, but the
mother ignores her supplications and tells the beauty specialist to go ahead with the waxing,
adding, Normally I would just hold her down and rip it off. Another woman Kerry Campbell
had her daughter removed from her custody by San Franciscos Child Protective Services after
being shown on TV injecting Botox into the little girls face and also performing virginal
waxing to inhibit hair growth (Mazzulo 1). Additionally, the article Could child beauty
pageants be banned from America? by Michelle Healey tells the kind of abuse that Martina
Cartwright who performed a study on child pageants encountered. During her sessions of filming
child pageant shows, she noticed some parents who would refuse to allow their children to get
some sleep in the middle of contests which can be long because of many different categories.
They do this so as to avoid spoiling their childrens makeup or hairstyle, some going as far as
giving them drinks containing caffeine to keep them awake and active.
CBP are not only critiqued for causing physical harm but also for generating mental
health problems later on. Faye DeMatteo the mother of a pageant child, along with other pageant
mothers took matters in their own hands when some psychologists and a former Miss America
discussed on television how pageant children are subjected to emotional harm (Hilboldt-Stolley
6

4.) In response to those critics, Faye reports: We called psychological institutes around the
country, even the Mayo Clinic. There are no studies. They cant produce anything to prove
adverse effects. Faye also affirms that as much as pageants may not be the most legal activity
for children, they at least dont deal with some of the issues our society has to deal with the most
such as drug addictions, alcoholism and gang activities.
Nevertheless, there is evidence that childhood pageantry have long-term effects on
children that might lead to some of those problems even after years without actively participating
in pageants. Some studies have been conducted about the effects of childhood pageantry on the
psychological health of former pageants, namely one conducted by Anna Wonderlich, Diann
Ackard and Judith Anderson. They conducted their experiment on females with an average age
of twenty years old, who had participated in beauty pageants as children and those who had not
(Wonderlich, Diann, Henderson 297). After gathering all their data, they came to the conclusion
that for those who participated in CBP there was a greater body dissatisfaction, interpersonal
distrust, and impulse dysregulation than women who did not participate in childhood beauty
pageants, and they added that all these problems could be associated with media exposure as
some other research have demonstrated (Wonderlich, Diann, Henderson 297). Furthermore,
William Pinsof who conducted a research on child actresses and models reports that children
who have this kind of lifestyle are prone to drug addiction, eating disorders and depression in
puberty (Adler, Jerry, Sherry Keen-Osborne 3).
Are we building self-esteem or promoting narcissism and egocentrism?
Those who argue in favor of CBP assert that it builds a high level of self-confidence in
children and provide them with the right tools to become successful in the competitive world we

live in. Child pageants develop skills such as public speaking and acting, they get to explore their
talents, and widen their self-esteem. Anna Berry, whose thirteen-year-old daughter is a child
pageant, affirms that these contests have transformed her daughter who was very timid before
entering these competitions, and that she has acquired beneficial skills and great confidence to
help her in the future (Healy 2). Even though some pageants might focus on beauty, Dolly
Abbey, executive director of Miss Charlevoix pageant maintains that they focus on the skills
rather than on how the child looks (Jeannie 3). Ive seen kids win in $60 dresses and Ive seen
kids win in $600 dresses. This suggests that those children who can out compete their peers who
from the outside might look better have no other weapon than noticeable skills and excellent
confidence on the stage.
Contradictory claims emphasize that it is not all the children who build their selfconfidence through these beauty pageants, but rather only those who win. As some research have
informed, when one child wins the competition, those who didnt get the same chance have their
self-esteem crushed and start worrying about their bodies, a discomfort that might lead them to
developing eating disorders (Reed 3).
Besides, some concerns have come up from the fact that in the process of building selfconfidence in these children, the parents might be doing it a little too much that kids might
become narcissistic and egocentric. In the article Generation Me by Raina Kelley and Sarah
Kliff, narcissism is defined as a disproportionate sense of self-worth. When one watches the
Toddlers and Tiaras show, some cases of narcissism and egocentrism are observed, whether
from the mothers side or the children themselves. An example of narcissism behavior that has
been very criticized is seen on the show Here comes honey Boo Boo. This is a show about a
child pageant named Alana Thompson who has made headlines because of her exceptionality. As
8

much as Alana defies the stereotypical image the society has of a perfect beauty pageant, this
this little girl is criticized for her narcissism and disrespectful attitude towards interviewers. Her
mother does not seem to care about her daughters odd behavior. In fact, she has been criticized
too for acting very inappropriately by praising her daughters conduct. This behavior from both
the mother and the daughter entice the medias interest.
CBP can also encourage egocentrism. One very competitive pageant mother who
appeared on a Universal Royalty National Pageant that was held in Texas certainly gave a
surprising answer when asked about the mother-daughter competition that was going to take
place. She said that she would like to win, and if not her, then her daughter. One question here
would be: At this point, do the daughters wishes and success mater anymore if her mother
prioritizes her own needs? If a parent enrolls her child in such competitions, the least to do is to
support the child even when it means to accept loosing for the childs happiness.
What kind of message are CBP sending to the US society?
CBP certainly have positive impacts on the society. With the overweight epidemic in the
USA, CBP can help in the battle against it. They can inspire families with unhealthy lifestyles to
adapt a healthier diet in order for their children to have better body images, which can help in
decreasing the overweight issue nowadays. Also, they give valuable life skills and shape some
pageants into eloquent, talented and confident people, who in the future might become leaders in
our society. In addition, the fact that children are competing for certain valuable prizes such as
scholarships, at least those who are grown enough to understand it, can encourage other children
to also engage in activities that will benefit them in the same way. Pageants who understand what
such a competition has to offer develop a sense of responsibility as they strive to win the contest.

Annette Hill who started the Universal Royalty Pageant system stresses, Pageant kids take
charge a little more than other kids. Their public behavior can easily distinguish them from
other ordinary kids (Hilboldt-Stolley 4).
On the other hand, some mental health professionals have warned parents about an earlier
than normal transition from childhood to adulthood. In an article that appeared in CBS Local,
Psychiatry professor Mark Reinecke advises parents to be cautious about what kind of message
their children are getting from pageantry activities. From the videos he watched, he believes little
girls are led to believe that their worth to others depends on how they look, and he adds: Let a
little girl be a little girl. To put it another way, kids shouldnt be rushed into growing up and
should have the opportunity to have a normal childhood.
Judging little girls on their body images might generate some negative consequences.
Miss Americas former director lenora Slaughter acknowledges the fact that even though beauty
pageant contests were created for a greater cause such as helping contestants with academics,
talent discovery and others, the judges and other peoples focus might lean towards looks
(Critchell 1). Ryl Harrison who studied the impacts of modern ways of living in a very
sexualized society on mothers raising girls between ages nine and thirteen gives her opinion in
an article written by Rachel Toune. She comments that it might promote eating disorders and
intense cosmetic surgeries among women in our society in order to attain the perfect body
figure. What it does promote is looking at yourself through somebody elses eye, states
Harrison (Toune 3).
Finally, many people point on the public sexualization of young girls. Many argue that
some of the clothes worn by these child pageants and their behaviors on stage are not age

10

appropriate. For instance, in an article about the sexualization and exploitation of child pageants,
Justin Neal recounts the time a nine-year-old contestant incarnated the female singer most known
for her very sexualized character, Marilyn Monroe. Worries expressed by some people are that in
the audience that is watching those shows are pedophiles that might be encouraged by what they
see. In an article written by Alan Zarembo about the causes of pedophilia, a study conducted on
65 pedophiles by scientists in Toronto claims that for a pedophile, Seeing a child sets off the
same neural response that men typically experience around an attractive woman. Now, what
would images of sexualized little girls serve as, other than a sexual entertainment for them?
Opinions of former child beauty pageants
Some admit to have had a great experience during childhood pageantry. Deborah Tushnet
who was a child pageant and even won the contest entitled Worlds Miss LaPetite when she
was five years old cherishes very much the souvenirs she kept from those times and affirms that
her winnings put her through college (Jeannie 3).
Another mother who has enrolled her daughter in beauty pageants shares her experience
in an article by Dan German that gives more a positive view on these contests. Even if she didnt
give much importance to the pageants in which she participated, she insists about what an
enjoyable experience it has been for her and her daughter to interact with other contestants. She
says Ive never met an abusive mother, and Ive met a lot of parents since becoming a part-time
pageant trainer myself. Sure people get upset when they dont win, but not to any extreme.
Others describe their time in pageants as the most horrible part of their entire lives. A
twenty-year-old former child pageant who was in the glitz type recounts: My mum wanted to
be a pageant queen and she put me in them [pageants] when I was 9 months old. By the time that

11

I was 8, I had done over 400 pageants. When I was 12 I broke my leg at a pageant and that
actually saved me. I used that as an excuse to stop and my mom was really angry with me. I
hated doing them. I hated everything that I had to do to look the part. It was painful and I would
never do that to my child.(Mazzulo 1)
Brooke Breedwell is another former child pageant who warns parents about getting their
kids involved with child pageants. She recalls form her pageant days: my mum would pull me
away from my friends and transform me from a tomboy into a beauty queen because she insisted
I needed to practice every day. I absolutely hated the make-up, the hairspray and fake teeth. But
most of all I hated being forced to go on the tanning bed and I would cry every time. That was
three times a week for 20 minutes at a time, writes Bindley.
Conclusion
Child beauty pageants might present some advantages, but I believe they are more harmful than
beneficial for the reasons mentioned above, and the testimonies of former child pageants that had
their childhood stolen from them by selfish parents. Some little children might show their desire
to participate in beauty pageants as many pageant mums claim, but at their age they are not
aware of what they might be engaging themselves in. Others are being exploited by their parents
as in the case of the testimonies above, and cant stand up to their parents. Moreover, the
physical and psychological abuse that some children endure can be the result of problems such as
depression and eating disorders. The broadcast of these child pageant contests and shows on
social media spread their negative effects to the rest of the society. As Cartwright emphasizes,
TV images have a huge impact on little girls and the type of messages they internalize about
what is normal, how they should look and how they should behave (Healy 2). Lets make sure

12

we send the right message. And lets not forget about the sexualization of some children. Even if
so far there has only been one case of a child pageant sexually molested and murdered, we do not
need two or three more pageants to have the same fate before acknowledging that they are
pedophiles roaming around in our society waiting for the perfect time to hurt a child, whether a
beauty pageant or any other ordinary child, as a result of the encouragement of child pageant
shows.
It is true that people can look at something but analyze it differently. Pageant parents look at their
children as normal kids having fun, other people describe them as sexualized little women. Some
pageant parents should try to understand that their childrens manners on stage have significant
impacts on our society. Many people claim that the unpleasant cases seen on social media are one
in a million; however, these are the ones that will always be chosen by TV channels because they
give people something interesting to watch and consequently keep the business running.
Banning CBP altogether can be unfair to some pageants that are more or less child appropriate;
yet, I would suggest that they be banned from being broadcasted on social media. This would be
helpful in the sense that parents and children would get to enjoy those activities, at the same time
protecting children from untrusted strangers, and protecting the rest of the society from the
unnecessary negative consequences discussed previously.

13

Works Cited
Adler, Jerry, and Sherry Keene-Osborne. "The Strange World Of Jonbenet." Newsweek 129.3
(1997): 42. Academic Search Premier. Web. 4 Oct. 2013.
Bartolomeo, Joey. "Father Knows Glitz." People 74.16 (2010): 64-71. Academic Search Premier.
Web. 24 Oct. 2013.
Bindley, Katherine. Brooke Breedwell, Former Child Pageant Star, Warns Parents Against
Pageant Life. The Huffington Post. 14 Sep 2012. 14 Nov 2013.
<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/14/brooke-breedwell-former-child-pageantstar_n_1885132.html >
Critchell, Samantha. "History of Pageants Goes Beyond Pretty Faces." Orlando Sentinel Aug 13
2006: 0. ProQuest. 4 Oct. 2013 .
Healy, Michelle. "Could Child Beauty Pageants be Banned in the USA?" Gannett News
ServiceSep 22 2013. ProQuest. Web. 15 Nov. 2013 .
Hilboldt-Stolley, Lise. "Pretty Babies." Good Housekeeping 228.2 (1999): 102. Academic Search
Premier. Web. 4 Oct. 2013.
Justin, Neal. "It's prime time do you know where your children are?." Star Tribune (Minneapolis,
MN) 22 June 2009: Newspaper Source. Web. 17 Oct. 2013.
Kelley, Raina, and Sarah Kliff. "Generation Me." Newsweek 153.17 (2009): 48. Business Source
Elite. Web. 15 Nov. 2013.
Miet Hannah. How Child Beauty Pageants Got Weird. Vocativ. 6 Nov. 2013. Web. 21 Nov.
2013
Rachel, Toune. "Beauty Pageant A Confidence Boost Entering A Toddler's Beauty Pageant Can
Be A Fun And Positive Experience." Townsville Bulletin (2011): 303. Newspaper Source. Web.
11 Oct. 2013.
Ralston, Jeannie. "The High Cost Of Beauty." Parenting 15.9 (2001): 132. Health Source Consumer Edition. Web. 11 Oct. 2013.
Reed, Billy. "Child Beauty Pageants Should Be Eliminated." Beauty Pageants. Ed. Nol Merino.
Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2010. At Issue. Rpt. from "Time to End Child Beauty Pageants."
Billy Reed Says. 2006. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 25 Oct. 2013.
Sostek, Anya. "Beaver County 8-Year-Old Wears Crown but Doesn't Fit Mold of Typical Pageant
Contestant." McClatchy - Tribune Business NewsJun 13 2010. ProQuest. Web. 21 Nov. 2013 .
Yvonne, Mazzulo. Child Beauty Pageants: A form of Child abuse? Examiner.com. 18 May
2011. 24 Oct 2013 < http://www.examiner.com/article/child-beauty-pageants-a-form-of-childabuse>.

14

Zarembo Alan. Many Researchers taking a different view on pedophilia. Los Angeles Times.
14 Jan. 2013. 21 Nov. 2013.
Kids Beauty Pageants Gain Popularity, Draw Concern. CBS Local Digital Media. 29 Feb.
2012. 25 Oct. 2013. < http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/02/29/kids-beauty-pageants-gainpopularity-draw-concern/>
Pageant History 1960s. Pageant Center. Pageant History, n. d. Web. 19 Nov. 2013.
Pageant History 1970s. Pageant Center. Pageant History, n. d. Web. 19 Nov. 2013.
Pageant History 1980s. Pageant Center. Pageant History, n. d. Web. 19 Nov. 2013.

15