'Toddlers and Tiaras' (babies, daughters, 3 years old, hubby)
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Toddlers & Tiaras is one of my favorite TV shows. It reminds me of my childhood as I was in beauty pageants when I was young, I quit at age 13. I am the only girl, so my mom had always wanted a little girl to do pageants. I loved pageants, but I do think it is wrong for a parent to force her child into doing them. They are also popular ere in the south, I know other states have them but the south is known for beauty pageants. My mother and grandmother took beauty pageants very seriously. Not all of the girls are bratty, like the show portrays. I am also surprised that the show doesn't show the scenes when the judges interview the child.
Beauty pageants do have their pros and cons but in my experince the pros far outweigh the cons. When you win a supreme title it makes you feel good inside. I used to be a very shy child, now I can go up and speak to anyone. I have made some very close friends that I have competed with in pageants with and still stay in touch with to this day. Pageants often giveaway scholarship money as well.Toddlers and Tiaras does always show the more negative side to pageants I think they should show more of the kids being kids. I was never "deprived" of my childhood from doing pageants, it was just a hobby like sports and cheerleading are. I think that is mostly where the outrage from others who dont quite understand pageants come from. There are crazy and competitive parents in football, baseball, and other activities. Not saying that one is better than the other but the dad who constantly wants their son to practice football and learn how to tackle is no different than the mom who wants her daughter to practice and remember her pageant stage routine.
I have done both natural and glitz (both semi & full glitz). I went through the fake nails, teeth, hairspray, big hair, etc and I had really enjoyed doing them. I went through traveling from state to state and my mom said that i did have some temper tantrums, but it was not the norm. overall it was a great experience and I would put my daughter in pageants if I had one.
But what about the little girls that don't win? Since the whole thing is based on looks - do they then feel 'not so good' inside? Or perhaps even ugly?
I worry about those girls and what that could do to your self esteem at such an early age. Thinking of yourself as not good enough by age 3; or not pretty enough by age 4.
What bugs me the most, even more than the girls looking 20 years older than they really are, is the attitude of the mothers. When the girls are acting up (and by that I mean the hitting, yelling, and smart-mouthed comments the kids make) the moms call that a 'unique personality'.
No, moms, it's not personality...and it's not unique...it's your kid being a spoiled *** brat! What they consider 'cute' at three years old is going to be uncontrollable at 13.
These are the kids who grow up, join cliques, and harrass the hell out of whomever they perceive to be 'below' them.
However, I have to agree that the editing of the show makes it all seem worse than it probably is. Especially when they interview the parents, all who say their kid just loves being made up, etc., and they play that clip when the kid is going bananas. It makes the moms look silly and worthy of contempt. BUT, that's what the show is designed to do, IMO.
Our daughter at the age of 7 decided she wanted to compete in a local pageant. So we got her a dress, did the makeup, and she came in 2nd place. She was so proud and pleased! After the pageant, we stopped at the grocery store. As we were getting back into our car, a woman dragged her crying daughter over to our car from across the parking lot. "SEE! THIS is what a WINNER looks like!" she SHRIEKED at her daughter, who really burst into tears then. Her daughter hadn't placed in the pageant.
My daughter was appalled. "Mommy, I don't want to live like that," she said, and that was that. Thank goodness. I have no use for "beauty pageants"; my daughter grew up to be an educated talented bio major and is now an assistant pathologist making 6 figures. She is 24, still beautiful, smart and self-assured - and she didn't need all of that fooforall, public acclaim and applause to build her life. She is engaged to a wonderful guy who is hardworking and loves her and her self-confident attitude.
One of my friends married a girl who at the age of 26 was STILL competing in beauty pageants. She had literally no other talents. She pined for the attention, wore heavy makeup every day, had to have the best shoes and outfits, and could only talk about shoes, clothes, and makeup. He was one of those guys who wanted a young and pretty thing on his arm, not someone who could have intelligent conversations or be a partner in a marriage. They both got what they wanted, hooray for them.
Whatever floats your boat. Just please don't try to tell me that mothers do it for their children. They do it for themselves, and the kids are just an extension of themselves, the 'pretty popular girl' they never were.
Simple Question: Why is this show still running?
Answer: It has a audience!
I dont like the show and havent watched it for 1 year or so, but the few eposides i saw were horrible. These women are teaching there daughters that to be pretty you need a tan, fake theeth, not to be happy with there bodies, sex sells exspensive cloths, and fake bleached hair. All these things have negative side effects on you. If you tan to much you can get skin cancer. Fake teeth can corrode your enamel overtime causing you to lose your real theeth, not being happy with your weight can lead to eating disorders, being sexy can get you a baby at a young age, exspensive clothes can make you broke , and bleaching your hair constelny can make it fall out! No wonder why little girls are getting bullied in classrooms at the age of 10! It was unheard of but america is making children grow up ALOT faster then before. So when you see 13 year olds with tans, tight pants, and bleached hair you know what show or shows to blame.....
I just feel bad for the more homely looking or acting children these toddler and tiara girls will tear them apart in class. Wearing dress that cost more then there parents cars, and looking like a 5 year old Paris Hilton! America is doomed! lol
Why are pageants more popular in the south? Is it kinda like the debutante (sp?) , are they dances??? I'm not a southern girl, so I have no idea. lol =) I'm a northern born & bred girl who just doesn't get it. =( Of course, I was a tomboy too, so, maybe that played into it.
I believe that debutante balls did play a part with making pageantry popular. The pristine beauty dresses you wear to pageants are upscale as the ones you wear at debutante balls. They are both about showing poise, beauty, and grace.
The dresses aren't cheap and you may never get your money back. Unless you make them yourself, my mother used to make my pageant dresses or you can rent one. You will also need a sportswear/outfit of choice and a swimsuit in a glitz pageant. To qualify for glitz, the dresses and outfits must have rhinestones on it.
Quote:
TreasuredJewel, you mentioned your 'mom had always wanted a girl to do pagents', & I wondered if you are an only child, or if you have a brother/s? If so, I just wondered their reaction.
My friend from OK loved doing pageants as a child too. She is this cute, bubbly, girl, w/ a high pitched voice, whom I love to death. She has the sweetest smile, & I don't see ill effects to her. I still don't like them though. lol I'm allowed too. I do agree w/ you though, the editing of T & T I'm sure tries to show the most shocking stuff. & I also agree w/ you on the parents in any area can push their kids too hard. The area I'm afraid I might push my kids too hard in later on is academics. I can already feel myself doing it to my son. Mostly in math. I guess we all have our 'vices'.
Yeah I am the youngest out of 5 boys. She literally spoiled me just because I was a girl. Being the baby of the family and the only girl did have it's advantages. She hired a pageant coach and we practiced whether the coach was present or not. My mom wasn't so strict, if I did not feel like practicing, she would not force me. She took me to the beauty salon every other week and I was getting my hair done, nails done, eyebrows done etc ever since I was 2 or 3 years old. I didn't think my brothers were too jealous, even though I did get special attention. They all eventually grew out of it and just accepted it as part of life.
My dad always played football with the boys and encouraged them to join the school team. College football and cheerleading is also big here. I remember all the parents screaming at their kids "Tackle em!" or "Get him!" is really no different then my mom saying "Smile pretty girl" or my pageant coach saying "You going to rock that stage?" lol.
But what about the little girls that don't win? Since the whole thing is based on looks - do they then feel 'not so good' inside? Or perhaps even ugly?
I worry about those girls and what that could do to your self esteem at such an early age. Thinking of yourself as not good enough by age 3; or not pretty enough by age 4.
Yes they are called beauty pageants but other factors play a part into it. It takes more than a pretty face to win a pageant. Most pageants have a talent competition, girls who can sing, dance etc could win the talent portion of the pageant. Modeling is very important. Having the best personality can also pull higher titles. If you ask some judges what they look for they will more than likely mention how confident the contestant appears and showing personality on stage.
Most of the younger girls 6 and under will probably just be happy to have a crown and sash to take home. They just have to hear their named called and they will be smiling and happy that they got something to bring home. The older girls 6 and up will probably see it as more of a competition and try to better themselves as more is expected of them.
It is troublesome for a little girl to go through that, but most pageants give the child a goodie bag just for participating.
Treasuredjewel made a point she was actually IN pageants btw how is this any different competitive sports??
Because it sexualizes young girls at a way too early age. Most teens will pick up on how to sexualize themselves with all the media emphasis on beauty and outward appearance. They do not need to get these lessons as a 4 year old child.
Football players and other athletes prove their worth by being in good physical condition, being able to make instant decisions, hone their SKILLS with hard practice, and there is a big emphasis on team work and cooperation. The most exciting baskets are made after somebody else has set it up. Girls don't learn these lessons. They learn the other girls are competitors, the other mothers are ruthless and their self worth is determined by how the LOOK. It's just so wrong on so many levels. BTW I'm southern born and bred myself and I've never know one other woman who was in or put her daughter in a beauty pageant.
I think this is more prevalent in the less educated and lower socioeconomic groups.
Because it sexualizes young girls at a way too early age. Most teens will pick up on how to sexualize themselves with all the media emphasis on beauty and outward appearance. They do not need to get these lessons as a 4 year old child.
Football players and other athletes prove their worth by being in good physical condition, being able to make instant decisions, hone their SKILLS with hard practice, and there is a big emphasis on team work and cooperation. The most exciting baskets are made after somebody else has set it up. Girls don't learn these lessons. They learn the other girls are competitors, the other mothers are ruthless and their self worth is determined by how the LOOK. It's just so wrong on so many levels. BTW I'm southern born and bred myself and I've never know one other woman who was in or put her daughter in a beauty pageant.
I think this is more prevalent in the less educated and lower socioeconomic groups.
Exactly- nicely said, nokudzu.
I've watched several pageants shows and I've yet to see anything learned through pageantry that can't be learned in soccer or a ballet class.
Pesonally, I don't understand why any parent would want to make their 4-year old look like a 20-year old with Jackie Kennedy's hair.
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