This picture shows a young beautiful girl. I looked at the picture I thought this little girl was in her preteens. Yet, this young girl is only five years old. Her name is Brianna and she is from a well known show on TLC called “Toddlers and Tiaras”. She is all done up with make-up, full extensions, fake teeth, and a glitzy dress. When looking at the picture someone might say what a beautiful girl and a gorgeous dress, but when you beyond the picture and find out that she is parading herself around in front of judges just to be the most beautiful the excitement is lost.
On this show you get to go into the lives of these people for a couple of days. They show the preparation for a specific pageant, the on stage cat walks, and then the crowing of these young children. These children go through hours and hours of putting on make-up and styling their hair just to go on stage and solely judged on their looks. During the actually pageant they have a routine that they have to remember. God forbid that they forget their routine, so there won’t be disappointed and angry adult ready to take it out on their child. The crowing is the saddest part. Only a certain amount of children can win the crowns. When a child does their best and doesn’t win a crown the look of disappointment on their face is devastating. These young girls that don’t win feel like they are not good enough, like they are lesser than everyone else. That is not the message that we should be sending children as young as 2 and 3.
I feel sorry for some of the young children that are made to do this. They are going to be filled with thoughts of beauty is the only thing that matter and other qualities in a person don’t matter. Also the self image and confidence in the girls can be completely destroyed by these pageants.
On this show you get to go into the lives of these people for a couple of days. They show the preparation for a specific pageant, the on stage cat walks, and then the crowing of these young children. These children go through hours and hours of putting on make-up and styling their hair just to go on stage and solely judged on their looks. During the actually pageant they have a routine that they have to remember. God forbid that they forget their routine, so there won’t be disappointed and angry adult ready to take it out on their child. The crowing is the saddest part. Only a certain amount of children can win the crowns. When a child does their best and doesn’t win a crown the look of disappointment on their face is devastating. These young girls that don’t win feel like they are not good enough, like they are lesser than everyone else. That is not the message that we should be sending children as young as 2 and 3.
I feel sorry for some of the young children that are made to do this. They are going to be filled with thoughts of beauty is the only thing that matter and other qualities in a person don’t matter. Also the self image and confidence in the girls can be completely destroyed by these pageants.
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Even though I have done pageants in the past, I can argue on both sides of the pageant spectrum. I have watched the show on TLC, "Toddlers and Tiaras" before and have seen that some of the girls know nothing else but pageantry, while others still seem to young and not mature enough to do these pageants. While my mother never made me do pageants, I always wanted to do pageants because of the mere fact of getting dressed up and glittered up, something you would not do on a normal basis. I can though see on the other hand by actually watching this show that some of the girls do become "brats" if they do not win and begin to pitch crying fits to their mothers if their name was not called out. With that I can understand why some people fill that it brings out "catyness" in young girls, but I also strongly believe that it brings out self esteem as well as a way for girls to undergo and learn how to stay on schedule and be able to take orders (by their mothers having to either teach them themselves or pay someone else to teach them there specific routines). Even though I think children should stay children as long as they can, I do not believe that this is the worst thing a mother, grandmother, or whomever could do to a little girl.
ReplyDeleteLauren Williamon
ReplyDeleteEven though I have never watched Toddlers and Tiaras on TLC, I have seen some pictures of the little girls. I think they are absolutely beautiful. Although, it is odd they look to be in their mid-teens, and they are only four and five years old. Maybe I don't understand exactly where their parents are coming from, but why are they putting their little girls in pageants so early? I think pageants are completely fine if the child is at least in in their teens. They should let their kids be kids and play around outside. Not make them wear a gallon of make up and put extensions in their hair. What happens when they loose, and their self-esteem is destroyed? When they get older they are going to want people to notice them for their looks and not whats on the inside.I just do not agree with this at such an early age.
I have not seen this paticular show, however I do remember watching a special on pageants such as this one. I have to say that I do agree with you. A lot of times parents tend to use their kids to re-live their dreams. I dont think that its right to apply such an enormous amount of pressure on a child of any age. I feel that it only adds to Americas obsession with perfection that so many of us get wrapped up in. That's how people grow up with self esteem issues, and having the need to reach perfection in their parents eyes. There is simply no such thing in my opinion. On the other hand, If a child fully enjoys pageants then I see nothing wrong with that either. But at the age of 2, 3, and so on children should be being children. Sure every parent has dreams and aspirations for their child, its just that in this paticuliar situation, at what point will a parent let them discover and express their own indiviuality?
ReplyDeleteI've seen quiet a few episodes or this show, i find it adorable seeing the little girls all dressed up. Even though they looks like little barbie dolls on stage, the parents take these competitions way too serious. I remember watching a show that is similar to "Toddlers and Tiaras" and there were a few kids that were forced to do pageants. Some of the kids were literally throwing temper tantrums trying to get themselves out of it. Obviously it didnt matter what the kids wanted the parents just made them calm down and acted as if nothing was wrong. I dont think parents should force children to do pageants if they dont want to, it should be a choice they make themselves; and if they cant make a choice themselves at that age then they arent old enough to make decisions on their own.
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