Beauty Pageants : The Beauty Pageant

Beauty. What is it? Where does it come from? What should we do with it? These, among others, are questions widely debated in today’s society. As Charles Darwin once said, “It is certainly not true that there is in the mind of man any universal standard of beauty with respect to the human body” (source G). Using this and many other points from varying sources I will answer these long disputed questions. So what is beauty? People most often think of beauty as a very specific standard you have to reach or you don’t fit in. You know those rules: long hair (preferably blonde), long legs (tan, of course), very slender, and a great fashion sense. In fact, 57% of women agree that “the attributes of female beauty have become very narrowly

The article “Toddlers in Tiara’s” by Skip Hollandsworth based off the popular TV show Toddlers and Tiara’s, converses the sexualization of the girls who participate in American beauty pageants. Hollandsworth parleys the effects beauty pageants could possibly have on those who participate in the pageants, such as development and emotion problems. Using the appeals of logic, emotion and ethics in a serious and informative tone he persuades his audience of parents, pageant participants and viewers of the widely known TV show the negative effects of being an American Beauty Pageant contestant. Hollandsworth gains credibility by referencing the opinions of different professionals and authorities. Before the death of JonBenet many Americans didn’t

The opinion that beauty pageants are all fun and games is a very dangerous one to have. The lives of participating children are never the same because of the long term emotional and psychological effects that are brought on by early

Each year, around three million children, ages 6 to 16, will compete in a beauty pageant. When a child enters to compete in a beauty pageant, it not only damages the child now, but as well as later in life. Also, the standards that these children are held to while competing in a beauty pageant is affecting their development.

First, we will talk about how child beauty pageants started. The upbringing of child beauty pageants is very interesting. It started off with “Pageants celebrating female beauty and charm being fixture at fairs and festivals the U.S. since the 19th century”(Hilboldt), and then “Their rise in popularity probably dates back to 1954, when the miss America pageants was first broadcasted on TV”(Hilboldt). “In 1960, a miami broadcaster hosted the first locally televised pageant for children, Little Miss universes”(Hilboldt). Around “The 1980’s child pageants had become an inextricable part of life in the South…”(Hilboldt). Pageants have dated back for centuries, but did not rise in popularity until it was first broadcasted on TV. Furthermore, the number of kids that participate in beauty pageants is eminence. A majority of little girls wanted to be in pageants, because “They began dreaming of one day becoming Miss America”(Hilboldt). With so many kids in pageants “It’s estimated that 25,000 children compete in more than 5,000 pageants in the U.S. each year”(Hilboldt). It is crazy how many little girls participate in beauty pageants each year just so they can hopefully become the next Miss America. While beauty pageants are still relevant and legal in the U.S. France is trying to ban them. “France is considering a move to ban beauty pageants for girls under 16 as a way to fight the hyper-sexualization of children”(“France”). While,“Under the proposal, organizers of beauty pageants aimed at young children...could face up to two years in prison and fines of $40,000”(“France”). Also, “The measure is a part of of a wider law on gender equality and was approved by the French Senate after garnering 197 votes in favor of the ban,

The article “Toddlers in Tiaras” was written by Skip Hollandsworth, and was published by Good Housekeeping on August 2011.The author argues that child pageants can have negative effects on the young girls’ lives. Hollandsworth wrote this article in response to the popularity of the TV show “Toddlers and Tiaras”. This article “Toddler in Tiaras” can be divided into five sections. In the introduction, the author presents an example of a young girl getting ready for a pageant. Hollandsworth then introduces a pageant girl by the name Eden Woods and her mother Mickie. The author Skip Hollandsworth describes every little detail about Eden’s process of getting ready from all the thick layers of foundation they’re putting on the 6-year-old girl face,

Child beauty pageants started in the 1960’s, and have been increasingly more popular in the past decade. Currently, there are over two hundred-fifty thousand children under the age of fourteen competing in beauty pageants (Triggs et al 2012). There are no age limits in place; age groups range from zero months to eight months all the way up until eighteen years of age. Parents who enter their children in pageants can damage their children for the rest of their lives. However, pageants do help the beauty industry, and essentially create jobs.

“It doesn’t matter if you can breathe. All that matters is if you look good”. Just Googling the search term “beauty pageants coming up,” will result in 2,710,000 results appearing in 1.18 seconds. Children are the fastest-growing segment of the beauty pageant market, with annual children's competitions attracting an estimated 3 million children, mostly girls, ages six months to 16 years, who compete for crowns and cash. Infants, carried onto the stage by their mothers, are commonplace. April Brilliant, reigning Mrs. Maryland and the director of Maryland-based Mystic Pageants, says pageants give little girls a chance to "play Cinderella." However, playing ‘Cinderella’ can cause children to develop insecurities or self-hatred if they don't

“Toddlers and Tiaras” was a hit television show that premiered on the channel TLC on December 12, 2008.  “Toddlers and Tiaras” ranked up a number of two million viewers per episode, which went on for seven seasons.  This show was so successful that a sequel called “Another Toddlers and Tiaras” aired on August 24, 2016.  “Toddlers and Tiaras”, not surprisingly, took a look into the lives of young pageant queens and what goes on behind the stage and all the makeup.  Many, but not all, young girls love to dress up and wear their mother’s high heels, but this trend has been taken up a notch in the last few decades with prizes and money now at stake.  Some people consider, what is being called child beauty pageants, cute, while some believe that it is disgusting and ruining children.  In this article, the different viewpoints on child beauty pageants can show as to why it can affect a child’s development positively and negatively.

commences to elevate in the early 1920’s where it was originated to be a marketing implement by a hotel owner. He wanted the city’s tourists to remain in town longer, therefore the rise of beauty pageant blooms and grows until today. It was in Atlantic City where the first Miss America Pageant was staged in September 1921 as reported by an online article on American Experience by PBS, Public Broadcasting Service. Child beauty pageant on the other hand began in the 1960’s where they are judged predicated on individuality looks, capability, poise, perfection and aptitude.

Beauty pageants have been around in America for decades; however, they have not gained notoriety until the show "Toddlers and Tiaras" aired on national television. The airing of "Toddlers and Tiaras" has brought child pageants to the attention of many Americans. Not many people were aware of what took place in beauty pageants, but ever since the show debuted in 2009 there has been an intense controversy about children as young as newborns being entered into pageants. Some people say that pageants raise self-esteem and teach responsibility, whereas others say that pageants are necessary and children should take advantage of their youth. Although pageants teach etiquette and communication skills, ultimately they carry a vastly high

Despite the obvious disadvantages, some opponents claim that child beauty pageants is one of the most important ways, who can learn child's self-confidence. Moreover, dependability as adults, we know the significance of being convinced in kids abilities. Having a healthy standard of self-confidence helps them achieve their target, make connection with others, and several other things. Constructing confidence starts at a young age and kids beauty competition are a great vehicle for children to begin constructing self-confidence (Clark, 2011). However, child beauty pageants should banned because of the risks which affect the children in many ways. In addition, this kind of competitions may seem frolic and wonderful from the outside, but it is

The purpose of this paper is to assess the negative effects of children beauty contest on its contestants. Although many people argue that there are some benefits of this contest such as build up the confidence, self-esteem, public speaking skills, tact, and poised it is also true that it can result to negative psychological effects and interferes in child development worldwide. The Toddlers and Tiaras, and Little Miss Perfect are popular reality TV shows that features young girls the real hardship and obstacles from their mother’s pressure or preparation for the pageant. They are ages from 1 to 12 years old, with main goal of winning and get the tiara and money or ribbon or teddy bears. Generally, the parents of these young girls believe and make decision that the beauty pageant is okay. Pageants, particularly those designed for younger children, focus primarily on appearance, attire, and perceived “cuteness.”

Whether you are a pageant fan or not, it is impossible for you not to hear about the pageant news especially here in the Philippines. Filipinos are one of the greatest and most dedicated pageant fans worldwide. According to Medel in one of the interviews conducted by Sun Star Philippines, "I think the strongest fans in the world are Filipinos. It's incredible. In 2006, I was in Los Angeles and there are a lot of Mexican people. But the Filipinos are very massive. When you talk with the people, everybody knows about the contest, about the muses, who is the winner. It's very nice" (Jarloc, 2017). Pageants were first introduced during the Spanish colonial period termed as Flores de Mayo. It was first considered as a religious tradition and turned into beauty pageant in the country. Even though we now conduct beauty pageants nowadays, we still continue to perform Flores de Mayo every fifth month of the year and it showcases the beauty of selected women in their provinces (Ocampo, 2017). Miss Philippines started in 1926 during the Manila Carnival which was established by the US Government (Ocampo, 2017). “Beauty pageants are based of looks despite the inclusion of a talent portion. How one appears, what one wears and how one presents their self are the main bases of the pageants” (Harter, 2014). I grew up believing that a woman should be beautiful, talented and intelligent enough to be able to be a beauty queen. It is a title every little girl dreamed of because I grew up

The TLC Show, “Toddlers and Tiaras,” is not an accurate representation of all that goes into preparing children for pageants. The show dramatizes the mostly the negative side of childhood beauty pageants. It depicts competitors that want to win strictly based on appearance. Despite the bad reputation that beauty pageants have, they equip young men and women with skills and opportunities such as chances to win scholarships, improving self-confidence and promoting social skills.