Children Beauty Pageants

The Effects of Children Participating in Beauty Pageants

Beauty pageants have been popular among Americans for nearly a century. Children did not begin participating in these events until 1961, when Palisades, an Amusement Park in New Jersey, debuted the first Little Miss America pageant. Every year, thousands of “pageant moms” travel across the country to enter their children—aging anywhere from two to eighteen years—in beauty competitions. It is estimated that roughly 5,000 pageants are held in the United States annually with nearly 250,000 children participating (Canning and Hoffman). Many parents enter their children in beauty pageants each year believing that these pageants can teach discipline and confidence; however, those benefits need

In an interview with TODAY, Allie Richardson, A seven-year-old pageant contestant from Lexington, South Carolina, speaks fondly of pageants, “I like doing the pageants because they’re fun and I like making new friends.” She says, “Sometimes I get to be in other pageants with my friends. And when my friends win, then I’m really happy for them. I like winning, too, but winning isn’t everything.” Allie’s mother, Joy Richardson, is supportive of her daughter’s decision to participate in these pageants, but makes it clear that she does not push her stating, “If she says she’s done, then we’ll be done. We ask her from time to time.”

Furthermore, various people argue that beauty pageants can be a form of child abuse. As stated by The Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, child abuse is, “Any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation.” A great deal of people believe these pageants often exploit and, in some cases, cause severe psychological damage to children. Beauty pageants set high expectations and ideals for physical appearance, which can be dangerous for a child. Being exposed to this at such a young age could lead to problems with their body image and increase their potential for developing eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia