Toddlers and Tiaras

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Created on Friday, 30 September 2011 15:34

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Opinion

By Larrissa le Vasser

If you watch television, you might have heard of a show called “Toddlers and Tiaras.” It is a show on the TLC network that shows the life of young beauty pageant contestants.

There has been a lot of buzz about the show lately due to its controversial content. Many people do not agree with the lifestyle of the children or of the parents for letting their young girls participate in such pageants.

The show first aired on Jan. 27, 2009. If you have not seen the show, it is exactly what its title states, "Toddlers and Tiaras." It shows young girls, (and some boys) from ages near three years old to teens competing in beauty competitions. They fight to win cash prizes and crowns, but sometimes it is not about the prize, it is about the title. Many of the girls are very competitive and serious about their titles and will do anything just to beat their competition. Though a lot of the girls seem to like being in the pageants, some argue that it is only their mothers that are getting a thrill out of them.

The show first aired on Jan. 27, 2009. If you have not seen the show, it is exactly what its title states, "Toddlers and Tiaras." It shows young girls, (and some boys) from ages near three years old to teens competing in beauty competitions. They fight to win cash prizes and crowns, but sometimes it is not about the prize, it is about the title. Many of the girls are very competitive and serious about their titles and will do anything just to beat their competition. Though a lot of the girls seem to like being in the pageants, some argue that it is only their mothers that are getting a thrill out of them.

One of the main controversies of the show is the length the mothers will go to make sure that their little girl is absolutely perfect for the day of the contest. These girls get "pampered" throughout the days leading up to the pageant. They have things done like spray tans, having "flippers" made for their teeth, hair, nails, etc. Though to most girls that may sound like a dream, these are three year old girls and they are getting the treatment of a twenty year old.

Recently, there was a three year old contestant that had dressed up as Julia Robert's character in "Pretty Woman." The toddler wore a skimpy outfit made up of a short blue skirt and black knee-high boots. It immediately turned some heads as viewers put the toddler's mother on blast about the outfit. She stated that she thought the costume would be comical being worn by a three year old and that it covered most of her body, but the problem is the idea behind the outfit, which is Robert's street-walker outfit from the movie.

Though I must admit, the show is very entertaining, some of the things I find to be ridiculous. These parents spend thousands of dollars for costumes and glamour, all money that could very well go towards the child's main priorities; food, shelter, education. I can only imagine what I would do with that kind of money, and it would not go towards pageant costumes. These girls are being taught at a very young age that beauty and money are the most important things in life, which they are not. Being a pageant girl can be fun, but these girls need to also be taught that there is more to life than just beauty.

(Image by Sheng Lor)