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Are Are children’s beauty
Parents of children who do not participate in pageants are utterly appalled at what these infants and children go through on their weekends. Many of these parents believe that the kids need to experience being a kid, a kid without all the glam and glitz; a life without being judged on their beauty and talent. But these parents could also be blinded by all the glitter the contestants are wearing. There is always a good side and bad side in everything people do and the same goes for pageants. Some parents think that the girls are being taught that beauty is everything, and you are always going to be judged on your looks. But isn’t that true? Yes, personality has a lot to do with relationships, whether they’re professional or personal. But again, you can’t see personality from across the room. If these girls are taught at an early age that beauty has a lot to do with succeeding in today’s society, maybe they will be more successful.
is normal. I, for one, have never seen a child 3rd grade and below wear makeup outside of the performing world. So if daughter grounded. "Mickie Wood, Mother of Controversial Child Pageant Star Eden Wood, Responds to Her Critics with Fart Noises." Vanity Fair. Web. 01 Mar. 2012. <http://www.vanityfair.com/online/oscars/2011/08/mickie-wood--mother-of-controversial-child-pageant-star-eden-woo>. Eden has
<http://www.littleedenwood.com/>. Eric Spitznagel, the writer of the previous article, asked Mickie Wood how she thinks being a normal kid, has anything to do with having Eden record songs and sell look a like dolls, and how does it not mess with her head. Mickie’s reply was “She has 75 dolls, every type of Barbie doll there is, and every one of them is butt naked. I’ve quit trying to keep up with their clothes, and she could care less. The thing that people don’t get is, her being famous is not something that I set out to have happen. But when it started happening, we thought, If she truly loves this, why not be smart about it? Her college is paid for. But you never hear that from the media. You never hear that my husband works two jobs, that my husband is a welder and I’ve been a schoolteacher for 25 years. We’re working, middle-class people, we go to the dollar store just like anybody else, and drive a pickup with the butt hanging out of it. I can go take a picture if you don’t believe me”. Spitznagel then replied, “But that doesn’t really answer my question. When Eden looks at this doll that has her name and its body isn’t realistic for a 30-year-old woman, much less a 6-year-old girl, how does she not think, I need to go vomit all that candy I had for lunch and spend the rest of the day doing pilates?”. To which Mickie replied “She could care less. She’s never stared in the mirror. About the only thing I can say is she likes lip gloss. That’s about the worst thing I can say is she likes some lip gloss. I think I’ve done a pretty good job keeping her down to Earth.
a tomboy!”. That
That sounds like my appearance. Heck, I didn’t wear jeans until I was in 7th grade. Maybe realizing For those of you unfamiliar with as possible.
Most
Everyone remembers America’s favorite little girl, Shirley Temple. She was a child star, who turned out to be very successful. She was American film and television actress, singer, dancer, and an autobiographer. Later in life she became U.S. Ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia. Being on camera and in front of people all the time, likely helped Temple be comfortable with public speaking. Ultimately, she became very successful in her life.
All of the sources you find online areI found to write this, were all negative towards children participating indoing pageants. But Stage and General Publicpublic are two start somewhere.
"Shirley Temple." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 15 Mar. 2012. Web. 16 Mar. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shirley_Temple>.
"Mickie Wood, Mother of Controversial Child Pageant Star Eden Wood, Responds to Her Critics with Fart Noises." Vanity Fair. Web. 01 Mar. 2012. <http://www.vanityfair.com/online/oscars/2011/08/mickie-wood--mother-of-controversial-child-pageant-star-eden-woo>.

,AreAre children’s beauty
Parents of children who do not participate in pageants are utterly appalled at what these infants and children go through on their weekends. Many of these parents believe that the kids need to experience being a kid, a kid without all the glam and glitz; a life without being judged on their beauty and talent. But these parents could also be blinded by all the glitter the contestants are wearing. There is always a good side and bad side in everything people do and the same goes for pageants. Some parents think that the girls are being taught that beauty is everything, and you are always going to be judged on your looks. But isn’t that true? Yes, personality has a lot to do with relationships, whether they’re professional or personal. But again, you can’t see personality from across the room. If these girls are taught at an early age that beauty has a lot to do with succeeding in today’s society, maybe they will be more successful.
is normal. I, for one, have never seen a child 3rd grade and below wear makeup outside of the performing world. So if
I will admit, I watch the show “Toddlers and Tiaras”. Being the fan that I am, I have my favorite toddler and mother. Mickie Wood, mother of the infamous six year old Eden Wood, is one of the few down to Earth moms on the show. I have seen some moms quite literally shove their kids onto the stage to perform. But Mickie Wood has her daughters’s best interest at heart. Even though the name Eden Wood is widely known, Mickie is determined to keep her daughter grounded. "Mickie Wood, Mother of Controversial Child Pageant Star Eden Wood, Responds to Her Critics with Fart Noises." Vanity Fair. Web. 01 Mar. 2012. <http://www.vanityfair.com/online/oscars/2011/08/mickie-wood--mother-of-controversial-child-pageant-star-eden-woo>. Eden has her own doll, songs, and even her own website
<http://www.littleedenwood.com/>. Eric Spitznagel, the writer of the previous article, asked Mickie Wood how she thinks being a normal kid, has anything to do with having Eden record songs and sell look a like dolls, and how does it not mess with her head. Mickie’s reply was “She has 75 dolls, every type of Barbie doll there is, and every one of them is butt naked. I’ve quit trying to keep up with their clothes, and she could care less. The thing that people don’t get is, her being famous is not something that I set out to have happen. But when it started happening, we thought, If she truly loves this, why not be smart about it? Her college is paid for. But you never hear that from the media. You never hear that my husband works two jobs, that my husband is a welder and I’ve been a schoolteacher for 25 years. We’re working, middle-class people, we go to the dollar store just like anybody else, and drive a pickup with the butt hanging out of it. I can go take a picture if you don’t believe me”. Spitznagel then replied, “But that doesn’t really answer my question. When Eden looks at this doll that has her name and its body isn’t realistic for a 30-year-old woman, much less a 6-year-old girl, how does she not think, I need to go vomit all that candy I had for lunch and spend the rest of the day doing pilates?”. To which Mickie replied “She could care less. She’s never stared in the mirror. About the only thing I can say is she likes lip gloss. That’s about the worst thing I can say is she likes some lip gloss. I think I’ve done a pretty good job keeping her down to Earth.
my appearance. Heck, I didn’t wear jeans until I was in 7th grade. Maybe realizing For those of you unfamiliar with as possible.
All
Most of the sources I found to write this, were allyou find online are negative towards children doingparticipating in pageants. But Stage and publicGeneral Public are two

Are,Are children’s beauty pageants on which endperspective you are lookinglook at them people think that it encourageschildren’s beauty pagents encourage pedophilia and might make girls do not have childrenparticipate in pageants their weekends. TheseMany of these parents may believe that talent. But theythese parents could justalso be blinded the glitter these girlsthe contestants are wearing. for pageants. TheseSome parents also think that that true? YesYes, personality has at an earlierearly age that more successful.
Where
As far as “Pageant Mom’s” are concerned though,concerned, most believe front of possibly over one hundredlarge and small people, it to distinguish the state realityfantasy from the real world.reality.
I will the show “Toddles“Toddlers and Tiaras”. to Earth moms, shownmoms on the has her daughters’s best interest at heart for her daughter.heart. Even though
<http://www.littleedenwood.com/>. Eric Spitznagel, the writer of the previous article, asked Mickie Wood how she thinks being a normal kid, has anything to do with having Eden record songs and sell look a like dolls, and how does it not mess with her head. Mickie’s reply was “She has 75 dolls, every type of Barbie doll there is, and every one of them is butt naked. I’ve quit trying to keep up with their clothes, and she could care less. The thing that people don’t get is, her being famous is not something that I set out to have happen. But when it started happening, we thought, If she truly loves this, why not be smart about it? Her college is paid for. But you never hear that from the media. You never hear that my husband works two jobs, that my husband is a welder and I’ve been a schoolteacher for 25 years. We’re working, middle-class people, we go to the dollar store just like anybody else, and drive a pickup with the butt hanging out of it. I can go take a picture if you don’t believe me”. Spitznagel then replied, “But that doesn’t really answer my question. When Eden looks at this doll that has her name and its body isn’t realistic for a 30-year-old woman, much less a 6-year-old girl, how does she not think, I need to go vomit all that candy I had for lunch and spend the rest of the day doing pilates?”. To which Mickie replied “She could care less. She’s never stared in the mirror. About the only thing I can say is she likes lip gloss. That’s about the worst thing I can say is she likes some lip gloss. I think I’ve done a pretty good job keeping her down to Earth.
Our society is based around beauty. I wish it wasn’t so, but that’s where parenting comes in. Keep your kid grounded. When I do pageants with Eden, I explain to her, ‘This is your costume. This is your mask. This is your theatrical presentation.’ And the minute we’re through, she rips it all off and jumps in some mud. It’s never been, ‘You have to wear makeup to be beautiful’ She has the same shirt on today she had on yesterday. She did take a bath last night, but she wanted to put the same shirt back on. She’s a tomboy!”. That sounds like a normal kid at heart. Sure Eden may come across to viewers or spectators as a little doll being exploited by her mother, but just because she looks pretty, doesn’t mean she isn’t any less a kid. The general non-pageant public doesn’t understand that not every little girl participating, is believing they need to be pretty. But what is so wrong with them starting out young, and realizing that looks have a lot to do with society? It took me awhile to realize I can’t just wear whatever I want, and not have my parents be embarrassed or judged by it. It took me until 7th grade to start caring about my appearance. Heck, I didn’t wear jeans until I was in 7th grade. Maybe realizing sooner for younger generations, will make them more secure with themselves in the future.

Are beauty pageants exploitive? This depends on which end you are looking at them from. Some people think that it encourages pedophilia and make girls think that everything in life is based on beauty. But pageant moms will beg to differ. Many believe that it encourages their child become more confident and helps them to learn at an early age that in real life you are judged by how you look. Really, you can’t see personality across the room. Are these children really being put at “risk” by being in a pageant? Or is it just a case of misunderstanding?
Parents of children who do not have children in pageants are utterly appalled at what these infants and children go through on their weekends. These parents may believe that the kids need to experience being a kid, a kid without all the glam and glitz; a life without being judged on their beauty and talent. But they could just be blinded by all the glitter these girls are wearing. There is always a good side and bad side in everything people do and the same goes for pageants. These parents also think that the girls are being taught that beauty is everything, and you are always going to be judged on your looks. But isn’t that true? Yes personality has a lot to do with relationships, whether they’re professional or personal. But again, you can’t see personality from across the room. If these girls are taught at an earlier age that beauty has a lot to do with succeeding in today’s society, maybe they will be more successful.
Where “Pageant Mom’s” are concerned though, most believe that it benefits their child. By letting then get on stage in front of possibly over one hundred people, it gives them confidence which is something very useful in today’s society. It takes a lot of guts to get on stage by yourself, or even in a group, and perform. Whether you’re performing or posing for judges, it takes confidence to get you noticed. With that being said, these children are dressing up like “Vegas show girls”. Now you could say that it’s confidence, or you could think that it’s teaching your kids to exploit themselves, and by doing so they get a prize. This really depends on the parenting. The parents really need to teach their children what is “stage appropriate” and what is normal. I, for one, have never seen a child 3rd grade and below wear makeup outside of the performing world. So if the parent doesn’t teach the child “right from wrong” in the beginning, they could end up not being able to distinguish the state reality from the real world.
I will admit, I watch the show “Toddles and Tiaras”. Being the fan that I am, I have my favorite toddler and mother. Mickie Wood, mother of the infamous six year old Eden Wood, is one of the few down to Earth moms, shown on the show. I have seen some moms quite literally shove their kids onto the stage to perform. But Mickie Wood has her best interest at heart for her daughter. Even though the name Eden Wood is widely known, Mickie is determined to keep her daughter grounded. "Mickie Wood, Mother of Controversial Child Pageant Star Eden Wood, Responds to Her Critics with Fart Noises." Vanity Fair. Web. 01 Mar. 2012. <http://www.vanityfair.com/online/oscars/2011/08/mickie-wood--mother-of-controversial-child-pageant-star-eden-woo>. Eden has her own doll, songs, and even her own website
<http://www.littleedenwood.com/>. Eric Spitznagel, the writer of the previous article, asked Mickie Wood how she thinks being a normal kid, has anything to do with having Eden record songs and sell look a like dolls, and how does it not mess with her head. Mickie’s reply was “She has 75 dolls, every type of Barbie doll there is, and every one of them is butt naked. I’ve quit trying to keep up with their clothes, and she could care less. The thing that people don’t get is, her being famous is not something that I set out to have happen. But when it started happening, we thought, If she truly loves this, why not be smart about it? Her college is paid for. But you never hear that from the media. You never hear that my husband works two jobs, that my husband is a welder and I’ve been a schoolteacher for 25 years. We’re working, middle-class people, we go to the dollar store just like anybody else, and drive a pickup with the butt hanging out of it. I can go take a picture if you don’t believe me”. Spitznagel then replied, “But that doesn’t really answer my question. When Eden looks at this doll that has her name and its body isn’t realistic for a 30-year-old woman, much less a 6-year-old girl, how does she not think, I need to go vomit all that candy I had for lunch and spend the rest of the day doing pilates?”. To which Mickie replied “She could care less. She’s never stared in the mirror. About the only thing I can say is she likes lip gloss. That’s about the worst thing I can say is she likes some lip gloss. I think I’ve done a pretty good job keeping her down to Earth.
Our society is based around beauty. I wish it wasn’t so, but that’s where parenting comes in. Keep your kid grounded. When I do pageants with Eden, I explain to her, ‘This is your costume. This is your mask. This is your theatrical presentation.’ And the minute we’re through, she rips it all off and jumps in some mud. It’s never been, ‘You have to wear makeup to be beautiful’ She has the same shirt on today she had on yesterday. She did take a bath last night, but she wanted to put the same shirt back on. She’s a tomboy!”. That sounds like a normal kid at heart. Sure Eden may come across to viewers or spectators as a little doll being exploited by her mother, but just because she looks pretty, doesn’t mean she isn’t any less a kid. The general non-pageant public doesn’t understand that not every little girl participating, is believing they need to be pretty. But what is so wrong with them starting out young, and realizing that looks have a lot to do with society? It took me awhile to realize I can’t just wear whatever I want, and not have my parents be embarrassed or judged by it. It took me until 7th grade to start caring about my appearance. Heck, I didn’t wear jeans until I was in 7th grade. Maybe realizing sooner for younger generations, will make them more secure with themselves in the future.
Being a fellow performer, I understand how crazy the “stage world” can be. All the glitter, hairspray, makeup, feathers, and hours of preparation. It would seem unrealistic to people unfamiliar with it. Maybe for younger girls there should be limitations to what they wear, but I really see nothing wrong with what they do already. As long as they understand the difference between reality and stage. I know that I shouldn’t wear full stage makeup and hair in public, I would look like a clown! But when you’re younger, it’s not quite so easy to understand. That is where parenting needs to come in. Parents need to teach their kids that stage is more of a fantasy then a reality. In ballet, you strictly wear tights and a leotard. For those of you unfamiliar with a leotard, it basically fits like a one piece bathing suit. Showing a lot of skin, and the tights or either pink or tan, which can look like skin color from far away. But that is why you don’t wear strictly that in public. You put on sweats and a jacket, or shorts, or something to make yourself more presentable. You keep the uniform strictly in the studio. The children should realize, or even better, not care, if their hair is perfect, if they should wear makeup, or wear something with too much skin. It needs to be the parent’s job to keep the child a child as much as possible.
All of the sources I found to write this, were all negative towards children doing pageants. But most people tend to not think of the good, or the common sense part of it. Yes, these girls are wearing something provocative for public. But that is the key word there, “public”. Stage and public are two completely different worlds. In order to fully comprehend the difference, you can’t be an outsider looking in. You have to be involved somehow. So try to see it from the other perspective before you judge. Being on stage can help build self confidence and make you more secure with yourself. But there are also good and bad things to any thing you can think of in life. Pageants could possibly make the girls think that they need to be completely dependent on their looks to be successful. But as children, most of them are kids at heart, so don’t go judging the parents for letting them do something they love. Dreams have to start somewhere.