Did These Pageant Moms Learn Their Lesson?

Yesterday, 4 pageant moms experienced what many viewers see as a taste of their own medicine. On Anderson Cooper’s daytime talk show, the moms were dressed up in the same outfits their children wear on TLC’s smash hit, Toddlers and Tiaras. The show follows young girls on the kiddie pageant circuit, and the moms (and dads) that love them.

The show is no stranger to controversy for the way adults sexualize young girls by dolling them up in makeup, fake teeth, hair pieces, and, of course, revealing outfits. One particularly heated episode even featured 3-year-old girl Paisley (the “biker girl” featured in the photo above) dressed up as Julia Robert’s prostitute character in Pretty Woman!

To outsiders, it’s difficult to argue that these girls aren’t receiving problematic messages about gender and sexuality at a very young age. But to the pageant moms themselves? Well, that’s a different story. One mom, in fact, points out directly that they’re not “sexualizing” their children at all!

After getting dolled up like their daughters, though, the pageant moms don’t seem to want to change their, or their daughter’s, ways. In fact, all 4 moms agreed that they would continue to enroll their children in pageants.

So what do you think about kiddie beauty pageants, and the moms and girls that participate in them? Harmless fun or problem children in the making? Sound off the in the comments below!

Photo credit: Andersoncooper.com

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Danuta W.

2:18AM PDT on May 16, 2012

Thank you what a great article.

send a green star

Winn A.

12:20PM PDT on May 8, 2012

Pageants for little girls are wrong on so many levels. Take away the hair and make up and let them be "little" girls for as long as possible. Soon enough they will be all grown up. All this does is tell little girls that they have to be "pretty" to succeed.

May M.

10:58AM PDT on Mar 22, 2012

These women are crazy and I feel so bad for their daughters.

Debbie C.

1:46AM PDT on Mar 21, 2012

For the winners, these kiddie beauty pageants give them self esteem. But what about the ones who come in 2nd or 10th? Their self esteem goes way down!!

I think these kiddie beauty pageants are all about the mom's. I think maybe they missed out on being in a beauty pageant and they are living their dream through their daughter!!

I think these 'kiddie beauty pageant mom's' should look forward to some major problems with these girls as teenagers!!!

Teresa W.

11:09AM PST on Mar 2, 2012

not funny at all

Sarah M.

11:06AM PST on Mar 2, 2012

They are so disturbing!

Jennifer G.

10:01PM PST on Feb 29, 2012

Unfortunately, these shows show one dimension and one "type" of pageants. I have two, well-adjusted beautiful friends who participated in pageants growing up and they are huge advocates. One also competed as a gymnast and cheerleader and said that she found pageants to be a more positive experience.
Some kids LOVE getting up on stage, dressing up and performing. Its when the kids are forced, and are overly sexualized that pageants become negative. But kids having a multi-faceted talent show that helps build confidence? Fabulous.

Amber B.

8:00PM PST on Feb 29, 2012

I think they're disgusting! those moms need to re evaluate their love for their daughters and realize that this is not the way to treat them. they need to love their daughters for who they are and the way they already look, not trying to make them into the image they want them to be.

Debbie L.

7:52PM PST on Feb 28, 2012

Not cool. Ew.

Heather A.

5:00PM PST on Feb 28, 2012

I think pageants could be good, if the girl's mom isn't nuts about it. It depends on the parents. I think it is the difference between a crazy soccer mom and a down to earth one. I do not like it when any girl under 18 is put into clothing that shows her mid drift, that is completely inappropriate.

That said, I believe the majority of the pageant does glorify looks, and not brains. If there was a pageant that required say, a submission of good grades to get in, then that would be awesome.

If I was going to put a child I new in something that boosted their self confidence and taught them how to behave in public, I would pick an activity that taught them a skill beyond standing there and looking pretty. there are a lot of things that little girls can do where they can dress up: Gymnastics, Ice Skating, Cheer-leading. Yes they need to be older, but I think that is for a good reason!!! And if I wanted my kid to be wandering about in public in a swim suit, I would put them on a swim team..