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Toddlers, tiaras and TV
Program information
What: "Toddlers & Tiaras"
Channel: TLC (Suddenlink Cable channel 50)
When: 9 p.m. CST, Sunday
Beauty pageant costs
A pageant at the Mall of Abilene -- which usually hosts four or five a year -- generally costs about $40 for the basic beauty competition, essentially dress-modeling, which makes the contestant eligible to win a beauty crown in their age division, said Jaime Teaff, mother of frequent pageant competitor Lexi Teaff.
Girls can also compete in optional categories ranging from best hair, best eyes to best smile, usually another $10 to compete in each.
Bigger pageants, not surprisingly, cost more.
"They can be thousands of dollars, depending on what categories you want to put your child in," Teaff said. "They have eight or 10 different categories that they can do -- different outfits, talent categories. But the only thing you have to enter is just beauty, so it could be $500 or it could be $3,000. It really just depends on what they put them in."
Sponsorships and selling ads in pageant program books can help defer the costs, Teaff said. Money won can be set aside for future pageants.
"She doesn't know how much she wins," Teaff said of her daughter's success. "... She's won a few hundred (dollars) at a time."
Last year, Lexi participated in three pageants, her mother said, in addition to smaller competitions in Abilene and Eastland County.
"I have four kids, and I have football and basketball and baseball with my son, and baseball and softball with my daughter, and cheerleading and all that other stuff, as well as pageants," she said. "So we just like to try to make a little vacation out of it."
Karlee Hunt participates in an average of four to five pageants in an average year, but she did seven in the past year, her mother said, including a state pageant in Abilene in addition to competitions in Dallas, Oklahoma and Austin.
The Austin pageant was the one that TLC filmed for a documentary that features both girls. Later, Hunt's daughter went back to compete in a national version of the competition, winning a division title.
Among her prizes was a $500 savings bond, a six-foot trophy, a five-inch crown, a sack of toys and a life-sized teddy bear.
An average state pageant is anywhere from $600 to $1,000, said Jennifer Hunt, the girl's mother. The most expensive pageant her daughter has participated in was $1,500. Usually, they average about two days in length.
Costume costs can be cut by making them oneself, selling used outfits to other pageant families and by buying others' former pageant attire, Hunt said.
Group rates at the hotels also help with costs, she said.
Photo courtesy Jamie Teaff lexi teaff
Photo Courtesy Jennifer Hunt KARLEE HUNT
Reporter-News photo by Thomas Metthe Five-year-old Lexi Teaff, left center, and 8-year-old Karlee Hunt, right center, practice their dancing during class Thursday at Starlite Studios in Merkel.
More Local News Lexi Teaff, 5, of Cisco, struts her stuff to Christmas tunes, a beatific smile never leaving her cherubic face as light streaming into the Starlite Dance Studio in Merkel highlights her spun-gold hair.
Dark-haired Karlee Hunt, 8, of Merkel, dances next to her, flashing a practiced grin with more than a hint of a dancer's grace.
The two girls are fast friends and on occasion travel together with mothers Jennifer Hunt and Jaime Teaff to beauty pageants for young girls, mostly in Texas. The pair, and their parents, are to be featured in a TLC documentary, "Toddlers & Tiaras," on Sunday.
The production puts, in the opinion of the girls' mothers, a thankfully "positive spin on pageants" Jaime Teaff said. Both she and Hunt have seen the show.
"We made sure that it was not going to be negative," Hunt said.
The program also follows girls from California and Mississippi, all participating in a state-level Austin-based pageant, Universal Royalty, last year.
The filming was about 13 months ago, the mothers said. The network came to the Abilene area to shoot a week before the pageant, which was on Aug. 3, 2007.
"They did a lot of interviews," Hunt said. "They just kind of followed us around, watch us getting our nails done, that sort of thing."
The four-member, all-female film crew from TLC followed the girls to the pageant and afterward.
"Eventually you just forgot they were there," Hunt said, and Karlee "really enjoyed it."
Having Fun
Teaff, 28, said she participated in pageants when she was younger, her last being Miss Teen Nevada.
"I guess I just liked to be the center of attention," she said. "I guess that's where my little girl gets it. ... I guess I was a little bit of a showoff when I was little."
And it has to be a special child that participates, Hunt said.
"If you have a real shy, bashful child that doesn't want to be in the spotlight, then they're not going to be good at it," she said.
Both mothers said competing in pageants are about their children having fun, not about the parents, although they are proud of how hard their daughters work.
The girls regularly meet in Teaff's Merkel dance studio, Starlite, to practice modeling and dance.
Other preparations are commonly necessary as competition dates approach.
Karlee "does tanning because when you're on the stage you get kind of washed out," Hunt said. "She does spray tanning because she's too young to do tanning beds."
Hunt said she feels like her daughter learns confidence from her pageant experiences.
"Her confidence level has really gone through the roof," she said. "She's showing leadership, meeting new people. And a lot of the pageants have interviews, so she's getting to build up her interview skills."
Her dancing skills have helped her learn how to perform in front of others and shake off stage fright, Hunt said. But she's also learning how to lose -- and win -- graciously, she said.
"We're working on that," Hunt said.
Teaff said that her daughter has learned to be a good competitor.
"As a parent, watching your kid do something you like to do, especially when they do it well, is great, then watching them get so excited when they win," she said. "And Lexi, if she doesn't win the crown, she doesn't get upset. She's just happy to be there."
That said, Teaff can't recall a pageant that her daughter hasn't "at least placed."
"I don't know how she would act if she walked away and got nothing," she said. "But she gets excited, and she has a good time."
@*Brief - Hed:Preparing for pageantry
Before her Thursday night dance practice, Lexi Teaff, who often appears in her promotional pictures as an almost dayglow bundle of vivacious glee in soft-lit costumes ranging from cowgirls to a Hershey's Kiss, responds in a manner common to many children when interviewed, seemingly taken aback by a stranger asking her questions.
"Yes," she says when asked whether she likes pageants, followed up by a shy, "I don't know," when asked why.
She warms a little as time goes on, enough to share that she likes to "model and all of that stuff," favoring the "casual wear" categories and "dancing."
When asked if she wants to keep doing pageants, she again responds in the affirmative.
"For a long time," she says.
Earlier, Jennifer Hunt proudly shared a scrapbook of her daughter's pageant appearances in Texas and Oklahoma. From a white-faced harlequin to a youthful Princess Jasmine from Disney's "Aladdin" movies, she wears the same practiced smile in each photo.
Hunt, who insists she's saving up some of her pageant winnings to buy a cow (really), said she enjoys "swimwear, casual wear and that we get crowns and money."
But there many other aspects she enjoys, she said.
"I can go see all my friends there, and we get to go swimming and stay in a hotel," she said.
It was through Jaime Teaff's dance and modeling instruction that the Hunt and Teaff families became acquainted.
"We opened the dance school, and we got Karlee," Teaff said. "We were teaching her dance and modeling, and she started doing pageants with us. We've been doing them together ever since."
Their first forays were pageants at the Mall of Abilene but eventually progressed to state and then national-level competition.
There are literally hundreds of such pageants a year throughout the country, far too many to ever attend from a time and money perspective. "We pick our favorites that we do each year and stick with those," Teaff said. The girls can win cash, scholarships, savings bonds, toys and -- of course -- crowns, banners and trophies.
But although most tend to think of the heavily makeup-laden popular vision of child pageants popular in media and documentaries, there are also "natural" pageants that require no special makeup, hair or fancy dresses.
"It doesn't have to be glitz and glamour," Teaff said.
And neither girl is afraid of a little dirt when they're not preparing to look glamorous.
"They can look all pretty and done-up one day, and then the next they're out playing baseball and getting dirty," Jaime Teaff said.
"We like getting dirty," Karlee Hunt said, brightening visibly.
Posted by kelly_41_2000 on September 6, 2008 at 8:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thats really twisted to dress kids up like that for all the pedophiles to go nuts over.
Posted by robertwp on September 6, 2008 at 8:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is gross!!!
Posted by TexasTwister on September 6, 2008 at 9:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is wrong on so many levels.
Wouldn't the thousands of dollars they admit they spend on this be better used if they put it into a college fund for their daughters?
The Mom...""I guess I just liked to be the center of attention," she said. "I guess that's where my little girl gets it. ... I guess I was a little bit of a showoff when I was little."" Then this from the article..."Both mothers said competing in pageants are about their children having fun, not about the parents.."
Hmmmmmmmmm...........
A little girl getting into her Mother's closet and playing dress-up is adorable. Putting eye-shadow, eye-liner, mascara, rouge and lipstick on a 5 year-old then tarting her up in an adult costume and parading her on stage for money is....well....a little sick in my opinion.
I'm sure these ladies will rush to read the comments on here expecting readers gushing about how beautiful their daughters are, and I'm sure we would assure them of that if we could only see them as the little girls they are.
Posted by terrben1956 on September 6, 2008 at 9:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, I'm just glad to know I'm not the only person bothered by this article......
Posted by saltydog on September 6, 2008 at 9:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Right on Robert. It is quite gross.
Posted by clamsey on September 6, 2008 at 9:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
WOW, I'm amazed that no one has yet pinned this kind of stuff on all us "Libs"! Certainly no self respecting Conservative would tramp out their kids like this! Or would they??
Posted by TexasTwister on September 6, 2008 at 9:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Can we not have one thread without someone bringing politics into the mix? clam, I'm sure you're proud of your post, but honestly I think the sort of thing described in this article has no particular political affiliation. Let's stick to the subject, okay.
Posted by apricottx on September 6, 2008 at 11:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree TexasTwister, the political spin on this one was unnecessary.
Posted by ozmaniac on September 6, 2008 at 11:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
In response to Texas Twister. Do you even know anything about the subject you are giving an opinion on? I can't even begin to speculate on the amount of money that is spent each year on sports. Would you also agree that those parents would be better off putting that money away for their child's education? I personally spend tons of money each season on sports equipment, fees, uniforms, travel expenses, food, and misc. items for 2 boys. Sometimes they don't want to go to practice and I have to make them go with the "I already paid good money for you to play and You'll be letting the rest of the team down" speech. But come next season, there they are ready to sign up for the next sport. If I had a little girl and she want to do pageants or cheerleading or soccer, I'd pay the money for her to do what she wanted. So get off your high horse and reserve your sexist comments for a subject you know something about!
Posted by qquixi on September 6, 2008 at 12:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
JonBenet Ramsey...enough said
Posted by dalai-llama on September 6, 2008 at 12:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Throwing my hat into the "Hey, a thread we can all agree on!" ring.
Nice post, Twister.
Posted by TexasTwister on September 6, 2008 at 12:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow...guess I hit a nerve.
I don't own a horse, high or otherwise, and am definitely not sexist. I would be just as appalled at someone taking their 5 year old boy to get a spray-on tan, drawing a moustache on him, bleaching his hair blonde and parading him in a Speedo as entertainment and possible financial reward.
Equating these pageants with sports is ridiculous. Soccer, softball, even cheerleading does not require the young child to take on the appearance of an adult, complete with age-inappropriate outfits, makeup and hairstyles intended to make them appear more attractive to judges in order to win money.
I think there's too much money involved in youth sports today, but at least (if the parents's stay out of things and let them) they learn teamwork, sportsmanship and how to lose gracefully (hopefully).....although the new attitude of "no score-keeping, no winners and trophies for all" doesn't do them any good. But that's a whole other argument.
I find it interesting that twice you refer to me not knowing anything about this subject, but admit you don't have a little girl....so..may I ask what makes you an expert?
Posted by TexasTwister on September 6, 2008 at 1:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
btw, oz....I do have a daughter...and a son.
Posted by rsjz4 on September 6, 2008 at 1:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
oz, this does not even compare to sports or even cheerleading. These LITTLE girls are dressed in makeup, costumes and their hair made up to make them look 20 years older than they really are. I think this whole thing is disgusting.
robert, I never, ever agree on anything you say but will agree with you on this: It is gross.
Posted by Jamie on September 6, 2008 at 1:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
For qquixi talk alot.....When JonBenet Ramsey came up missing her pagent pictures were the pictures her parents chose to show the world just like John Walsh showed a picture of his little boy in a baseball uniform. I guess we should make sure our little boys don't play baseball!?! For the rest of you that claim you are bible belt Christians just keep on passing judgement!!! These little girls work hard for this they don't just throw on some make-up and win a contest. It is every little girls dream to dress up and feel beautifull. These girls just happen to win money and trophies for doing it. This is a hobbie that these girls love to do. Mabe all of you that have nothing better to do should try finding a hobbie you enjoy that doesn't envolve your usesless opinion!
Posted by ozmaniac on September 6, 2008 at 2 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I did say I don't have a "little" girl, but I do have 2 grown daughters who, yes, both competed in beauty pageants. So while I don't consider myself an "expert" on any subject, I do have quite a bit of knowledge about beauty pageants. While you, judging by your comments, obviously don't have a clue. FYI, Boys are in beauty pageants too. And I have yet to see one with a mustache or a speedo.My daughters never bleached their hair wore make-up or paraded around in inappropriate clothing. (Unless you would call a Sunday dress inappropriate) And as for you comment about the "parents staying of things" on the sports front, what world are you living in honey! Parents at sporting events are notorious for their unsportsmanlike conduct. The only thing I see these kids learning is aggressive behavior and winning is everything. I can honestly say that my girls had positive experiences learning self confidence, poise, how to be charming and tactful, to be proud of their accomplishments, to lose with grace, and to accept a congratulatory win with class. If you want to comment on a subject, you really should know something about it. But at least you didn't make the stupid JonBenet comment. That reader obviously knows less than you. Since JonBenet was only in 4 beauty pageants. And do you really think she was killed in her own home because she was in a beauty pageant. I suppose you also think that John Walsh's son was kidnapped and killed because all the pictures of him were in his baseball uniform, so some obsessed baseball fan saw him as a target. Get a life people. If pageants aren't your thing don't get your kids involved, but why bash something that other people enjoy doing with their kids if you don't know anything about it?
Posted by rsjz4 on September 6, 2008 at 2:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
So your argument is putting your son in a baseball uniform is the equivalent of dressing your LITTLE girl in heavy makeup, costumes/dresses made for an adult, and hair that is being held up my a whole can of hairspray?? PLEASE.
Jamie and Oz, you two seem to be in the minority here.
Yes, everyone in entitled to their own opinion and my opinion is these kiddie pageants are beyond disgusting.
Posted by ozmaniac on September 6, 2008 at 2:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
rsjz No argument. I'm simply saying how can you give an informed opinion on something you know nothing about? Look at the pictures of these 2 little girls. Is it my eyesight or yours? I see ruffles and bows on the 1 little girl and a dance costume on the other. Now let me tell you, if you think there is anything adult about those outfits, you have been hanging out with some pretty immature women cause you wouldn't catch me in one of those. And, hello, where is the heavy make-up? Next you'll be trying to tell me little girls don't have all those curls.
Posted by rsjz4 on September 6, 2008 at 2:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
All you have to do is look at the two pictures accomanying this article. That is ALOT of makeup for a little girl!
Posted by abilene1 on September 6, 2008 at 2:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is just borderline pornographic. Yes, my daughter was in the Nutcracker and wore stage makup, but this is just as so many of you have put it, disturbing.
Posted by ozmaniac on September 6, 2008 at 3:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Have you even seen what those little girls wear for competition cheerleading? They have more make-up than Tammy Faye. Not to mention the glitter. Next you'll be attacking the dance recitals, cause, lord knows those little dance costumes are way too sexy. And heaven forbid if they put stage make-up on, but wait, pageants are on a stage too aren't they? Do you think maybe that's why they put make-up on?
Posted by TexasTwister on September 6, 2008 at 3:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Your view of sports is: "The only thing I see these kids learning is aggressive behavior and winning is everything." And yet you went on at length about how involved your sons were in sports and how much you encouraged their participation. Why would you allow them to participate if you believed all they learned were the things you abhor?
Please re-read my post and you'll see I qualified what the kids will learn from sports with "IF the parents's stay out of things and let them". I'm certainly not blind to what over-zealous parents can do during their kids' sporting events. Fortunately the majority of the parents associated with my children's sports teams policed the parental misbehaviour of others (our teams and opponents) themselves...and well.
I realize I'm not going to change your or Jamie's minds about this issue. But that doesn't alter my opinion about how your children are being used. I noticed you didn't deny the presence of makeup, but qualified it as not being "heavy"...in my eyes, no 5 or 8 year old child should be made to wear any makeup for a beauty pageant. And just because they enjoy it doesn't make it right.
The fact that you see no difference in your daughters' being made to look like an adult for a contest and a young boy in a Little League uniform speaks volumes about your judgement. The uniform identifies him with a team, and is not a factor in how his performance on the field is assessed or enjoyed. That little boy (or girl) can play baseball, soccer or any other sport without a uniform, and usually does...in shorts and a t-shirt. Can your daughters participate in their activity without being made to look like adults? Are there any pageants that aren't judged on their costumes or how grown-up they look?
Go ahead and blast me all you want....but these pageants are wrong. I don't have to be an expert on cow manure to know it stinks and to not step in it.
Posted by huntfamily on September 6, 2008 at 3:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The reason we agreed to even do the documentary when asked was to show people (LIKE YOU) what doing pageants intels. We are also involed in the local softball leagues and the soccer leagues, cheerleading and on a dance team. I want my childern to be well rounded kids and help them figure out what life has to offer them. I was not a child that was every interrested in pageant or dance, never wanted to be in the spotlight but because I wasn't should not mean I wish the same for my daughter. I grew up with parents that wanted me to be what ever I wanted to be. I have since passed that on to both of my own daughters. One of my daugters has no interest in pageants and one that does. The BIG confersation seems to be about the hair and make-up, well I can honestly say that my 8 year daughter does not look like a 20 year old girl when she is competing for any pageant. She wears LITTLE girl clothes not women's clothes. If those judges wanted to see WOMEN on that stage, there would be older age groups in the pageant systems. The girls that they do compete with are still little girls, they all play together, swim together, trade pictures and candy. I have never lost to another soccer team and went and later went out for pizza! Pageants are not like that. The girls keep in touch, send Christmas cards and meet new pageant friends every time we go...
Posted by huntfamily on September 6, 2008 at 3:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Personally, I am more offented at the cheerleader suits that I have to pay for my daughter than I ever feel when she has her pageant cloths on. She loves cheerleading, being in West Texas, in a small school, I know that's the path she will take as she gets older. Knowing this, and knowing how many other girls she will have to compete with. We have to start now so that she will be prepared to tryout. But the rolling of hips, hooting and halering for the "boys" in short shirts! Okay NOW! These girls also preform every year at all the local nursing homes, childern's homes and retirement homes, wearing customes, make-up with their hair rolled and Yes we use hairspray! (WEST TEXAS WIND) Hello!!! They start in August learning Christmas days, along w/10 or 11 other girls so they can spread Christmas joy to all the (unforgotten) elder. You have to have confidence, you have to have poise, you can't just one day decide you would like to dance, and join a dance team and learn a few dances. I really think it is "GROSS" that you can speak so negitive about two little girls that did get a chance to be on National TV, to tell their story!! My daughter loves to do these pageants, the day she doesn't want to, will be her last time she will. I don't care if you agree or disagrue with my parenting! But don't knock what these girls are doing....What little girl in the world would not want to feel like a princess!! I did, I just never had the nerve to do it! My daughter does!! She may not ever be Miss America, she may never want to be! But she will always know that what ever she want to do! She has both her mom and dad's suport! And if it's interesting enough, she'll make the Abilene news paper!!! stay tuned!!
Posted by Jamie on September 6, 2008 at 3:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I speak personally because Karlee Hunt is my niece. She is extremly talented and competitive. It has been her from day one wanting this and working hard in the mean time with Dance and Gymnastics to get where she is at. Despite what you may think this has been a positve exsperience for her. I think some of you have been watching 20/20. You know in everything there is bad. When a mother is forcing her child to be dressed up like a little doll and brainwashing the child to win. That would be an issue!!! There are girls out there that love this doing this.
Posted by TexasTwister on September 6, 2008 at 3:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"I really think it is "GROSS" that you can speak so negitive about two little girls..."
None of my posts have said anything negative about the little girls. They're not responsible for what they're being put through....the parents are.
Posted by robertwp on September 6, 2008 at 4:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Say what you want but this is not a healthy way to bring up a daughter. A little girl is a beautiful thing to see but to dress her up like she is 25 and waiting tables in a Las Vegas bar completely covers up that beauty. The picture of the little brown haired girl is heart breaking. I just don't like this at all. This story makes me ashamed of the way our society treats young girls. This looks like a prep course for an eating disorder.
Posted by robertwp on September 6, 2008 at 4:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"Personally, I am more offented at the cheerleader suits that I have to pay for my daughter than I ever feel when she has her pageant cloths on. "
Then don't dress her up like that either. I am having a hard time dealing with your statement. It seems to make the point for so many of these posters, including me. Spelling and all! Save your money and put this girl in college. She will thank you for that.
Posted by rsjz4 on September 6, 2008 at 4:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't have a problem with the girls - I have a problem with the parents who allow their daughters to dress like this and parade them around.
Posted by robertwp on September 6, 2008 at 4:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"It is every little girls dream to dress up and feel beautifull."
Good Lord! Is our culture that shallow?
Posted by robertwp on September 6, 2008 at 5:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
ebtry,
The only thing I can say about you is that you are consistent.
“Okay this is sure to get some people going but just speaking what's on my mind.”
Translation: Watch out folks, here comes something really, really, really stupid!
Posted by robertwp on September 6, 2008 at 5:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
ooops, wrong thread.
Posted by furankuoogata on September 6, 2008 at 5:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
funny that i finally agree with the majority... this is wrong and sick, it is really not something these children really enjoy they are trying to please their mothers who are trying to live through their children. it is sad. and the paultry awards of tiara or prize money pales in comparison to what these "promoters" make... they pay nothing compared to what they take in and the fact that these parents are willing to put them out there is silly.
Posted by ozmaniac on September 6, 2008 at 6:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You're right about one thing, you're not going to change my views, just as I certainly don't expect to change yours. But the one thing that all of you posters have in common is ignorance. How many pageants have you actually gone to and watched. There are at least 4 a year in the Mall of Abilene. If you stood there long enough to watch, you'd see beautiful little girls of every size and color, with no make-up, showing off their sunday dresses. I have yet to go to a baseball game, a football game, or a soccer game and see one child in tee shirt and shorts that was not wearing the team uniform. But the next time my son wants to play a team sport I think I'll suggest that we'd like to save a little money so we won't be buying the team uniform, we'd like to just wear something he already has. And, by the way, when in their lifetime will boys ever wear make-up? Your analogy has no merit. Girls are never required to wear make-up for pageants. They are performing on a stage with bright lights that wash out their features. The children that choose to wear a little make-up wash it off when they are through competing. Dancers wear make-up when they perform then they wash it off. They also wear very revealing costumes, but then they put on their regular clothes. Pageant clothes are not even remotely adult in nature. The boys wear suits or tuxedos and the girls wear very ruffled dresses that cover every part of their body. The optional modeling categories always stress age appropriate attire. The more ruffles and bows, the better. I have yet to see a Mother ruin her daughters' chance at a crown by wearing something inappropriate. There is also talent at many pageants that you may wear a costume that highlights your talent, ie. dance costume. Please, someone, anyone tell me what adult would dress in any of these outfits?
Posted by reaganite on September 6, 2008 at 7:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Twice in 24 hours I have found myself agreeing with robertwp.
It really is the end of the world.
Posted by ozmaniac on September 6, 2008 at 7:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
In response to the I don't have a problem with the girls - I have a problem with the parents comment... I bet you hate Halloween too, because we exploit our kids by forcing them to dress up in adult costumes with heavy make-up and walk around the neighborhood begging for candy. And you probably tell all the little kids that there really isn't a Santa Claus either, don't you?
Posted by reaganite on September 6, 2008 at 7:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
ozmanic
"I bet you hate Halloween too, because we exploit our kids by forcing them to dress up in adult costumes with heavy make-up and walk around the neighborhood begging for candy."
Wow, can you distort reality any further?
Posted by rsjz4 on September 6, 2008 at 9:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Dressing kids up in a Batman, Power Rangers, or Little Mermaid outfit hardly compares to provocatively dressing a little girl. And I cannot believe you actually compare to how these little girls are dressed to a boy wearing a baseball uniform.
"I have yet to go to a baseball game, a football game, or a soccer game and see one child in tee shirt and shorts that was not wearing the team uniform. But the next time my son wants to play a team sport I think I'll suggest that we'd like to save a little money so we won't be buying the team uniform, we'd like to just wear something he already has." I would hate for my daughter to feel she has dress like that in order to be accepted. What are you people teaching your daughters? That she has to put on a dress, makeup, and a bouffant hairdo and parade around in order to feel beautiful and accepted?
Posted by TexasTwister on September 6, 2008 at 10:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
oz...that loud whooshing sound is my point about uniforms, versus dressing up little girls in costumes and makeup and parading them across a stage, going over your head.
I've tried to explain in numerous ways why these pageants are different from young children playing sports, but you don't seem to be able to comprehend analogies, or lack thereof....possibly purposefully. Other posters on here have no problem understanding what I, and others, are trying to tell you. I think you actually do see the difference, but choose not to accept it because it makes you feel somehow absolved of guilt for believing these pageants are the same as youth sports.
They're not.
And...Halloween?....really? You just rendered whatever possibly salient points you might have been making in previous posts totally irrelevant.
Posted by robertwp on September 6, 2008 at 10:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Oz's comments plainly show whom these pageants are for. He/She will defend them to the death.
I still think that they are sick.
I have never been to one.
I haven't been to a dogfight either but I do know that I don’t want a dog to be in one.
Posted by abideejay on September 6, 2008 at 10:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Whoever thinks that all little girls want to be beautiful and wear makeup, etc....has never met my sister! She's a very talented vet tech, who rarely wears makeup, and is more comfortable in scrubs than a dress. And no, she's not a lesbian!
There's so many things wrong with this whole subject. Let's start with the 'no mother would ruin her daughter's chance at a crown.....' You've already made my point. Why is it up to the mother if the daughter likes to compete? Sounds like the mother is treating her daughter like a dress-up doll.
'when in their lifetime will boys ever wear makeup' Who cares if a boy wants to? It's HIS choice! For your information, many male TV anchors wear makeup.
The one girl wants to buy a cow. I bet with all the money her parents have spent on the pageants, she could have a whole herd! Better yet, judging by the spelling and grammar displayed by their families and relatives, perhaps the money would be well spent providing an education for them? Then again, if you're that pretty, who cares if you can spell, read/write, balance a checkbook, or any of the other things that responsible educated adults do. She'll just hook herself a husband!
It is apalling that anyone would encourage their daughter or son to participate in an event that is based only on 'beauty'. Is that where we're headed? There is SO much more to a person than how tanned they are, how perfect their hair is, and what they wear! I truly hope that this show on TLC will show normal little girls, but I doubt it. I'm almost positive that these little girls will be wearing makeup, enduring hours of coiffing, having their mothers/coaches make them practice over and over until they walk perfectly, smile perfectly, and behave like the little ladies that everyone thinks they should be. The last line in the article sums it up: "We like getting dirty," Karlee Hunt said, brightening visibly. I wonder if they really like these pageants...or if they're doing it to be able to spend time with their mothers and make them proud.
This disgusts me on a whole variety of levels, but we'll all have to wait and see how the show turns out.
Posted by reaganite on September 6, 2008 at 10:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
robertwp
You know, as much as you and I disagree, I'm glad that you and I are not so far apart that we can't agree on this subject.
Posted by robertwp on September 6, 2008 at 10:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
reaganite,
When can I move in?
Posted by robertwp on September 6, 2008 at 11:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sadler wants me to move out since I am so biased against ACU.
Posted by reaganite on September 6, 2008 at 11:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"When can I move in?"
You wouldn't like the rent agreement...
Posted by robertwp on September 6, 2008 at 11:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"You wouldn't like the rent agreement.."
Well see, there's something else that I think that we could agree on. We're making a lot of progress here.
Posted by gypsydog on September 7, 2008 at 12:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The sickest part of this is what it teaches the girls about themselves. They quickly learn what makes them worthy in this world; their appearance. Mascara, spray-on tans, lipstick, 'done' hair, shiny flazhy and shoes. And so they quite naturally devise that they're not 'good enough' just the way they are. Instead of being the center of attention for their work and achievments in science or for their social spirit of helping those less fortunate, by helping out at a food bank or something actually admirable, they're taught through more and more pagents, that being pretty is what it's all about. God help them when they're 17 and then again when they're 45.
Posted by Gus on September 7, 2008 at 12:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Everytime I see pictures of children objectified in this way, I just feel sick. What 5 yr old pours over fashion and beauty magazines, TiVo's pagent contests and then turns and says, "That's what I want to do!!"? This is entirely a case of parental influence.
And no makeup or dress will make a little girl feel more beautiful than a hug from her Daddy or a kiss from her Mommy.
Posted by ozmaniac on September 7, 2008 at 12:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ugly people, inside and out, it's always the clueless who object most strenuously. Let it go people, it's done.
Posted by GaryBuseysBartender on September 7, 2008 at 12:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm surprised that nobody has used the word that describes this behavior best - exploitation. These parents, and I use that term loosely, are exploiting their daughters for financial gain. They are quite simply, pimps. So, you have a pretty little girl. Well, good for you. That and $6.95 will get you a large capuccino at Starbuck's. One parent said that her little girl is learning interviewing skills. Great, so when she has her first job interview in 10 or 12 years, and they ask her why she wants the job, she can tell them it will help achieve world peace. What these poor little children are learning is that if they put on plenty of make-up, wear expensive clothes, spray on a fake tan, and spend a lot of money on their hair and nails, that makes them better than all the other kids who aren't as pretty as they are. Hogwash! How about teaching them that if they spend as much time at the library as they do in front of a mirror, they might learn how to carry on a conversation. How about teaching them that beauty is only skin deep. I have a beautiful 5 month old daughter, and I would rather see her grow up to be Abigail Breslin in "Little Miss Sunshine" than that hideous Karlee Hunt. It's not natural to look like that when you're 8. Please stop before she decides that Paris Hilton is her role model. My father left me with some wonderful words of wisdom. The wisest of them all was that "the true test of a woman's beauty is how she looks when she first gets up in the morning". Go ahead Mrs. Hunt and Mrs. Teaff, take that picture and hold it up next to the one in this article. Maybe then you'll see who your daughter really is next to who she's pretending to be.
Posted by abideejay on September 7, 2008 at 12:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Oz, just what do you consider ugly? Physical? I look the way I look and there's nothing I can do about it. I'm sure as hell not gonna 'hooker up' in makeup or special clothes just to make someone think I'm attractive. I've got way more going for me than just how I look.
Posted by HoursAway on September 7, 2008 at 9:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The little girls are beautiful. I think the fake lashes, capped teeth, caked on make-up is a little obsessive. What are we teaching our future women? That beauty & poise equals success? Geez. Thanks for helping set the women's movement back 30 years.
Posted by alwaysL8 on September 7, 2008 at 9:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I pray that my 5 yr old little girl knows that she is beautiful because God made her that way inside and out. I was appauled when I read that the mom takes her 8 yr old and gets her a fake tan! Give me a break!! There is just know way to justify the fake tan, makeup and big hair. I can't imagine dressing my 5 yr old that way and having her prance around in front of a bunch of adults. Again, I don't care what these moms have to say in their own defense, there is just no way to justify this. Our babies grow up fast enough. Let them be little girls. Let them know they are beautiful without makeup and big hair and especially without a stupid fake tan!
Posted by WstTxLady on September 7, 2008 at 9:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is all for the moms. They were not the beauty & such so they have kids, make them go thru that. I can GUARENTEE that NONE of those lil girls want to be there. Its wrong.
Posted by diva41 on September 8, 2008 at 9:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sorry , I tried to stay fair and balanced on this but after seeing the show last night all I could do is shake my head at all this. Especially when the younger girl cried while she was getting her spray tan. Mom says " oh she'll know what to expect next time". PLeezzzzzzzzzzz. I am adult and I find the spray tan somewhat startling I can't imagine what a child goes thru. Something's not right about people who would want to expose thier children thru this.
Posted by jennieevelyn on September 8, 2008 at 9:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My question is this: How many adult women would say their only wish, their number one desire as a young girl, was to compete in children's beauty pageants?
Posted by danastanson on September 8, 2008 at 11:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
i know a woman whose little girl is in these pageants. for one, since she has started, she has totally changed into a different little girl. she's only been doing this for (1) year. before she had fun horse playing and messing around. now she practices dance steps and IF she trips and scraps her knee the slightest bit, she apologizes profusely, because she's not "allowed" to hurt herself because it "hurts" her score at the pageant. when i was a kid i had scrapes and bruised from head to toe and didn't think twice about it.
also, last night while i was at the movie theater there were a group of girls that had pageant this weekend and they were about 7- (maybe)10 yrs old and they were in the bathroom fixing their makeup, hiking up their shirts and skirts and trying to look way sexier than i even try to look and i'm 23 yrs old!!
yes, this might be fun, but these parents need to really step back and think about what they might be doing to their children. i think it is a horrible deal. my prayers go out to these girls and hope that their parents have the proper upbringing for them. that they teach them the pageants are for fun, but the main focus should be on letting them be the little kids they are!
Posted by mbs0606 on September 8, 2008 at 1:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I used to work at a hotel that hosted a pageant here in Abilene. I never saw such snotty attitudes come from a group of people. But it was not the little girls that were rude and demanding. The moms acted like they were royalty. PLEASE! Give the act up. No one buys it.
Posted by facesofamerica on September 8, 2008 at 1:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have read almost all the comments on here. I agree with some and disagree with others.
I however am FOR pageants. I have a little girl who does them and loves them! She asks often when she can do another one. She will likely not be doing any for a while longer because she is in soccer.
However I have a few things to say. I am her soccer coach. I have to MAKE her go to soccer when she does not want to. She practices with her friends. All she really wants to do is sit on the field and play with the other little girls on the field. The reason I MAKE her go is because by her making a commitment to her team. (the moment she assured me that she wanted to play soccer she committed) I will make/teach her to follow through with her decisions. I will not teach her to flake out on a team or to flake on ANY commitment she has made.
There are times that you ask a child do they want to do a pageant in 2 weeks. Kid says YEAH!!! by the time that comes along the child is tired of practicing or trying on clothes ect. Then yes the child will be irritated. It can be over whelming. I know it can be for me as well.
However if I gave her the choice which I always do. Do you want to do a pageant or play soccer,with so and so or go to the pool/camping hiking ect. 100% of the time she has said pageant.
I also am a director of a pageant. My pageant is not like the one that was displayed on tv. Feel free to check it out facesofamerica.net you will see that my pageant is not flippers and makeup.(unless it is a costume/dance outfit.
My little girl has NEVER apologized for a bump or a bruise. I give her a high five and tell her good fall. I also ask her if she broke my floor or whatever she fell on. She laughs then goes to play in the sand box. I know if I asked her right now if she wanted to go to a pageant she would run upstairs and pick out her clothes that she was going to wear.
I WISH I would have had the opportunity to attend in pageants when I was a girl.I think I would have made a lot better choices with my life and I would not have done some of the things I did when I was a kid,child,teen.
Posted by blahblah on September 8, 2008 at 1:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, here are my 2 cents...
I am totally against pageants. Especially for little girls. I do not agree that a "beauty pageant" is made up of caked on make-up, hair that takes 4 hours to fix, and who can spend the most money while doing it!
Wake Up People! Beauty is only skin deep...not 1 inch of make-up and 2 inches of hairspray.
I don't think everyone would have such a hard time understanding if it were like this:
"Beauty Pageant Rules"
1. No Make-Up (Only lip gloss)
2. No Up-Do's
3. Hair must be neatly down or in a simple pony tail
4. Only white T-shirts with no markings allowed
5. Only tan shorts (mid-thigh)
6. Only simple flip-flops allowed
Why don't we try something like this that way the kids will truely show their beauty!!!
Posted by blahblah on September 8, 2008 at 1:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
And another thing...I don't agree with them at all because it DOES give the kids bad self esteem. I don't care what the parents say. Especially the ones who are in it Big Time.
If they loose, they are not old enough to understand that just because they are not better than the one who won, that they are just as good. As adults, we learn that everyday. How do you honestly expect a little girl to understand that.
It is like "Ken and Barbie". How many Americans truely have eating disorders because they don't look like "the model type"?
Posted by robertwp on September 8, 2008 at 2:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
While I am no fan of kid’s sports, the comparison between kid’s sports and kid’s beauty pageants has no place in this discussion. While there are parents and kids who do not act properly and tend to ruin the kid’s sports experience for all, kid’s sports are wholesome activities that were designed to teach kids good sportsmanship, teamwork and promote physical activity. Beauty pageants, on the other hand, are not wholesome. They proliferate the false message that one person is more beautiful than another. This is not a healthy thing to teach kids. An award for "beauty" might as well be an award for a birthmark shaped like a turtle. There isn't anything that a person can do about their appearance when it comes to pleasing the judges of a particular pageant. Some parents try to push their kids into a sport where the parent is the actual fan and the kid has no interest. While this is not ideal, there is the opportunity, with good oversight and management, for the kid to have some good coaching and a good team experience that will allow the kid some benefit even if it turns out not to be his/her cup of tea. The sports experience can provide a kid with a building block for his or her preparation for life in an environment where these skills that are learned become great assets whether or not the kid ever plays the game again. The whole idea behind a beauty pageant is the sick idea that some little girl with a fancy outfit and lacquered hair and a cute little pug nose and dimples has more value than another girl, whose clothes, features, poise, talent and personality are every bit as good, if not better, than the winner.
Posted by robertwp on September 8, 2008 at 2:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is an activity that is so subjective that it is more a matter of luck or chance than anything else. The same pageant with different judges is sure to produce a different set of winners and losers. This does nothing to build up the esteem of the losers or develop the character of the winner. It actually gives the winner a false sense of accomplishment. Dog Shows have a much more concrete set of criteria by which a judge is to make his or her decision. The comparison of kid’s beauty pageants and dog shows would be much fairer and the dog show would surely win because dogs are not concerned with whether they win or lose and it is a given that the owners and handlers get much more of a thrill out of the whole event.
I am sure that some of the mothers who exploit their daughters in this manner do honestly feel that their kids love the pageants. They may actually love many things about the pageants and they may actually love to see the way that their mothers and dads enjoy their participation. However, the message that is given by the "tiara and ribbon" is that those girls that didn't win didn't measure up once again. That is a terrible thing for a little girl to have to deal with they do not have the maturity or understanding to comprehend that the whole competition was entirely impractical toward the development of the life skills that these little girls will need to be healthy and happy adults and therefore the whole exercise didn’t even matter in the least.
Posted by ozmaniac on September 8, 2008 at 2:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
To diva 41 You're wrong. After the little girl cried in the spray tan booth, her mom said "I guess we won't be doing that again" I don't know what show you watched but she also said that they had never done the spray tan before but her daughter wanted to try it because her friend was doing it.
Posted by robertwp on September 8, 2008 at 3:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That is a terrible thing for a little girl to have to deal with. They do not have the maturity or understanding to comprehend that the whole competition was entirely impractical toward the development of the life skills that these little girls will need to be healthy and happy adults and therefore the whole exercise didn’t even matter in the least.
Left out a period. Sorry!
Posted by huckster on September 8, 2008 at 3:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i'm so confused!!!! i'm cheering for robert.
Posted by abbilene on September 8, 2008 at 3:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I knew I liked you, Robert. I like you more every post! Rage on, good man!
Posted by Chili4me on September 8, 2008 at 4:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"Posted by huckster on September 8, 2008 at 3:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i'm so confused!!!! i'm cheering for robert."
________________________________________
Me too, I feel dirty!!
Posted by teh_freaky on September 8, 2008 at 5:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The difference between organized sports and beauty pageants: pageants showcase the shallowness and vanity of "beauty". Sports showcase ability and hard work.
I think that it's hurtful to little girls' development to put them in these pageants that compare how pretty they are. If they like to dance or sing, let them go to dance classes or voice lessons. There are other more age appropriate outlets for the talent found in most beauty pageants OUTSIDE of pageants.
And, I agree. I think it's more like the parents want to do pageants, and the girls are just doing it because it makes mama happy.
Posted by always_thinking on September 8, 2008 at 9:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
So lets pretend the little girls do ask for the pageants and love it and would want to do it without their parents pouring attention into it and making them feel loved for 'making mommy happy'... If your 5 year old asked to start shaving her legs would you encourage her too? If she wants a Brazilian wax at 10 do you drive her to the beauty parlor with a smile? The question is do you care that your daughter is learning to be a sex symbol before she even knows what one is?
I got an invitation to be in a pageant when I was a young girl and I begged my mom to be in it because I thought they invited me because they thought I was pretty. I went.. and I can honestly say I wouldn't be surprised to find every one of those girls working as a dancer or entertainer half nude in a dimly lit building today. Before they were even teenagers the only thing in the world important to them was how pretty they looked, how many people were looking at them and how 'proud' they made their parents.
So come back and tell me how that 5 year old turns out in 15 years Oz. My little girl doesn't even know what a pageant is yet and as smart as she is I don't think I will have to explain when she does.
Posted by diva41 on September 9, 2008 at 7:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think you are out numbered on this, Ozmaniac. This is just what I needed to read... I hope her little friend doesn't want to have her eyebrows and lips tatooed too so she might want to try that too!!
Posted by krprilliman on September 9, 2008 at 10:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I was stunned that the story included pictures...they look like miniature prostitutes!!! I feel sorry for the children and even sorrier for the fact that they are being raised by parents who promote them in such manners.
Posted by SYLVIASWEETY on September 9, 2008 at 11:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I wonder if these people have ever added up how much all of this cost.... the lessons, costumes, ect and then compare it to their winnings. Let's see, wasn't there some quote that stated that some contestants enterance fees were $900 and the winning $ was ONLY $1000. Sounds to me like even if you were to win you would still be in the hole with how much you spent to get there. I don't know of too many jobs that would require pagent skills. Invest in your childs future, put the money towards their college fund.
Posted by Lobofan on September 10, 2008 at 10:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hello all. I have been reading all of your comments and although I have decided to keep my opinions to myself I have read one comment that bothers me. most of you talk about how you strongly disagree with beauty pageants and I have even read some negative comments about the parents of these girls, everyone is going to have their own opinion and the parents are adults but to GaryBuseysbartender to take shots at the little girl is wrong. You said she is hideous and the article says she is 8yrs. old,an 8yr. old can read. Im sure you will all have somthing to say about my posting and I did not post to argue with any of you I just dont see any point in cutting down an 8yr. old girl.It does not matter how much you disagree with the topic of discussion.
Posted by proudmommy on November 11, 2008 at 10:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well i have been reading all of you comments. Who would have thought so much negativity could come of this. I disagree and agree with some. You say that it is sick. What is sick is the parents who are taking jabs at the children. You say what kind of parents let their child experience pageants. I say what kind of parents insults a child. How childish could you be? And how do you know if the child enjoys it or not? Have you actually spoken with the child? You should not judge them unless you have been there for the experience. I agree that it is wrong for a parent to keep pushing a child to do something, whether it be pageants, football, soccer or whatever, but if the child enjoys it, I see no harm. And as for the hotel worker, yeah some moms do act like royalty, but not all are like that. And these girls do not look like prostitutes, they look like dolls. Today's cheerleaders look more like prostitutes with there butts hanging out of their short little skirts.
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