Beauty Is Blossomed Not Made

Beauty is Blossomed Not Made

Beauty pageant children are judged based on individuality in looks, capability, poise, perfection and confidence. The judges call it, "the complete package.” Close up headshots, are given even for those as young as a few months, and they are made up to look like Primadonna’s posing for Vogue. Their eyes are accentuated with eyeliner and big eyelashes, fake teeth, as well as hair extensions, hair coloring, and make up caked on to a ridiculous extent. There is a lot of pressure on children to perform on the stage. If the child happens to lose, frustrations seem to slither in. These nuisances lead to despair and other psychological complications. Child beauty pageants effects are disastrous on the child's mind, body and soul.

Pursuing this further, Thousands of dollars can be spent just for one child in one pageant. It costs a few hundred dollars to enter a child in the pageant depending on what type of pageant it is. There are three different types of Pageants City, State, and National. Young children are tremendously impressionable. The early years of life is when personalities develop, a moral compass of our values and ideals are develop; we tend to pick a sense of right and wrong. If young children are lead to believe their worth and value as human beings depends on their physical appearance, then this is likely to become their belief throughout their lives.

Yet, if a young child is naturally cute they are often told this fact, this is not normally harmful if it is within a balanced life and other elements are equally valued. It is when the physical appearance begins to be the main feature of the child that initiates a crisis. Physical appearance is a major factor in the development of personality, because people form opinions by what they see in a person physically, and respond to that person accordingly. In turn, people tend to fulfill the expectations they believe others have for them. If a child is groomed and dressed up constantly with immaculate hair and nails, then what chance is there to develop their physical skills and partake in the carefree nature that childhood should be. Children climb, run, jump, play rough and tumble, if they are concerned about messing up their hair or breaking their nails how can they do this? How can they be children?

In other words, Children need to be young as long as they can before they hit grown up years. Because, all children enjoy playing house and dress up. It is the parents who encourage them to take it further, and who encourages them to develop this interest and turn it into a serious pursuit of vanity. Generally, there is this ideal image that some or most try to portray. You got Lady Gaga look-a-likes Beyonce wannabes’ and much more in this commercialized world. It is no coincidence that eating disorders, self harming, and cosmetic surgery are common. Women even men go for an image that is not them or, go to the extreme to become a unique. However, you also only need to read the headlines to see that these ideals of perfection are often unhappy, drinking, drug abusers, emotional and relationship problems are of commonplace. Headlines on the news, internet, and television any and everywhere you can see it for yourself.

Certainly, when we look at these over sexualized young pre teenage girls we should be extremely concerned about their wellbeing. Their self esteem and emotions are the things that will be affected by these competitions. The hopes and dreams, however misguided are raised by parents who encourage them to enter. The children who do not win may perceive themselves as not pretty enough and therefore further ensure their quest for a synthetic appearance. The bad thing is sometimes people make winning the most important aspect. Some girl may win and suddenly thinks that she is better then everyone. While it builds confidence it also builds ego, and makes the other girls who did not win feel they are not good enough.

In addition, beauty pageants make way for the pedophiles to be present many times. To dress a young girl in high heels and make up with over dressed hair is practically inviting people to view the children as sexual beings. Is this really what the parents want for their young children? These competitions are harmful to children in many different areas; it is actually difficult to see why any parent would want their children to take part. Preparing for the pageant requires time and patience, hair lasting around an hour and forty-five minutes, make-up around an hour. Different performances for every pageant require some participants to practice for about seven hours a week. Stage mothers for the eight to ten age group in Universal Royalty, say it is worth all the trouble and effort since it instills happiness, poise in front of a crowd, confidence, pride and a sense of accomplishment. For example, Sabra Johnson, a ten year old experienced child contestant, one of the threatening ingredients in this competition has aspirations of landing a major modeling career and until then, modeling at the pageants. Sabra started competing in pageants at the age of four and was awarded three hundred trophies. While the child was interviewed by A&E Network she kept looking over at her mom for reassurance of her thoughts. She never mentioned becoming educated; she solely relied on her appearance for her future.

In essence, beauty pageants are one of the fastest growing industries in the United States. The government should regulate such an extensive enterprise, to provide safety, especially since it deals with children. The government protects the juvenile's health from smoking and drinking and provides education and safety. Children have rights and laws guarding them against manipulative adults, are these pageants not a marketing tool aimed at children? Jon Benet Ramsey's death influenced the public to believe that all pageants promote sexuality and mistreatment, but there are always two sides to every story.

Throughout the research, pageants proved to be both a negative and positive influence depending on their surroundings. Pageants that regulate make-up usage, sexuality and competition are recognized to be great experiences for children. For example, Beatriz Gill a child pageant director and a former child participant, does not allow make-up or snug costumes in her pageants. Beatriz is one of many that have a positive outlook on pageants; she believes that pageants helped her become confident and self-assured. On the other hand, many of the pageants researched did allow excessive make-up, hair and clothing. Some had exceptional qualities like offering awards for all participants. I believe that pageants have a long road before achieving a safe environment for children without introducing them to competition, sexuality and disappointment too early in life. Allowing six-year-olds to dress up in evening gowns and parade at beauty pageants is sending the wrong message.

Chiefly, “such contests may give children the perception that being pretty is the only option for popularity and success,” stated by Marcia Summers, an educational psychology professor. Children soak up all things that they are interested in like a sponge. When some children win a pageant at a young age, they could be thinking they are prettier and better than others. It also sets them up for some problems, including bulimia, anorexia and depression, if they cannot adjust as teens. Some babies grow up to be nice looking adults and others grow up to be average looking. We all can't be beautiful. The recent death of a girl from Atlanta, who participated in beauty pageants before she was six, has led to harsh criticism of the shows by the media and parental groups. Children’s beauty pageants have been around as long as adult contests with the Miss America program starting in the 1920s. Summers also said, “Winning validates a parent's feelings about his or her child.” On the other end, some parents allow their daughters to participate in contests to win college scholarships and other prizes. Some adults push their youngsters to win in order to gain prestige. Summers fears that putting adult pressures into the lives of small children can destroy what is supposed to be a wonderful time. “Those parents are denying some children from their childhood, which is something you can never get back,” she said. At age 20, you can't get together with a bunch of friends and play in the dirt or play cars. You'd look and feel pretty silly. Some children encounter problems with school friends or siblings after participating in contests. Jealousy or envy may cause problems, especially if the child flaunts a title. Other problems may develop as a result of adults who prey on young children. Parents need to look at why they want their children to be in a contest and think before they take action. These Children that are placed in this predicament are being judge based on if they possess the “complete package,” does any child has the “complete package?” If parents do it because of the need to stroke an ego or because they want what is best for their child. It really would not matter because; either way Beauty is Blossomed Not Made.