With events like “The Miss America Pageant” being nationally televised, movies like “Little Miss Sunshine” being produced, and shows like “Toddlers and Tiara’s” and “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” being watched by millions, children’s beauty pageants are becoming more popular than ever. Today more than 16,000 child pageants are held annually, with an estimated 290,000 contestants (Bowling). Behind the popularity, however, follows the controversy. There are essentially two types of children’s beauty pageants, the “natural” pageants and the “glitz” pageants. In natural pageants, children under a certain age are not allowed to wear make up or fake teeth (flappers), spray tans and big hair are discouraged, and there are specific age appropriate dress guidelines that the contestants must follow. In contrast, at a glitz pageant you will see fake smiles, fake tans, heavy stage make up, and wigs on almost every girl. Advocates of both types of pageants argue that they are a good source of friendly competition and healthy for a child’s self esteem. Critics of child beauty pageants, however, argue that the glitz pageants, more so than the natural pageants, could potentially have damaging effects on the child contestant.
One of the most significant reasons parents cite for entering their children into beauty pageants is to boost their child’s self esteem, and to teach poise and confidence. A group of parents interviewed by TODAY contributor Michael Inbar claimed that putting their children on stage builds their confidence and that it doesn’t distort their self-image. Many parents of young beauty queens would tell you that the pageants are healthy for a young child. It gives the child an opportunity to step outside of their comfort zone. Anna Berry, a mother of a 13- year-old beauty pageant contestant, says that her daughter was so shy she couldn’t even order her own food,