NationStates Jolt Archive

What's everyone opinion on Beauty Pageants for kids? Personally I am against them because it's like the smartass comment I said when I saw a commercial about a reality show based on the world of Kids Beauty Pageant's "Learn how to exploit your kids for money and a trophy!" When the kids are young, they should be learning more important stuff, and fulfilling their lives with more enriching activities instead of being paraded around like a piece of meat. Also you gotta figure there's at least one or two pedophile at every one of these kind of Pageant. Finally, most of the girls who are in them are probably being pushed by their mom who are trying to live through their girls.

Thoughts?

Beauty Pagents for kids are great. The girls can grow up to be just like Sarah Palin.

I still don't get the end of Little Miss Sunshine by the way.

How did that help?

I still don't get the end of Little Miss Sunshine by the way.

How did that help?

That's the only part you didn't get?

I still don't get the end of Little Miss Sunshine by the way.

How did that help?

how did what help?

That's the only part you didn't get?

It...um....it wasn't that complicated a movie.

how did what help?


The striptease

It...um....it wasn't that complicated a movie.

Eh it's on the same level as Napoleon Dynamite.

Eh it's on the same level as Napoleon Dynamite.

You didnt get that movie either?

The striptease

I'm not sure what you're asking...what about it?

The striptease

Go on...

You didnt get that movie either?

I didn't get Little Miss Sunshine or Napoleon Dynamite. Two movies that I'm certain were written, and filmed while everyone was on acid.

Eh it's on the same level as Napoleon Dynamite.

which also wasn't all that complicated either. And also a radically different movie.

How is "you know, I am one of the foremost Proust scholars in the United States" while pushing a van not fucking funny?

Eh it's on the same level as Napoleon Dynamite.

I never saw Napoleon Dynamite, but I'm still not sure what was hard to "get" about Little Miss Sunshine. I mean, it was pretty much "Quirky family goes on a road trip. Hilarity ensues."

I'm not sure what you're asking...what about it?

It seemed like it was meant to have some significance. I was wondering what that significance was.

Go on...

of a 10 year old girl

of a 10 year old girl

aaaaaaand you killed it. Thanks for that.:p

which also wasn't all that complicated either. And also a radically different movie.

How is "you know, I am one of the foremost Proust scholars in the United States" while pushing a van not fucking funny?

I never saw Napoleon Dynamite, but I'm still not sure what was hard to "get" about Little Miss Sunshine. I mean, it was pretty much "Quirky family goes on a road trip. Hilarity ensues."

I just didn't find it funny. It was dull and boring. Now House, that's a funny show.

which also wasn't all that complicated either. And also a radically different movie.

How is "you know, I am one of the foremost Proust scholars in the United States" while pushing a van not fucking funny?

"And where is your grandfather now?"
"In our trunk." :)

Now House, that's a funny show.

.............

Let me guess, you like Scrubs too?:p

It seemed like it was meant to have some significance. I was wondering what that significance was.

well, a few things. One, it highlights some of the absurdity of the work she did with her grandfather on her "routine", given how utterly...bad it was.

Also it was meant as a subtle poke at the hypocrisy of these pagents, with the families who basically hyper sexualize their 10 year old girls, looking utterly horrified when that sexualization is simply taken to a more overt level.

In other words, it's just fine to put her in makeup and make her sing and dance, with teased hair and a bikini but a pudgey girl doing a bump and grind to "super freak" is HORRIFYING.

It's basically pointing out this entirely arbitrary line about the point where it's "ok" to sexualize children, and as long as you're on THAT side of the line it's acceptable in the community, even though the behavior, on a moral level, is equivalently bad.

.............

Let me guess, you like Scrubs too?:p

oh don't get him fucking started on scrubs.

oh don't get him fucking started on scrubs.

Did I just open Pandora's box?

well, a few things. One, it highlights some of the absurdity of the work she did with her grandfather on her "routine", given how utterly...bad it was.

Also it was meant as a subtle poke at the hypocrisy of these pagents, with the families who basically hyper sexualize their 10 year old girls, looking utterly horrified when that sexualization is simply taken to a more overt level.

In other words, it's just fine to put her in makeup and make her sing and dance, with teased hair and a bikini but a pudgey girl doing a bump and grind to "super freak" is HORRIFYING.

It's basically pointing out this entirely arbitrary line about the point where it's "ok" to sexualize children, and as long as you're on THAT side of the line it's acceptable in the community, even though the behavior, on a moral level, is equivalently bad.

Plus, you know, it's a cute little kid doing a ridiculously silly dance to Rick James. Not to undercut your analysis or anything. ;)

.............

Let me guess, you like Scrubs too?:p

Yes I do.

oh don't get him fucking started on scrubs.

Did I just open Pandora's box?

Yes you did.

Yes I do.





Yes you did.

....

Damnit. Im on the wrong computer. All my awesome memes about Scrubs are saved on my currently out of order laptop.

....

Damnit. Im on the wrong computer. All my awesome memes about Scrubs are saved on my currently out of order laptop.

I love you....I must have these memes! I MUST! *tackles you, stand on top of you* I MUST HAVE THEM!!!

well, a few things. One, it highlights some of the absurdity of the work she did with her grandfather on her "routine", given how utterly...bad it was.

Also it was meant as a subtle poke at the hypocrisy of these pagents, with the families who basically hyper sexualize their 10 year old girls, looking utterly horrified when that sexualization is simply taken to a more overt level.

In other words, it's just fine to put her in makeup and make her sing and dance, with teased hair and a bikini but a pudgey girl doing a bump and grind to "super freak" is HORRIFYING.

It's basically pointing out this entirely arbitrary line about the point where it's "ok" to sexualize children, and as long as you're on THAT side of the line it's acceptable in the community, even though the behavior, on a moral level, is equivalently bad.

Right. But it's all done like the triumphant endings to a thousand and one other comedy movies. It's presented like we're meant to be like "oh great, they've been vindicated" even though there has been virtually zilch in the way of build up to that conclusion.

I know a few pageant moms. The whole thing is creepy and wrong, spray tans, fake eyelashes, baby dentures, modified photos where they replace the eyes, cheeks, nose, smile and hair of the child and re-shade her skin...........eww!
http://www.universalroyalty.com/regan.JPG

Right. But it's all done like the triumphant endings to a thousand and one other comedy movies. It's presented like we're meant to be like "oh great, they've been vindicated" even though there has been virtually zilch in the way of build up to that conclusion.

vindicated? They got chased off the fucking stage.

No. Just no. It's usually a mother living vicariously through her kid, it teaches all kinds of unrealistic shit about body image and I find the outfits and makeup completely sexually inappropriate for a child.

Let kids be kids. Not breathing Barbie dolls.

I know a few pageant moms. The whole thing is creepy and wrong, spray tans, fake eyelashes, baby dentures, modified photos where they replace the eyes, cheeks, nose, smile and hair of the child and re-shade her skin...........eww!
http://www.universalroyalty.com/regan.JPG

Those cannot be her real eyes.....the eyes....they pierce my soul! :eek:

I know a few pageant moms. The whole thing is creepy and wrong, spray tans, fake eyelashes, baby dentures, modified photos where they replace the eyes, cheeks, nose, smile and hair of the child and re-shade her skin...........eww!
http://www.universalroyalty.com/regan.JPG

I remember that photo. It scared the crap out of me before, and still does. HER FAKE EYES ARE BORING INTO MY SOUL.

vindicated? They got chased off the fucking stage.

Within the context of the narrative, not within the context of the beauty pagent.

No. Just no. It's a pedophile's wet dream.

Hence my sarcastic and witty comment about one or two pedophiles being in the audience at these things.

Those cannot be her real eyes.....the eyes....they pierce my soul! :eek:

It's not her eyes, nose, mouth, hair, or skin.

But it's her.......you know, she's beautiful........after you replace her face.

It's not her eyes, nose, mouth, hair, or skin.

But it's her.......you know, she's beautiful........after you replace her face.

So...what does the mother plan to do when the girl shows up at the pageant and the judges have the picture?

I think I figured out what creeps me out the most about that photo. More than the fake eyes, or the fake mouth, or anything - it's that her skin has been so thoroughly airbrushed that her face appears to be two-dimensional. That's freaking WEIRD.

Hence my sarcastic and witty comment about one or two pedophiles being in the audience at these things.

oh..you, um..you thought that was wit?

oh..you, um..you thought that was wit?

It was at least sarcastic?

So...what does the mother plan to do when the girl shows up at the pageant and the judges have the picture?

She puts fake hair on her and spray tans her and glues false eye-lashes to her and puts her in a horrendously puffy dress and makes her shake her ass and make stupid faces.......also the pageant kid I know has dental appliances that fit over her real teeth because she's missing some (like a normal 6 year old) but her mom doesn't want her smile to "suffer" due to it.

I didn't get Little Miss Sunshine or Napoleon Dynamite. Two movies that I'm certain were written, and filmed while everyone was on acid.
Ever played PO'd? That was something people made on acid. Napoleon Dynamite was made by a bunch of 20 year olds stoned out of their fucking minds 24/7 for the duration of filming. An acid based film would have at least been entertaining.

She puts fake hair on her and spray tans her and glues false eye-lashes to her and puts her in a horrendously puffy dress and makes her shake her ass and make stupid faces.......also the pageant kid I know has dental appliances that fit over her real teeth because she's missing some (like a normal 6 year old) but her mom doesn't want her smile to "suffer" due to it.

Anyone ever stop to ask the kids what they think about all of this?

She puts fake hair on her and spray tans her and glues false eye-lashes to her and puts her in a horrendously puffy dress and makes her shake her ass and make stupid faces.......also the pageant kid I know has dental appliances that fit over her real teeth because she's missing some (like a normal 6 year old) but her mom doesn't want her smile to "suffer" due to it.

It's all rather like dressing a doll, I have friends with kids who seem to spend their time dressing and re-dressing them constantly, it becomes a little tiring and, more to the point, it reminds me of that odd fixation with pruning and presenting the human form.

Anyone ever stop to ask the kids what they think about all of this?

Her kids don't talk to adults. I asked her about it once and got the standard "they love it, I wouldn't do it except they want to, they were hooked after their first pageant".

The oldest was in her first pageant at 6 months old.

She spends upwards of $50K a year on pageant related things.....wins about $25K and calls it an investment.

Her kids don't talk to adults. I asked her about it once and got the standard "they love it, I wouldn't do it except they want to, they were hooked after their first pageant".

The oldest was in her first pageant at 6 months old.

She spends upwards of $50K a year on pageant related things.....wins about $25K and calls it an investment.

Wow...I feel sorry for the kids. :( It sounds like they get no say in this, and that the mothers are living through the kids. :(

and six months old? Jeez....wow....just wow.

Why the beauty pageant? Why not give the kids a competence pageant? We want to send the message "If you study well you'll be rich and famous!" not "If you look like Paris Hilton you'll be rich and famous!".

Let kids be kids. Not breathing Barbie dolls.

This. It's really scary to see photos of them, especially the airbrushed ones like Smunkee posted.

Kids are beautiful without excessive makeup/hair/clothes and the unnecessary sexualising of it.

Why the beauty pageant? Why not give the kids a competence pageant? We want to send the message "If you study well you'll be rich and famous!" not "If you look like Paris Hilton you'll be rich and famous!".
if paris hilton wasnt rich, her looks wouldnt get her anywhere.

Why not just call them what they really are: Pedophile Conventions.

What a lovely thing to teach her kids.

"You're beautiful -- after we fake you up."

What a lovely thing to teach her kids.

"You're beautiful -- after we fake you up."

Ever want to turn your kids into suicidal anorexic drug addicts, this would be a good way to do it.

I'm sure this was probably already mentioned but Jean Benet Ramsey? hello! lets just spend tons of money to push, pluck, tweez, and glitter our way into the eyes of sexual predators! What a great advertisement for them!

Call em what they really are: beauty pageants for GIRLS.

Yeah, I'm sure there's a couple of boy pageants somebody can link, but we all know that 99% of this crap is targeted at little girls.

Personally, I don't find such pageants cute at all. What's cute to me is listening to adults try to claim that the pageants are about anything besides grooming little girls to be fembots and teaching them that their value is in being pretty decorative ornaments for boys to play with.

grooming little girls to be fembots and teaching them that their value is in being pretty decorative ornaments for boys to play with.

well, why not? It's not like they're good for anything else.