Essay --

Should an age limit be placed on child beauty pageants? Every Wednesday night, millions tune into TLC to see Toddlers & Tiaras and of course their ‘Crazy Pageant Mums’. The series has run for 6 seasons so far and follows the preparation before the pageants and the contests. The TLC hit has failed to show the dark side of child beauty pageants and the dangers that come with it. The show doesn’t show the 6am starts and the near starvation beforehand. This puts immense stress on the children and that is why I believe there should be a law which stops parents entering children into pageants under the age of 8. On one hand, many parents, promoters and judgers of such competitions believe that the beauty version of the Hunger Games is good for the young children. They believe that it creates confidence in the girls and helps them embrace themselves. It also is good for their self-esteem and attitude. It gives the girls a sense of structure and routine in their lives and prepares them for adult hood. On the other hand, people believe that it sexualizes children far too early and puts them ...