Beauty pageants in the United States are a common hobby for teenage girls and young women.  Throughout the past few years, they have become even more common for children as young as two-years-old. TLC’s “Toddlers & Tiaras” is a reality show about young girls, most of them under the age of ten, who compete in beauty pageants. Each episode of the series follows two young girls getting ready and competing in these “glamorous” beauty pageants. Over the course of the past few years, the topic of having young girls compete in beauty pageants has become very controversial, especially in France. The French Senate voted on whether they should ban beauty pageants and as of September 18, “anyone who enters a child under the age of 16 in a beauty contest would face as much as two years in prison and $40,000 in fines.”

In the United States, there are no current laws pertaining to beauty pageants. CNN had a segment on their show last week about France banning beauty pageants, and asked for their viewers’ input. One woman, Darlene, said, “How pleased I am that, finally, some are fully awakened and realizing that child beauty pageants should be banned…The mothers are the culprits here.” Based on the show, “Toddlers and Tiaras”, these mothers are trying to live their fantasy childhood through their daughters. They are being selfish and not considering what is best for their children. Another woman, Samantha, said, “It is not about living vicariously through your child. It’s about letting your child’s childhood and youth get stolen by makeup, fashion shows, heels and dresses.”

Do you think young girls shouldn’t be allowed to compete in beauty pageants? Let us know by answering the question in our Viking Saga Poll (see home page).

Sources:

http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/19/living/parents-ban-child-beauty-pageants/index.html

http://www.newser.com/story/174444/france-wants-to-ban-hypersexual-kid-beauty-pageants.html