Inside the world of child pageants and stage moms

Jun 03, 2010 11:30 AM by SheKnows Parenting Editors

Posted in Parenting / Age by Age

Toddlers
And Tiaras

Do you think you could get your toddler to sit through full make-up, fake eyelashes, acrylic nail application and yes, even a spray-on tan? The stage moms of TLC's Toddlers and Tiaras have managed to get their baby beauties all dolled up in hopes their child will be crowned pageant queen and win cash, a puppy and bragging rights.

From the $400 designer swimsuits to the expert hair and make-up applications, it is easy to see how child pageants have become a billion dollar business. This season of Toddlers and Tiaras show pageant queen hopefuls (and their stressed-out moms) competing at the Southern Glitz Open State pageant. What are the judges looking for? "Beautiful face with a lot of personality. The whole package," one judge says.

Check out 4-year-old sadie and 3-year-old Isabella get dolled up for their beauty, talent and outfit competitions.

Video: Toddlers and Tiaras

How young is too young for a spray tan?

Watch as pageant queen hopefuls ( as young as 5-years-old) get sprayed tan before their pageant. "It really enhances the dress she has," one mom says. "Everyone looks better tan. You can tell who has been tanned and who has not."

On the positive side, at least these moms aren't making them go to a tanning bed?

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Comments

Comments on "Inside the world of child pageants and stage moms"

My daughter does the OLM pageants she is two. I would never spray tan my daughter or put make up on her! She doesnt wear a freaky wig or get her nails done with acrilic nails (although she does like to have her toenails painted :) When i watch this show and see the moms bribing their little girls and discipling them because they dont wanna go on stage or do it it breaks my heart. My duaghter loves going but its been the same girls each time and she has friends she enjoys seeing plus she loves to see the babies and all the dresses :) But these ones are ridiculous! Children are beautiful without all the junk layered on so coming from a natural pageant mom this women need some help i dont even get spray on tans and most of the moms on this show dont either why the heck would i do that to my daughter!

Then people wonder why these kids have problems when they grow up, why they're frustrated with their lives and consider them empty. Pathetic.

At first, the sight of the kids all dolled up really freaked me out because they look so fake. But the more I watched this show, I realized it's really the moms who have the problem. So many are living their dreams through the little girls, who in turn become completely obsessed with being perfect. And the attitudes! Oh man, I'd march my daughter right out of that cheap Holiday Inn ball room if she ever mouthed off the way these little divas do!