Thanks alot "People"

Just when you think it's safe to step out again, something happens that can just set you back 30 miles.

Last week, People magazine ran a cover story, primarily focusing on the hit "reality" show 'Toddlers and Tiaras" and how it's most recent episodes are showcasing how pageants are damaging our girls. 

Always remember, Glam or Glitz pageants are not the only events for children to enter. You can often find events that don't require make-up or false hair pieces. This cover story by People magazine really gives pageantry some unfair scrutiny. 

For every one over the top glitz pageant you see on television, I guarantee there are at least three or four out there that are fun, educational and self-esteem building.  Off of the top of my head I can think of Cinderella Pageants, Beary Special and Winter Snow Queen.   

Want more, do a simple Google search.  Just because a young girl has a chance to win a very large crown, doesn't automatically make it an over the top pageant.

Finally, when it's all said and done, who's really to blame, the pageants, the kids or THE PARENTS!?  Children can't purchase this stuff for themselves.  Because OF COURSE, a 4 year old WANTS to dress up like the hooker in Pretty Woman.

Come on People!

So how do we fix it?

Well the past few days have delivered a terrible blow to the pageant industry.  Unless you've been hiding under a rock, you have heard about the truly sad situation involving the Sacramento 8-year old, whose mother was giving the beautiful little girl Botox injections as well as waxing her legs.  According to reports, she's since been removed from the home.   Of course this has started a flurry or comments, blog posts, tweets and Facebook statuses about the dangers and pressures of children in pageantry.  Of course in all of this outrage, no one is looking to find out about and promote the responsible individuals, companies or systems in children's pageantry.  I mean who wants to hear about a bunch of do-gooders!

This argument is decades old and is never ending. For every horrible thing or experience you hear about in pageantry, there are reputable, fun and great pageant systems like National American Miss, American Co-ed Pageants, Pageants R Fun, International Junior Miss and Beary Special/Dixieland Dolls and Darlings. 

 

Equating every children's pageant or pageant mom with crazy Botox lady or "Toddlers & Tiaras" is just like saying everyone who goes into boxing will end up with Parkinson's disease or every football parent is Cam Newton's dad - it just doesn't make any sense and it's a reach.

If you love pageantry the way I do, you are realizing that recent activity has really brought a negative light to something that has provided a valuable outlet, numerous scholarship opportunities and plenty of self-esteem building activities to young girls and women the world over.  My question now is how do we fix it?  How do we turn this positive into a negative, how do we remind girls, moms and dads that pageantry offers the highest payout of scholarship dollars to help women attend college annually!  

How do we remind the world that collectively "pageant girls" probably spend the same amount, if not more, hours on community service each year as the Junior League!

How dear pageant friends, how????