Psychological Benefits on Participants
As one can imagine, the views of child beauty pageants is a very controversial topic. All the way back to the beginning of beauty pageants when thousands of contestants would enter, pageants have been filled with confident, poised young ladies. The contestants grow up knowing a set of skills to make them professional and they benefit greatly from participating. Many people argue the negative aspects of these contests, but there are just as many benefits that play a huge role in the psychological effects these children encounter. Positive features such as a growth in confidence, outgoing personality, and a positive self-image are seen widely within the pageant world today.
Throughout the whole beauty pageant, judges look for the confidence that radiates from the contestant. Some research presented within the article "Beauty Pageants Saved My Life” shows that contestants who are bullied before they enter beauty pageants have better self-esteem, confidence, and pride in themselves from partaking in the beauty pageants. Other Children that grew up in pageants say that it saved their emotional well being and confidence. The former America’s Perfect Teen says that she was once bullied and now proclaims that, “I always think if you can stand on stage in front of hundreds of people, then I can stand up to the bullies being horrible to me" (Beauty Pageants Saved... para 2,7). I view this article and its stories as an inspirational reason for partaking in pageants. If one can help themselves through doing something they love, I think it is a great reason for pageants to be available for all ages. A lot of these young girls started out as shy toddlers clinging to their moms, but as their personality grew from competing they now can stand in front of hundreds of people being confident with themselves and their performance.
Within today’s society, children are more closed off than in the past by being more involved in technology, resulting in a barrier from communicating freely with others. Having an outgoing spirit is an important personality trait in reaching a top crowning position in pageants. Because of this, these children train every day to have a big smile and bright eyes in order to break away from the dependency of technology for communication. Michael Inbar, author of the NBC News article "Parents Defend Putting Their Kids in Beauty Pageants" interviewed parents to see how beauty pageants have helped their children. Jones a parent of a beauty pageant child in Texas said, “When she was young, she was really, really shy. I wanted her to develop her own type of personality” (Inbar para 3). Putting children into pageants for the benefit of gaining an outgoing personality is a common idea for stage parents. Most parents view the beauty pageants as a tactic to let their child learn how to present themselves in front of a crowd. As the pageant kids grow up in the pageant culture they also face the life outside of the glitz. It is essential to realize that they still have soccer practice, do homework, and take piano lessons like all other children. I view the availability of other extracurricular activities just as important for children when pertaining to an overall balanced child. The confidence and outgoing personalities of these kids radiate not only on the stage but it can also help them in their everyday life. Winning pageant children have learned how to present themselves to judges, but it also is expressed within other skills they use outside of pageants. This is an important reason why pageants can be so psychologically beneficial to these children whether they win a crown or not.
Today’s culture has brought the reality TV industry to a record high. Everyone loves to watch people’s dramatic lives on screen. Two major TLC TV series that have caught the attention of the public are “Toddlers and Tiaras” and “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo”. Toddlers and Tiaras follows girls through a pageant and in the end you see them being crowned at the closing of the competition. Alana, a young girl that caused many people to talk when she was shown on Toddlers and Tiaras, now has her own show, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, because of her striking personality and lifestyle. Alana is proud of her self-image and loves to flaunt her stuff to the judges and audience. It is relevant within the show that her whole family is proud of their life choices and Alana could not be more proud of herself on stage. Other studies have shown that participating in beauty pageants has increased self-esteem and self-image. Amy Rigard, author of the article "Beauty Pageants Boost Self-esteem” tells of Andrea Smith’s story. Andrea was convinced to enter her first beauty pageant when she was 16. She was borderline anorexic and partook in self-harm by cutting herself. When Andrea competed for the first time her mother saw how her personality changed immediately and her depression went away. Andrea realized something new and great about herself. She says, "It has helped build my self-esteem so much…if I start falling again, being in a pageant brings me right back” (Rigard para 1). This story confirms some of the great benefits of participating in beauty pageants and the reasons why so many children enjoy this activity within their life. Just like the article "Beauty Pageants Saved My Life”, "Beauty Pageants Boost Self-esteem” holds many of the same views of the great benefits of beauty pageants. I feel that If children sign up for competitions in order the feel better about themselves and have better self-worth, like that of Andrea, it is almost a necessity for a healthy life.
As one can see, the benefits of child beauty pageants can help a child succeed in the pageant world and in life. An increase in confidence can help a child in many ways socially and culturally. From participating more in school, to eventually applying for jobs, it is a very important aspect of today’s world. Being a friendly outgoing child also is key to being crowned Grand Supreme at the pageants, but that isn't where it ends. Outgoing children are more likely to make friends and have a better awareness about one’s self-image and self-esteem. All of these factors are apparent when watching these children on these reality TV shows and reading articles on the positive changes children received. It’s no wonder these little outgoing girls are so eager to make friends with their competition. As these benefits continue to impact their lives there are also other aspects of the stage life that can change them for better or for worse.
Throughout the whole beauty pageant, judges look for the confidence that radiates from the contestant. Some research presented within the article "Beauty Pageants Saved My Life” shows that contestants who are bullied before they enter beauty pageants have better self-esteem, confidence, and pride in themselves from partaking in the beauty pageants. Other Children that grew up in pageants say that it saved their emotional well being and confidence. The former America’s Perfect Teen says that she was once bullied and now proclaims that, “I always think if you can stand on stage in front of hundreds of people, then I can stand up to the bullies being horrible to me" (Beauty Pageants Saved... para 2,7). I view this article and its stories as an inspirational reason for partaking in pageants. If one can help themselves through doing something they love, I think it is a great reason for pageants to be available for all ages. A lot of these young girls started out as shy toddlers clinging to their moms, but as their personality grew from competing they now can stand in front of hundreds of people being confident with themselves and their performance.
Within today’s society, children are more closed off than in the past by being more involved in technology, resulting in a barrier from communicating freely with others. Having an outgoing spirit is an important personality trait in reaching a top crowning position in pageants. Because of this, these children train every day to have a big smile and bright eyes in order to break away from the dependency of technology for communication. Michael Inbar, author of the NBC News article "Parents Defend Putting Their Kids in Beauty Pageants" interviewed parents to see how beauty pageants have helped their children. Jones a parent of a beauty pageant child in Texas said, “When she was young, she was really, really shy. I wanted her to develop her own type of personality” (Inbar para 3). Putting children into pageants for the benefit of gaining an outgoing personality is a common idea for stage parents. Most parents view the beauty pageants as a tactic to let their child learn how to present themselves in front of a crowd. As the pageant kids grow up in the pageant culture they also face the life outside of the glitz. It is essential to realize that they still have soccer practice, do homework, and take piano lessons like all other children. I view the availability of other extracurricular activities just as important for children when pertaining to an overall balanced child. The confidence and outgoing personalities of these kids radiate not only on the stage but it can also help them in their everyday life. Winning pageant children have learned how to present themselves to judges, but it also is expressed within other skills they use outside of pageants. This is an important reason why pageants can be so psychologically beneficial to these children whether they win a crown or not.
Today’s culture has brought the reality TV industry to a record high. Everyone loves to watch people’s dramatic lives on screen. Two major TLC TV series that have caught the attention of the public are “Toddlers and Tiaras” and “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo”. Toddlers and Tiaras follows girls through a pageant and in the end you see them being crowned at the closing of the competition. Alana, a young girl that caused many people to talk when she was shown on Toddlers and Tiaras, now has her own show, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, because of her striking personality and lifestyle. Alana is proud of her self-image and loves to flaunt her stuff to the judges and audience. It is relevant within the show that her whole family is proud of their life choices and Alana could not be more proud of herself on stage. Other studies have shown that participating in beauty pageants has increased self-esteem and self-image. Amy Rigard, author of the article "Beauty Pageants Boost Self-esteem” tells of Andrea Smith’s story. Andrea was convinced to enter her first beauty pageant when she was 16. She was borderline anorexic and partook in self-harm by cutting herself. When Andrea competed for the first time her mother saw how her personality changed immediately and her depression went away. Andrea realized something new and great about herself. She says, "It has helped build my self-esteem so much…if I start falling again, being in a pageant brings me right back” (Rigard para 1). This story confirms some of the great benefits of participating in beauty pageants and the reasons why so many children enjoy this activity within their life. Just like the article "Beauty Pageants Saved My Life”, "Beauty Pageants Boost Self-esteem” holds many of the same views of the great benefits of beauty pageants. I feel that If children sign up for competitions in order the feel better about themselves and have better self-worth, like that of Andrea, it is almost a necessity for a healthy life.
As one can see, the benefits of child beauty pageants can help a child succeed in the pageant world and in life. An increase in confidence can help a child in many ways socially and culturally. From participating more in school, to eventually applying for jobs, it is a very important aspect of today’s world. Being a friendly outgoing child also is key to being crowned Grand Supreme at the pageants, but that isn't where it ends. Outgoing children are more likely to make friends and have a better awareness about one’s self-image and self-esteem. All of these factors are apparent when watching these children on these reality TV shows and reading articles on the positive changes children received. It’s no wonder these little outgoing girls are so eager to make friends with their competition. As these benefits continue to impact their lives there are also other aspects of the stage life that can change them for better or for worse.