Diamond
Strutting down the runway, the model flashes her false teeth toward the judges and turns
back to the dark curtain. Hiding the real show, behind the scenes this little model is nothing more
than a child, pent up with energy and an undying need to be accepted. Children around the globe are
dolled up for such special occasions, and thrust, screaming, down the runway by their ever adoring
parents. Starting from as young as six months old, children and toddlers are forced into this
diamond studded cult long before they can even comprehend their right to free will. Whether it’s
for the money or the fame, what truly keep these kids standing in line are their parents. Driven by
their own need to achieve many parents put themselves in their children’s shoes hoping for the
ounce of glory that comes along with the trophy.
Exploited by the very dresses they pick out, these children lose the understanding of how
to obtain worth in what they do, rather than how they act and dress. As we can see in the case of
little JonBenet Ramsey when a small child at this age dances on stage she puts herself at risk of
some person on the other side of the screen wanting to see just that. Murdered and raped in her
own basement, JonBenet might still be with us if she hadn’t exploited herself in front of hundreds
of people. More than just the exploitation of children, these toddlers are being stripped of their
understanding of self-worth. In a classroom, students are educated to become more committed and
helpful members of society, on the runway however; girls are educated to change what they are in
order to be accepted by a cruel and unforgiving panel of judges.
Some may argue that these pageants can help build social skills and confidence; however,
they often create a much higher feeling of anxiety and self hatred. Possessing the ability to have
‘friendly competition’ obviously holds its benefits for any child, however, the true effect on the
education of these kids far outweigh the benefit. Parents argue that these competitions build their
little girls confidence. Does it really? How does a girl losing a beauty pageant and feeling that she
wasn’t beautiful enough to win a crown build up confidence? Children can build their social skills and
even confidence anywhere, from the classroom to the playground. As seen watching an Eden Wood
video some of her happiest moments are running around in her own backyard pushing around a baby
stroller or driving a little Jeep. The biggest grins and happiest faces are the ones without make up
on. Any argument supported by the parents forcing their kids onto the stage can be backfired with
the fact that any girl can gain the same capabilities in a classroom, without the loss of her
personality.
‘Painting babies’, is an act used to raise parents’ names and faces in glory that preventing
their children from understanding how to act and behave in a society where education outweighs
the value of looks. Parent’s put their own children in danger to feel better about themselves, not so
their little child can have fun. An end must be brought to this traumatic torture of children and be
replaced with the value in more basic talents, those that benefit our society. By replacing these
pageants with something as basic as talent shows, children are showcased for their abilities rather
than the amount of money they can put into a dress. Children need to be provided with an outside
place to compete for a cause, a reason to stand in front of a crowd. Rather than being forced into
something they don’t enjoy, children should be provided with the ability to do something they
actually enjoy, without losing the idea of a ‘friendly competition.’ Working with local elementary
schools, talent shows should become an annual school activity, providing for this chance to create a
competition taking children out of pageantry. By shifting funds away from pageantry, new monies
could be targeted to these schools even providing a scholarship fund, removing the financial reasons
for competing on the runway.
It is time to remove these sparkling faces from the spotlight and replace them with the
faces of children in love with their own lives, bodies and talents.