Psychological Issues Related to Pageants

            I read an article called “Toddlers and Children Beauty Pageants—Risk Factors for Severe Psychological Turmoil’s,” from a website called Psychological Corner. There are many examples given about the influence parents have on their children who participate in pageants and the psychological affects it has on these young kids. I found this website helpful because it allowed me understand more medical related illnesses linked to beauty pageants that I did not realize before. Pageants hold a lot more behind them besides the fake hair and nails; make-up, tanning, tiaras, trophies, screaming crowds, money, and costumes. Many people don’t realize that eating disorders, paranoid features, hysteric behaviors, stress, anxiety, and poor relationships all are possible relations to pageants.

            People have to look through the positive sides of pageants and accept the fact that there are negative views on pageants. Children who compete in these pageants are normally from the ages 2/3-10 and sometimes younger. Each child, parents and family come in with the same goal of winning the tiaras, money, and other prizes. Many of these little competitors are influenced by their mothers. Of course these little beauties do not enter the contests at their own, their mothers are the ones to fill in the applications on time, pay the participation fee, create or buy the outfit, make up the talent and hire the hairstylist and person to do make-up, along with many other things. When mothers are asked why they put their children through this experience the answers are normally the same. Common answers are, because I used to participate in contests myself, for the money, because he/she enjoys being dressed up, and to have them experience a more complex environment.

            Having experience on stage is good to develop a sense of competition, having a hobby, and spending time with your family. It can also lead to problems when a child becomes a “winning machine.” When winning several pageants becomes a common theme in their life, it can cause psychological issues. These children who win will promote physical beauty as the main value. Females especially will pay a ton of attention on her looks and know that she is being asses for it, which makes her feel that she must meet the “perfect” physical standards. When children are extremely concentrated on their physical appearance they are highly prone to developing eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia. Paranoid features may occur due to the high competition set at these pageants because “no girl is your friend, they are your competitors.” Anxiety also plays a role in these girls’ lives. They may seem to be prepared to go onto stage, but really there are some out there who are only doing the pageants to please their family, especially mothers. This also leads to embarrassment if they go up on stage feeling uneasy about the dance they will be doing, song they will be singing, and any other talents that are performed.  These are only some examples of psychological problems that occur due to trying to be something you’re not at a very young age. Being all dolled up and looking ten years older than their actually age may be a good thing for on stage, but may be very dangerous in public. This may attract pedophiles and even worse lead to participants being victims in murder cases.  

            Unfortunately, most mothers of these beauty queens are trying to live their life through their children.  This is what causes many children to feel uncomfortable but they want to please their mothers, so they continue doing things they don’t enjoy which leads to several psychological problems. Common psychological problems such as eating disorders, paranoid features, hysteric behaviors, stress, anxiety, and poor relationships all are possible relations to pageants are happening more often then what people think. This is why it is important for parents to address their children’s opinions and see if they really want to be performing in pageants.