Psychologists say that once a younger child is worrying and stressing about their appearance, it would continue throughout their life. In Sara Ipatenco’s article, “ Toddler Beauty Pageants & Psychological Damage,” the author states that “...little girls who take part in beauty pageants have a higher risk of developing an eating disorder when they’re older because it’s one way to take control over how they look.” This can be supported by Kirsten Haglund, a public speaker and winner of Miss America 2008, that discussed the struggle she has throughout her life with anorexia nervosa. Joining ballet at just three years old gave Haglund the mindset that she had to be very thin. Throughout the years, her body started developing and that is risky for someone who was anorexic. This caused her major panic since she felt that she would not be having the perfect body again. This can show that people’s opinion matters even to those who are young and could impact them twice as much than those who are adults. In addition, those who are familiar with beauty pageants have a higher likelihood of developing an eating …show more content…
Unfortunately, many children do not have these opportunities, and those young girls are one of them. They are being forced by their parents to go in beauty pageants and growing up too early. These girls are being taught that the only way to be beautiful is to have mascara, artificial eyelashes, poofy hair with a can of hairspray, and most of all, clothes that expose the skin. The contestants do not look human but rather plastic and just plain awful. In an episode of Toddlers and Tiaras there is a three year old girl who is dressed up as a prostitute from the 1990 film “Pretty Woman” and another girl dressed up as country singer Dolly Parton with a padded bra. In addition to the appearances, the contestants would need to show off their talent, and 80 percent of them show off their amazing dance skills. Parents let their kids do absurd dancing on stage whether it has to be to county music to reggae. Throughout the evolvement of beauty pageants, dancing has been more sexual. This is not what a kid should be doing at such a young age. Due to the beauty pageants the contestants get attention from everyone and would be recognized, therefore, some girls would become target and just like JonBenet Ramsey and not even get a chance to even have a childhood. JonBenet Patricia Ramsey was an