Strollerderby

There are regulations to protect kids in the movie industry, theatre and in the modeling industry. There most certainly should be some form of bill of regulations for the pageant circuit.

There aren't enough resources available to properly oversee the families and children currently in foster care or under CPS supervision -- those who have already been identified as at high risk. That is where any discretionary funding or congressional time should be spent.

Pageants may appear to some to be an inappropriate activity for children but pageant parents are only exhibiting the same behavior as the parents at the ball field or at the piano teachers' pushing their children to compete in a sport or play an instrument the child may not always feel like playing. Where will this kind of government interference end?

TolaniLucia: I wouldn't compare child pageant contestants to children working in the movie, modeling, or theatre industries because those children are actually working for a paycheck. The vast majority of kids in pageants are lucky if any winnings even cover the cost of participating, and they certainly aren't supporting their families a la McCauley Culkin, etc.

The reason I compare pageants to the movie and modeling industries is due to the fact that they are all entertainment in some form. A much lower form but still entertainment.And in many cases the families of the girls are in fact hoping to reap the benefits of their child’s potential win. Comparing pageants to sports or piano lessons is way off.

The laws regulating children who work in the entertainment industry are child labor laws.

At these  pageants the audience being 'entertained' is made up of the children's families and friends, much like little league games and music recitals.

As a child I was a competitive equestrian and show sponsors often offered cash prizes. There were days that I was crabby and did not want to dress in my riding habit or have my mother pull my hair into the required tight bun. I didn't always cooperate with my trainer. Would horse shows also qualify as entertainment and as a result be subject to the same government oversight?

Horse shows are sports. You learn something from them. There is honor in the equestrian world. What do little girls learn from being in pageants? How to be shallow and unhealthily competitive. I will now sound harsh but I see nothing good in these narcissist in training fests called pageants. Nothing. So whatever makes it harder for parents to enter their children into them is fine with me. Peace:)

I think that this is a bunch of bull. Pageants are a great way to express your self and parents are just trying to prepare their kids for outside their homes. I admire pageants and every thing that comes with it. and its called stage make up nobody can see your face if you dont wear hevey make up and fake eyelashes. not only pagents wear eyelashes compitive dancers and cheerleaders wear them too. so leave pagent girls alone.

i see nothing wrong with pageants. its a beautiful thing to make a little girl feel good with her self. if little girls dont like it then it becomes a moral issue with the parent. not the law. is the law going to start telling me when to eat and sleep.