“A doll makes me holla Honey Boo Boo”. Most millennials have probably heard this phrase more recently in their lives, with the rapid rise in popularity of reality shows in recent years. This quote is a direct quote from a rather infamous child beauty pageant star, Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Thompson. Alana Thompson starred in the hit reality show, Toddlers and Tiaras. The show, first broadcast in January 2009, follows the personal lives of the children participating in the beauty pageant and their families. Since it first aired, Toddlers and Tiaras has managed to stir up a lot of controversy about the morality of children's beauty pageants and their effects on the children and families involved, with this particular YouTube video, "Worst Mom of the Year." "year for children and teenagers". Tiaras” (uploaded by MDMBHAM channel), by Alana Thompson and the Thompson family from the show that is gaining more attention nationwide. In the video, Alana "Honey Boo Boo" is depicted as troubled in her attitude and actions towards pageants, while her mother, June's parenting style is depicted as unethical and controversial. The video highlights various parts of the show where the legitimate flaws of the world of child beauty pageants are made apparent to the audience through the words and actions of both young Alana Thompson and her mother. The video sparks an important message and conversation that is often overlooked by the average person watching a children's beauty pageant show like "Toddlers and Tiaras." Most people see it like any other reality TV show, as entertainment. But these shows, especially the clips starring “Honey Boo Boo,” depict a harsher reality that goes beyond mere entertainment and truly depicts the very negative and harmful aspects of child beauty pageants. Although child beauty pageants bring monetary and sometimes material rewards that induce confidence, they are unethical because they sexualize girls at an early age and measure their self-worth by outward beauty and physical appearance, while simultaneously devaluing their beauty interior and intelligence as living people. .Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Child beauty pageants are not a modern or recent invention. The first child beauty pageants originated in England in the late 1800s. Their popularity, however, has increased rapidly throughout history, skyrocketing with the introduction of reality television series such as "Toddlers and Tiaras" and the spin Alana Thompson's off show, "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo." Much of their original appeal can be attributed to what is easily the only positive aspect of children's beauty pageants, the confidence boost they provide to girls. Those in favor of children's beauty pageants say they teach children stage presence and boost their self-esteem. This may be true in some cases for girls who win trophies or titles, as a reward is enough to make any person feel proud or good about themselves. This positive aspect of pageants can be seen in the case of the "Pageants of Hope", organized by Miss Teen Georgia 2007, Jena Sims. These competitions focused on children diagnosed with cancer, to help boost their self-esteem and confidence. "Sims and other representatives of Teen USA[visited] hospitals to host pageants, where [they gave] catwalk lessons, makeovers and prizes to each participant, honoring each for a unique characteristic" (PRNewswire, 2007). Pageants for Hope provide prizes to all participants based on the unique and varied characteristics of young girls. However, these pageants are independent. Regular beauty pageants do not provide the same circumstances and attitudes of acceptance and equality girl self-esteem, but the harsh reality holds that not all girls who participate in regular beauty pageants win trophies or titles. Typically, only a small or very limited number of selected girls go home with a trophy or award in hand leaves all the other girls in the pageant empty-handed and can result in feelings of inadequacy or low self-esteem and confidence. These girls are judged on their appearance and outward qualities, so when the people judging don't deem them good enough for a. prize, it sends a harmful message to them at such a young age that they are not pretty, or lively, or perfect enough. in the eyes of others. Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Thompson provides a clear example of the effects child beauty pageants have on girls and their confidence and happiness. Near the beginning of the YouTube video, before her show, Alana says to the camera, "I'm Alana, I'm six years old and I'm a beauty queen." She then goes on to confidently boast that the other girls competing against her in the pageant "must be crazy if they think they can beat her." When the show ends, Alana is sitting in the same interview chair as before, however this time with a completely different attitude than before the show. “I feel… sad,” she tells the camera, “because I didn't win a big trophy and because I didn't get a crown. I showed my belly to the judges.” These clips from the YouTube video effectively illustrate the other side of children in beauty pageants, the side where the girl does not go home feeling charming and confident, but instead unworthy and defeated. The saying "beauty is pain" is very true for many young children who compete in pageants of beauty. Their feelings of defeat, along with the strong need to be perfect, are often perpetrated by the parents of children who participate in child beauty pageants. These parents subject their children to immoral physical and emotional stress and suffering in order to compete in competitions from an early age. In the show, Toddlers and Tiaras, viewers are exposed to many of these instances. that they appear "luminous", having them spray tanned before every competition (even when the tanning booth scares them to tears) and force-feeding them. their "pageant crack", or "Gogo juice" (in Alana Thompson's case), a mixture of sugar and high-calorie sweeteners so they have the energy to perform at their best even when they're exhausted. Children are also subjected to hours of sitting in chairs getting painful makeup or hair done, waiting in lines, and practicing their walks or routines. These children are robbed of their free time and their childhood. A child should have only one worry as a child, and that is to have no worries. Young children competing in beauty pageants are concerned with impressing the judges and, in many cases, pleasing their parents and winning. Overbearing parents in the world of child beauty pageants impose illogical standards on their children and put pressure on them.