In 2009, TLC debuted "Toddlers & Tiaras." I have nothing wrong with pageants, or kids who like to play dress up. Whenever it affects the child's psychological well being, then it bothers me. A little friendly competition is all fun and games, until it becomes offensive and hateful. In episode 10, season 2, "American Regal Gems," so many things hit the wrong notes with me. Lets start with Morghan Morris. For the talent portion of the competition, she appears on stage in a trench coat like jacket, with a two piece outfit underneath. She's thrusting her hips, swinging her legs opened, and all sorts of things. At the end of her performance, she says " the middle judge was a boy and he was looking around." The way she says that makes me feel like she thinks he is "checking" her out. She also asks her mom to spell out "HOT" on her arm with rhinestones. During the swimsuit contest, a member of the organization committee clearly states that two piece bikinis are acceptable, however thongs are not. She says they're not accepted because its really hard to pull off wearing a thong...she could have fabricated it a bit. I honestly think this show is aimed towards pedophiles. Who, in their right mind, wants to watch kids dress up like grown women, wearing layers of makeup, artificial tan, wigs, false teeth, also known as "flippers."
I've only watched a couple of episodes, and in each one, the directors and pageant instructors are lacking in the intelligence category. There are so many comments that state pageantry is good for their confidence, and that the parents don't make them do anything they don't want to do....but the show contradicts that. When a 12 year old girl thinks shes fat and begins comparing herself to other kids, her self esteem is depleting. When a child is coming down with a cold, but is forced to perform, despite her clear expression of dislike...it makes me think the show feeds them specific lines to say, as to simply use those lines in their defense later.
It's absolutely disgusting.
It's bad enough that society has made us technologically dependent at a young age (7 year olds with cell phones?) , but now we're teaching children to idolize themselves, become "sexy" at the age of 7...
WHAT IS THIS????
