How do you feel about children in beauty pageants?

I think beauty pagents give children a false sense of their worthiness as being only external. I think little girls should not be taught their worth depends on winning a contest based upon their looks.

I really don't feel that that is the right kind of environment for a young girl. I really think it stresses too much about appearence and therefore really instills in the child the wrong kind of values. I realize it's not an easy thing to do, however I also think that young girls should be taught things that help them learn to love themselves and understand that appearences definately are not the most important thing, even though the media really tries to show that it is in fact that way.

I don't think they should have kiddie pageants. Especially not the way they are now. These little girls (and boys) should be able to just come out naturally. It should be required that they should not be allowed all the makeup etc.

I absolutely am not for them. I think it is way too much pressure for the child, and makes many of them, have a sense of entitlement. I also think that if they lose, they somehow feel they failed, and don't fully understand why they didn't win. In addition, they are made to look much older, and to be too sexualized before they should be. Kids should be kids and have a normal life without being taught that they must be prettier than all the other girls to be acceptable.

I hate it for all the reasons already mentioned above. If society wants to have beauty pageants, then fine. But why build a foundation for it? Kids shouldn't be taught at a young age that people with specific features beyond their control have assigned entitlements in life.