Dreams and Mini Beauty Queens

DREAMS AND MINI BEAUTY QUEENS Held hostage in yards of lace and taffeta, they stand stiff and poised. Exhibiting a collage of rhinestones and sequins sewn meticulously amongst every frill and ruffle they rigidly parade the stage. This gala event of frenzied competition - the infamous kiddie beauty pageant Wearing pasty concrete smiles, lost in confusing, tangled webs of lipstick and lollipop pops, cheering and cheerios . Moving with “Stepford” precision motivated by soda pop, sugar cubes and wildly animated antics of off-stage parents. A glitzy glamorous grownup world of poise and fashion while at war with a pesky tooth fairy. Feeling one way but primed to act another. Behind false lashes, coiffed hair, plastic teeth the true innocent soul emerges. Missed naps, fatigue, the looming possibility of failure guilt and disappointment leaving trails of raccoon eyes, and tear stained powder streaked faces. Encouragement or exploitation? A lesson in mastering self expression and confidence or a lesson that true self-worth dependant upon one’s physical appearance? One must ask what true values are being taught.