Child Beauty Pageants: Growing Up On Stage
When viewing the different subcultures that exist in our society, child beauty pageants and the individuals who participate in these competitions are commonly associated with behaviors that are against social norms. I will discuss the historical background of these pageants and how they were modeled after the famously known pageant, Miss America. I will also explain how child beauty pageants are a subculture and the manner in which they are represented in the media through Toddlers & Tiaras, a reality television show, and a documentary, Living Dolls. I will propose how I would represent this subculture as a documentary including my argument for my representation.
A History of Beauty Pageants in America
When looking at child beauty pageants, these competitions can be traced back to the first beauty pageants for women in Miss America. What exactly is a beauty pageant? According to Sarah Banet-Weiser,