Pageants: Hobby, not priority

We have to admit that when we see children in beauty pageants, our reaction is normally “awwww”, because anything that is miniature just seems cuter.

But, what seemingly starts off as “my child is adorable” could turn into cat fights (especially between mothers) who say “my child is cuter than yours”, or “is that what you call a model?”

There are some careers that take off because of modelling, and then there are lives which are ruined because of it.

Let’s take a look at our very own Charlize Theron, who left South Africa at the age of 16 for a modelling career in Milan.

Although she did not become a renowned model, her trip to Italy was the start of her travels, which ultimately resulted in her “throwing a tantrum” at a bank in Hollywood and a talented manager, John Crosby, “discovering” her.

But let’s take a closer look at a model who died… does the name Erin Spanevello ring a bell?

Spanevello was a Canadian model who took a drug overdose.

Much like Theron, Spanevello’s modelling career started while she was still very young, but ended at the age of 21.

Before her death, she signed up with four modelling agencies, including Paris’ NEXT Model Management and New York’s IMG Models, however, she took an overdose and ended up in an irreversible coma.

There is a lot of speculation around her death, but most concluded that her demise was due to the pressure of being a model.

If such cases of modelling can result in either a career taking off or a life ending, imagine the pressure for children who are not at the age to make informed decisions, resulting in parents forcing them to take part in pageants because they’re “cute”.

Personally, I think that children who are entered into modelling pageants should enter as a hobby and not be encouraged by parents to make it their priority.

The life of a child should be enjoyed by playing in the rain (dealing with a possible ‘flu later), rolling in the mud, ringing the neighbour’s door bell and running away and spending their days eating peanut butter sandwiches with their friends while watching television.

This is important, because the moment a child reaches the age of having adult responsibilities, then playing in the mud is considered childish.

Also, children should not have to “watch their weight”, practise walking in heels (I still battle to do that) or learn how to stand still and smile for over an hour.

I am not disputing that some children find a passion for modelling at a young age and eventually grow up to become stunning models, fashionistas and trend setters.

But these decisions should be made at an age when a child is old enough to stipulate whether or not they are strong enough to handle the pressures of the modelling world.

Lastly, I think it needs to be said that every child has the right to be treated in a manner and kept in conditions that take into account the child’s age.

Pageants can be a good platform to make new friends and can expose children to a world of glamour that is more appealing than a four-wall classroom; children need to be equally exposed to all sides of life (within reasonable limits), so that they can say: “I had a good childhood”.