I will NEVER understand...

RachelG83

the pageant lifestyle.  I just don't get it.  I know several people who are involved (die hard) in them and I just don't get it.

I feel like the whole process is just... weird. And vain.

Ashleyyyyy

I don't get it either.

wils0482

Sounds awful to me.  Then again, I'm a huge tom-boy.

pinkpear

So my dirty little secret is that when I was on high school I "tried out" for our town contest and actually won.  Let's just say my whole family was shocked.  That being said, I don't get it either.  I was really relaxed through the whole thing because, like I said, it was really just a dare so I had fun with the process.  You would not believe the things I saw girls (and their mothers) do to try to get it.  We are talking throwing up and everything.  It was really sad.  People who know me now can't believe that I ever did that but it was a crazy fun thing at the time.

starsmaycollide

I'm with you. A classmate in my grad program is into it (at the state level)  and I wish her luck with whatever makes her happy, but I don't get it.

Jessis62781

I was in (and won) a couple of pageants when I was in HS and was actually in the Miss Teen NY pageant (did NOT win that one LOL) (yes - I'm a loser on so many levels).  That being said, I would NEVER put a child of mine in pageants - especially like these crazy ones that are popping up on reality tv everywhere.

fabbate13

I don't get it when the participants are little.  They cake on the makeup and big hair to make them look adult.  That freaks me out.  I say teen and above when the participant can make their own decisions it a little better.

MrsS008

I don't really get it either, but I too am kind of a tomboy. The only thing I don't understand more is the mothers!

2.red.heads

it's SO expensive!

'flippers' (fake teeth to cover up missing teeth on little girls) and spray tans for 7 year olds makes me sad. 

officer's*wife

My ex-boyfriend's new wife was a pageant girl.  She even runs her own pageant company.

That had a little girl in February.  So that makes her, what, 4 months old?  Yeah...her Myspace status a few weeks ago went something like this:

"Baby fell asleep in her bouncer today.  So I painted her nails.  Awww."

 

jebuell

I think it would be nice if women were allowed to be normal.  Normal hair, normal make-up, clothing they would actually wear somewhere else, etc.  Make it more like a talent fashion show.  I know as a kid I LOVED dressing up and tramping about trying to get the attention of whatever adult was in my house at the time.  I think I would've loved something like that. 

But it's been taken to such a scary, unreal place it's really disturbing.  And I don't get that, either.

MrsS008

Jessis62781:

I was in (and won) a couple of pageants when I was in HS and was actually in the Miss Teen NY pageant (did NOT win that one LOL) (yes - I'm a loser on so many levels).  That being said, I would NEVER put a child of mine in pageants - especially like these crazy ones that are popping up on reality tv everywhere.

Jess, you're hot, you don't count! lol

PDXtbird

I think there are really two different schools of people- the ones who base their lives around the pageant vs. the ones who participate because it's a hobby or encourages them to achieve other things in their lives.  Unfortunately the crazy ones who base their life around the whole thing are the ones we always see on tv. 

I did a slew of scholarship pageants (yes scholarship, they were free to enter, I borrowed most of my wardrobe, and paid a couple years' worth of tuition with the winnings) in college. It was a fun avenue for performing, staying in shape, and working on my interview skills as a student.) I even ran for Mrs. Oregon on a lark as motivation to keep off my post-wedding weight. Now I produce the show for a local scholarship pageant, just teenagers and college age girls. They have to have a platform, and they spend an unbelievable amount of time volunteering in their communities. Next week one of my teen titleholders is going before the city council and the mayor of Portland to discuss the education funding crisis in Oregon- she was personally invited because of her activism and knowledge on the subject. Not a lot of 17 year old high school juniors can claim that. 

My point is (stepping off my soapbox), what you see on TV is a small slice of what it's really all about.

PDXtbird

2.red.heads:

it's SO expensive!

'flippers' (fake teeth to cover up missing teeth on little girls) and spray tans for 7 year olds makes me sad. 

And this, btw, is disgusting!