TEA TIME WITH TINA: Childhood Disaster

TINA CHEN
Opinions Editor

Growing up, I loved playing with my collection of Barbie dolls and Polly Pockets, but when I came across a clip of TLC’s “Toddlers & Tiaras” on YouTube, I was immediately intrigued by how kids are taking dress-up to a whole new level. The hit reality show focuses on the contestants’ road to competing in beauty pageants, which proves to be a ridiculously arduous task.

Children as young as two years old are caking on makeup like it’s the end of the world, while older girls are getting their legs waxed as if they have hair growing there in the first place. These unnecessary “beautification” measures combined with forcing provocative evening gowns on just about any toddler can result in a lot of therapy when they become adults.

Though child beauty pageants claim to help increase confidence starting at a young age, these toddlers are actually having their self-esteems ripped into shreds as they are being judged only skin-deep and taught on superficial levels. Then who do we blame for such indecency, if not the blissfully ignorant minds of these two year olds? The parents. Yes, the “loving” parents whose greatest aspirations for their future beauty queen child include dieting and getting Botox injections, because apparently there are wrinkles on an eight-year-old’s face. However, what befuddles me the most is their ability to squander $2,000 on a skimpy Burlesque-inspired outfit, but complain about their inability to pay for their bills.

All this is deemed worth it for the ultimate prize: a short-lived fame on the competition stage. At least we can predict that the psychiatric therapy field will be a booming industry after years of exploitation.