Episode 512: The Wild and Controversial World of Child Beauty Pageants
Child beauty pageants are highly controversial competitions featuring contestants under 18—often toddlers and young children—judged on appearance, talent, interview skills, and stage presence in glitz (high-glamor with heavy makeup, spray tans, flippers, and elaborate costumes) or natural formats. Emerging in the early 1960s in the U.S. from earlier baby contests and adult pageants, the industry now involves hundreds of thousands of participants annually, generating significant revenue through entry fees, coaching, and accessories. Proponents highlight benefits like building confidence…
The skinny
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