Polarising world of America's child beauty pageants | 60 Minutes Australia

Summary

The script delves into the lucrative yet controversial world of child beauty pageants, worth $5 billion annually. It showcases the glitz and glamour, alongside the tears and tantrums, as young girls are groomed for stardom. Highlighting stories like Eden Wood, a 5-year-old pageant celebrity, and the tragic murder of JonBenet Ramsey, the script explores the industry's impact on children, parents' motivations, and societal perceptions of child beauty pageants.

Takeaways

• 💸 The beauty pageant industry for children is worth $5 billion a year, indicating its significant economic impact.
• 👧 The script describes young girls being prepared for pageants from a very young age, with some starting as early as six years old.
• 🎭 There is a competitive and commercial aspect to these pageants, with families investing time and money for a chance at stardom and prizes.
• 😢 The script reveals the stress and pressure behind the scenes, including tears and tantrums from the children involved.
• 👸 The portrayal of young girls in pageants often involves heavy makeup and adult-like styling, which some argue sexualizes children.
• 🏆 Winning pageants can lead to significant rewards, including prize money, merchandise deals, and opportunities in entertainment.
• 👠 The script features Eden Wood, a prominent child beauty queen, who has won numerous pageants and has a significant following.
• 👨‍👧 The involvement of parents is highlighted, with some viewing pageants as a family activity and others seeing it as a path to success for their children.
• 🚫 The script mentions the negative impact of the JonBenet Ramsey case on the pageant industry, which saw a decline in popularity following her death.
• 💬 There is a debate over the appropriateness of child beauty pageants, with some viewing them as harmless fun and others as exploitative.
• 🏆 Despite controversies, pageants have made a comeback, with parents and children alike pursuing the dream of victory and the associated benefits.

Q & A

What is the current worth of the beauty pageant industry for young girls?

The industry is worth $5 billion a year.

What was the impact of JonBenet Ramsey's death on the beauty pageant industry?

After JonBenet Ramsey's death in the mid-90s, the beauty pageant industry lost a lot of its shine and many pageants went out of business.

How is the pageant industry described in terms of family activities?

Andrea M Claus, who has organized pageants for 25 years, describes it as just another family activity, comparing it to baseball or soccer for other families.

What are some of the pressures faced by young girls participating in beauty pageants?

Young girls face pressures such as the need to perform well on stage, maintain a pageant smile, and undergo makeovers including heavy makeup and styled hair.

Who is Eden Wood and what is her significance in the beauty pageant world?

Eden Wood is the reigning princess of the pageant scene in America, having been winning pageants since she was 18 months old and is considered to have 'The X Factor' that makes her stand out.

What are the costs associated with participating in beauty pageants for a child like Eden?

The costs include professional coaching, hair, makeup, and a showgirl wardrobe. It is mentioned that one family has spent close to $100,000 since their child started participating.

How does the script address the issue of child beauty pageants possibly sexualizing young girls?

The script presents differing views, with some arguing that the heavy makeup and costumes are not sexualizing the children, while others express concern that the pageants make the children look like living dolls beyond their years.

What are the potential rewards for children who excel in beauty pageants?

The potential rewards include prize money, opportunities for stardom, and the development of confidence and a strong bond between the child and their parent, as experienced by Ranna, a former pageant star.

How does the script portray the comeback of child beauty pageants after a period of decline?

The script shows that despite past controversies and negative publicity, the pageant industry has made a remarkable comeback, with parents investing heavily in their children's participation.

What is the script's perspective on the competitive nature and the lessons of winning and losing in child beauty pageants?

The script suggests that the competitive nature of pageants is similar to team sports, where children learn to win and lose, and that it can be a life lesson on handling success and failure.

Outlines

00:00

👑 The Return of Child Beauty Pageants

This paragraph delves into the world of child beauty pageants, highlighting their resurgence despite past controversies. It discusses the industry's significant worth, estimated at $5 billion annually, and the competitive nature of these events. The narrative follows young girls like Eden Wood, who has been winning pageants since she was 18 months old and has become a celebrity within this sphere. The paragraph also touches on the preparation and pressures faced by the children and their families, including the rigorous training, the cost of participation, and the emotional toll it can take on the children. It contrasts the glitz and glamour of the pageants with the behind-the-scenes struggles, such as temper tantrums and the stress of competition.

05:03

🌟 The Life of a Pageant Star and the Industry's Impact

Paragraph 2 explores the life of Eden, a young pageant star, and her mother's dedication to her success. It details the financial investment in Eden's pageant career, which is close to $100,000, and the rewards that come with it, including prize money, media appearances, and merchandise deals. The narrative also includes the perspective of other pageant mothers and the debate over whether the pageants sexualize children. It contrasts this with the positive experiences of former pageant participants, like Ranna, who credits pageants for boosting her confidence and strengthening her relationship with her mother. The paragraph also revisits the tragic death of JonBenet Ramsey and its impact on the pageant industry, suggesting that the pageants were unfairly blamed for the tragedy.

10:04

🏆 The Pageant Comeback and Its Effects on Children

The final paragraph discusses the remarkable comeback of child beauty pageants despite the negative publicity they received. It emphasizes the importance of pageants as a family activity and an opportunity for children to develop confidence and learn valuable life lessons. The narrative follows Brooklyn and Sophia, two young girls competing in a pageant, showcasing their performances and the reactions of their families. It also touches on the financial aspect of pageants, with the winners receiving significant cash prizes. The paragraph concludes with a reflection on the mixed feelings of parents and children regarding the pageant experience, acknowledging both the joy of victory and the disappointment of defeat.

Keywords

💡Beauty Pageants

Beauty pageants are competitive events where participants, often women and girls, are judged on their physical appearance, poise, and personality. In the context of the video, beauty pageants are a central theme, focusing on young girls who participate in these events, aiming to be recognized as the 'prettiest'. The script discusses the resurgence of these pageants and the associated controversies, such as the sexualization of young children.

💡Toddlers and Tiaras

'Toddlers and Tiaras' refers to a subculture and television show that documents the world of child beauty pageants. The term is used in the script to describe the competitive and often extravagant environment where very young children are dressed up and made to perform in front of judges, with the aim of winning titles and prizes. It highlights the dedication and investment of parents in their children's participation.

💡Sexualization of Children

The sexualization of children refers to the imposition of adult sexual characteristics onto minors, often through clothing, makeup, or behavior. In the video, this concept is discussed as a concern regarding the打扮 and presentation of young girls in beauty pageants, suggesting that the adult-like makeup and attire may be inappropriate for their age.

💡John Benet Ramsey

John Benet Ramsey was a child beauty pageant contestant whose murder in 1996 was widely publicized and remains unsolved. Her case is mentioned in the script as a turning point that led to a decline in the popularity of child beauty pageants, as it raised questions about the safety and appropriateness of such activities.

💡Eden Wood

Eden Wood is a former child beauty pageant contestant who gained fame and notoriety for her success in the pageant circuit at a very young age. In the script, she is depicted as an example of the 'pageant superstar', having won numerous titles and even having her own line of merchandise, illustrating the potential for fame and commercial success in these competitions.

💡Pageant Moms

The term 'pageant moms' refers to mothers who are heavily invested in their children's participation in beauty pageants, often providing extensive support, coaching, and financial backing. The script uses this term to describe the dedication and sometimes the controversy surrounding the role of parents in pushing their children into these events.

💡The X Factor

In the context of the video, 'The X Factor' refers to an intangible quality that sets certain individuals apart, often used to describe someone with exceptional talent or charisma. It is mentioned in relation to Eden Wood, suggesting that her success in pageants is not just about her appearance but also about a unique and captivating presence she has on stage.

💡Grand Supreme Winner

The 'Grand Supreme Winner' is a title often given to the top winner in a beauty pageant, indicating that they have won the overall competition, surpassing all other contestants. In the script, Sophia is named the Grand Supreme Winner, highlighting the competitive nature of these events and the prestige associated with such titles.

💡Pageant Circuit

The 'pageant circuit' refers to the series of beauty pageants that participants enter as part of their pursuit of titles and recognition. The script mentions the pageant circuit to illustrate the commitment and travel involved in participating in multiple pageants, often across different locations.

💡Professional Coaching

Professional coaching in the context of the video refers to the training and guidance provided to pageant contestants to improve their performance, including aspects like walking, posing, and stage presence. The script mentions the significant investment in professional coaching as part of the preparation for these competitions.

Highlights

The beauty pageant industry for young girls is worth $5 billion a year and has seen a resurgence in popularity.

Toddlers and Tiaras showcases the competitive world of child beauty pageants with thousands of participants.

Parents are heavily investing in their children's pageant careers, with some spending close to $100,000.

Eden Wood, a 5-year-old, is a reigning princess in the pageant scene, having won pageants since she was 18 months old.

The pageant industry has been criticized for sexualizing young children through heavy makeup and adult-like performances.

Despite controversies, some former pageant stars, like Ran de Her M, believe that pageants built their confidence and close family relationships.

The death of 6-year-old pageant queen JonBenet Ramsey in the mid-90s had a significant impact on the industry's reputation.

Pageants are now making a comeback with a renewed focus on talent, personality, and the overall package.

Winning pageants can lead to significant prize money, media attention, and opportunities in Hollywood.

The preparation for pageants involves rigorous training, professional coaching, and extensive wardrobe planning.

The pageant culture is compared to team sports, where children learn to handle both winning and losing.

Some parents view pageants as a family activity and a hobby, similar to participating in sports.

The pageant industry has been criticized for promoting unrealistic beauty standards for young girls.

The pressure on children to perform well in pageants can lead to stress and tears behind the scenes.

The documentary explores the dichotomy between the glitz and glamour on stage versus the reality of the children's experiences.

The pageant world's comeback is attributed to a shift in focus towards a more wholesome and family-oriented approach.

The documentary features interviews with pageant organizers, parents, and children, providing diverse perspectives on the industry.

The impact of pageants on children's self-esteem and future ambitions is a topic of debate within the documentary.

Transcripts

let's be honest it's a little unnerving

young girls their faces painted like

grown women desperate to be told they're

the prettiest in the room six-year-old

beauty queen John benay Ramsey belonged

to that world and after her bizarre

death in the mid 90s those Kitty

pageants lost a lot of their shine but

now they're back big time in fact the

industry is worth $5 billion a year and

I can tell you it's as glitzy and as

over the toop as ever and beneath those

tiar

there's temper tantrums and pouting are

plenty so

cute Here We Go On Any Given Sunday

right across America little girls Prim

and

PR CL and P she's not shy at

all at beauty pageants like this one

thousands of tiny princesses are paraded

by their doting moms and dads we are so

excited to be here today

some can barely walk or talk but in the

rarified world of Toddlers and Tiaras

the dream starts early and her goal in

life is to grow a full head of hair

these are cute little babies getting up

in their little outfits and their pretty

headbands and bows and mommies and

daddies are proud and they want to show

off their babies and that's there's

nothing more wholesome than that showing

off your baby in a wholesome way it's

competitive very

competitive it's big business there's

money to win and a shot at stardom but

according to Andrea M Claus who's

organized pageants for 25 years in the

state this is just another family

activity you know you have your baseball

you have your soccer moms then you have

your pageant moms so we all kind of hang

together and it's just a great hobby

turn like this right and then you look

back and go like that but for pageant

moms it's a hobby they take to heart we

go like this just ask Robin du and her

seven-year-old daughter Sophia pretty

feet is it like this remember you're

standing right here or AIA arrogant and

5-year-old Brooklyn and you're going

like

this and you do your

P why are you

crying I don't want to do it oh my gosh

you don't want to smile as we discovered

behind those pageant Smiles are more

than a few tears and

tantrum oh you're Sophia it can be a

stressful couple of days before Showtime

how are you going to go down the catwalk

at the pageant if you're locked in a

Cupboard do you have to push her um not

too often I mean like at home

here sometimes I do but when she gets to

the pageant she's she knows what to do

now when you get ready for the pageant

over at the aragan household not even a

pageant professional like Andrea M Claus

can coach a smile out of young Brooklyn

and when you get up on that stage I want

you to smile smile smile cuz I'll be out

there watching you can I see your

pageant smile babe no on stage what she

like sometimes she hesitates and other

times she just blows me away she just

goes for it she can't wait to get on

stage all the little girls are all lined

up and Mom when is it my turn so it she

does

Welling but before they even set foot on

stage the makeover must begin for

Brooklyn it's off to the nail Spar and

Sophia may not be in the mood for

pretend Smiles but she's happy to get a

fake

[Music]

T and this is what our young ladies are

aspiring to Eden Wood is the reigning

princess of the pageant scene in

America beneath the fluttering eyelashes

and all those feathers is a 5-year-old

girl fig smile big smile a point siiz

Superstar who between shows signed

autographs for her fans thank you she's

been winning pageants since she was just

18 months old look at this one here I

can barely lift it it's that heavy

oh look at me it's bigger than you it's

taller than you she's uh quite the

little celebrity it's not that Eden is

the Supreme pageant Diva of America it's

the fact that when she steps in front of

an audience or on stage you her face

it's just something about her um her

agent calls it The X Factor he

walks managing Eden has become almost a

full-time job for Mom

Micky but Eden's Fame is their ticket

out of

town

[Music]

home is Taylor Arkansas population

566 and from this tiny rural Town Mickey

and Eden packed the truck with pageant

props and hit the road in the all day if

Eden's not competing she's

rehearsing girl look at that keep doing

it keep doing it keep doing it just stay

there and keep doing

it watch Perfection doesn't come cheaply

you wink at them like sassy okay and

flirt there's hours of professional

coach get it girl a lot of hair a lot of

makeup Smiles twist and that showgirl

wardrobe but are you telling me that

Eden has more clothes than you oh my

gosh yes she's five oh my gosh but she

is a little star how much do you think

you've spent well I would probably say

close to $100,000 since she's been in

the

world but for all moms spent Eden's won

almost as much in prize money and it

seems there's more rewards ahead Eden

are you ready yes maam Eden became a

star on the American TV show toddlers

inana she has her own book what do you

think she looks like me an Eden doll a

line of merchandise and an offer to go

to Hollywood there's definitely

opportunities out there and um yeah

we're going to yeah we're going to grab

them are you living vicariously through

Eden though I think I think we're living

through each

other I think Eden and I have a very

unique relationship no I don't think

vicariously I think together but you're

not doing it for your own reward what

reward would I be getting from my

5-year-old winning

pageants

and far away from the Sparkles and the

secrets Eden does have another light

Hold Your Hand hanging out on the farm

with her dad W who CHS the spotlight and

her Chihuahua baby junior do you like

going to the farm or going to the

pageants going to the pageant going to

the pageants going to the pageant baby

baby baby baby baby junior where's that

pageant smile cheese

oh get really don't you you're so proud

of yeah she's the joy of our life I mean

she's just a special little girl and she

just seems so grown up well she does

like that doesn't she yes she's so made

up look grown up big big ass huge she

just takes directions so well

and when she gets her picture she can't

wait to see him like Mommy Mommy let me

see let me

see now when you look at these photos

remember Eden's only five the pageants

allow them to be heavily photoshopped

they look like living dolls far beyond

their years and for some that's

sexualizing these children people seem

to think that we're some kind of

weirdos uh because we put the hair and

the makeup and and put them on stage in

these outfits they're not too

provocative they're not too risque no I

don't I don't see it that way at all

it's no more risky than letting your

child run up and down the beach in her

bikini but it's a lot of makeup the

girls are very made up they're looking

much older beyond their ears aren't they

are they being sexualized by wearing all

that makeup I don't see that either I

don't see that either at all it has

nothing to do with sex I I just don't

understand it call me naive call me a

country bumpkin call me what you want

but I just don't see

[Music]

it but when six-year-old pageant beauty

joh Ben Ramsey was murdered in 1996 the

crime was widely believed to be sexually

motivated her death remains a mystery

but the damage to the pageant circuit

was enormous she moved to college former

pageant star ran de her M lived through

that time and were close friends with

John Benet and her family did you know

her well we were with her the

Thanksgiving before everything happened

yeah we had met them a couple times at a

pageant and uh she had bought some um

used pageant clothes from us and um she

was actually buried in um a pageant

dress that they had bought from

us and this is that dress ryanna wore it

on 60 Minutes 15 years ago when we met

her as the Undisputed pageant Queen of

the time Johan's death changed

everything and soon after many pageants

went out of business I think pageants

just got blamed for something that they

had

absolutely nothing to do with if you

look at a child in a swimsuit and you

see sex you've got a problem it's not

with a child it's with

you Ranna retired as a beauty queen at

the grand old age of

13 now 21 she's studying to be a sports

teacher at Sanford University in Alabama

she believes far from causing damage

pageants enhanced her younger years

what's what do you think is the best

thing you got out of doing the pageants

I'm a lot I have a lot of confidence in

myself I know I can do anything if I

want to and like I don't feel like me

and my mom would have been as would be

as close as we are if it hadn't started

with the

pageants after more than a decade of bad

publicity pageants have made a

remarkable comeback moms and dads are

digging deep for their DS making it a f

billion business in

America I know that just because they're

being judged on beauty is a controversy

in itself but in our pageant system it's

Beauty personality it's the overall

package it's what they look like that

day today we're in Orange County and the

pressure is really mounting some little

girls find it all too

much good luck here in Brooklyn it's the

moment of truth you going to give us a

great big smile when you're on

stage

yes how are we going today Mom good

nervous but I think she looks pretty

good

yeah she's going to do

well Sophia 7 years old from SEI Valley

and she has brown hair and brown eyes on

stage Sophia certainly knows what could

do the transformation is

[Applause]

dramatic brookly doesn't quite manage a

smile but she does get her steps right

her Sugar Plum Fairy is up against some

tough competition in the talent

[Music]

division R while it may not be American

Idol it's still all about wooing those

judges and the winner is Morgan CER

Brooklyn's Nutcracker performance

doesn't win her the crown but she is

named best cover really

happy the overall grand supreme winner

ladies and gentlemen goes to Sophia

to and sopia not only won all her

categories she scoop the day with the

grand title and a handful of 50s

$1,000 do you think you're going to do a

few more of these pageants now every

single one you'll be very successful

smell the money I smell it smell the

money

but for every winner there's a loser and

that's tough when you're being told

you're not the prettiest young girl in

the world what about the kids you lose

yeah it's well it's just like team

sports you you have to teach your child

to win and lose and it's just like a

life lesson and anything that we do you

know you're going to win some and lose

some hello I'm Tara Brown thanks for

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