toddlers in tiaras MaddyOh, my. I realize I’m a little bit late on posting this bit of news (this happened about 2 months ago) but I’ve been using this long Thanksgiving holiday to catch up on some bits and pieces. Friend of mine Lauren Johnson had given me this story and I still feel it’s relevant and I still want to know what your opinions are. So, we’re familiar with the techniques that are used to pretty-up little girls in these beauty pageants – spray tans, loads of makeup and hair, decorative dresses, you name it. But one toddler went further – she strapped on fake breasts and a fake behind for her talent competition. The toddler is four years old and her name is Maddy Jackson. For her talent, she dressed up like country star Dolly Parton for the pageant. As part of her costume, her mother gave her fake boobs and a fake butt. “When she wears the fake boobs and fake butt it’s an added bonus,” said her mom Lindsay. “It’s really funny when she comes out on stage – they think it’s hysterical. They realize not only is she Dolly but she has the added enhancements just like Dolly has. We tend to score really well with it.” “I want to show the judges how beautiful I am,” Maddy says. “I love dressing up like Dolly!” The enhanced costume did outrage some viewers, not surprisingly. I think there should be – young girls should not be sexualized, not even for humorous purposes – in my opinion. I think the message this is sending is that girls are more well-liked and received better when they are enhanced or have larger proportions. That isn’t a message I would want young girls growing up with. Maddy might think that the way she looks and the enhancement of her costume are more important or better than her actual talent. Which, I feel, is the exact opposite of the message we should be sending little girls (and boys). In this video, you see her costume and the padded extras that go into it. Maddy seems to enjoy the costume and sees it as playing dress-up. However, I am hoping that she doesn’t develop a dependency on enhancements in order to enjoy competing or just living everyday life. Your thoughts?

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