Are you a parent of a teen, specifically a female teen? If you are, has your teen ever expressed an interest in competing in a beauty pageant? Have you made a decision for her yet, if she has recently? Many parents' first reaction is "no way," but you should know that beauty pageants are not all as bad as they appear.
When deciding whether or not to allow your teen to compete in a beauty pageant, or even a number of them, you should be aware that there are a number of advantages and disadvantages to doing so. One of the benefits is that it is something that your adolescent wants to do. If your adolescent brought up a beauty pageant, there's a good chance it's something they're interested in.
One of the many benefits of allowing your teen to compete in a beauty pageant, or even several of them, is the prize money. What's nice about beauty pageants is that you get more than just a trophy or a ribbon; you also get a cash prize. Some beauty pageants even award scholarships instead of cash prizes. If your child is interested in earning their own money or going to college, a beauty pageant may be able to help them achieve their goals.
While there are a number of advantages to allowing your teen to compete in beauty pageants, there are also a number of disadvantages. One of these disadvantages is the time and effort required to compete in beauty pageants. If your teen was only interested in competing in a local pageant, this might not be such a big deal for you. However, there are beauty pageant families who spend their time travelling across the country competing in beauty pageants. While you and your teen can do this if you want, it often puts a lot of emotional and financial stress on everyone in the family.
Another disadvantage of allowing your teen to compete in a beauty pageant is the outcome. Unfortunately, it appears that beauty pageants are associated with a stereotype. Many people believe that beauty pageants are only for those who are stunningly beautiful or skinny. This could be attributed in part to the fashion industry and many beauty pageant judges. Although your teen can enter a beauty pageant if she so desires, regardless of her physical appearance, it is something you should consider. There is nothing worse or more damaging to a teen's self-esteem than being told or made to feel that they aren't pretty or talented enough.
In order to keep up with the competition, your teen may find it difficult to enter beauty pageants right away. Many of the teenagers who compete in beauty pageants have done so since they were toddlers or elementary school students. While not always the case, these contestants are more likely to succeed than someone who has just decided to enter a beauty pageant. Of course, this does not preclude your teen from placing high or even winning a beauty pageant, but it does indicate that they will have a lot of work ahead of them.
The above-mentioned advantages and disadvantages are only a few of many. If your teen has recently asked you if they can participate in a beauty pageant, you and the rest of your family should think about it seriously or at least closely.