http://news.yahoo.com/french-senate-votes-ban-child-beauty-pageants-090057171.html <---Link

I agree with this i know people might like their kid in pageants but some of the things some of the mothers put on the kids. It makes you want to scream shes only 5!!

Child beauty pageants aren't like what you see on toddlers and tiaras (those people are on tv because they're fucked up and over the top, not because they're a good representation of what pageant moms and dads are like). I loved it when I was little. I made some friends, I got to dress up, sing for an audience who thought I was effing adorable and could do no wrong, and for once there were people jealous of me instead of the other way 'round. Mom got me out of it when some of the moms got too bitchy (and I'm thankful for that), but it was great while it lasted. It's not the pit of hell TLC would have you believe.

Dress codes and maybe some restrictions on makeup would be better. Banning just seems extreme.

I'm glad they were banned, too many kids get pushed into them by unhinged parents itching to live through their children and most of the pageant wear sexualizes little children.

that was then , this is now .

All I have to say to this is I completely agree with the France ruling, child beauty pageants have always kind of creeped me out.

I have to agree with this too.

I doubt it. Cheerleading (for example) hasn't changed like that and there was a similar element there.

Good. I'm glad.

it sucks that crazy, overly-competitive parents had to ruin it for everyone else :(

Very glad that France have intervened in this for a number of reasons.

1. The very creepy sexualisation of young girls. Most modern pageants mean young girls dressing in a way that is much, much older than what they are, and acting in ways that are sexually inappropriate for their ages.
2. The ongoing reinforcement that a young girl's primary desirable quality is her looks rather than her talents. Does anyone really believe that a child wins these on anything other than how they look.
3. The culture that surrounds these type of events are awful and often attracts the wrong sort of parent who appears to be living through their child instead of supporting their child.

Disgusting events. Good on France.