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Benazir Goolam

Teen beaty pageants are a great opportunity for young girls to exhibit their self confidence, comunicational skills and of course beauty. It may also be a way of learning how to compete and further their career as young models. Like all competitions however it has it’s negatives. It may have an adverse effect on a young girls confidence and enthusiasm for modelling as well as other pressures in relation to physical appearance.In conclusion I think that there is no harm in entering these competitions If your dream is to be an icon of beauty and help the less fortunate.

Jennie Smith

I have 2 children, one really outgoing and game for everything and one really withdrawn and born with a mild disability. I see daily the effect that competitions etc has on the younger one who cannot take part in much. It makes him withdraw more and more. He would also not get anywhere, even though he is soooo cute, he could be disqualified …

Susan Bellion

I think it takes a lot of courage to get up there in front of a crowd, it does wonders for a childs confidence. A great life lesson is learning that it is not always about winning but doing your best and having fun. As long as it is not taken too seriously then I don’t see anything wrong with it.

Marc Suttner What do teen pageants say?

That if you’re pretty, you’re winner!

If you’re skinny, you’re a winner!

If you’re cute, you’re a winner!

If you can pout your lips and wiggle your bum, you’re a winner!

If your teeth are white and straight and true, you’re a winner!

If you got legs like a racehorse, you’re a winner!

And, if you’re hungry to win, win, win…then you’re a winner!

But, if you are not pretty, not cute, not skinny, not all these things

What are you?

A loser, stupid!

Gina Hoffmann Jacobson

I dont agree with teen pageants. I think the pressure is too much. These young girls have too many regular teenage pressures to deal with, they have school, extra murals, boys (maybe), why add more.

Shakti Maharaj

There are two ways of looking at it and both ways are extreme. Firstly it can bring about a negative impact on a child bringing self esteems down when looking at teen beauty pageants. They start comparing themselves to others and not focusing the good that they have. It can bring a teen so down as they then turn to eating disorders as the want to fit in with the others and be (so called) ‘pretty’ to. The other way of looking at teen beauty pageants as they are a great way of exposing young girls to public speaking and enchance there confidence in themselves which later would lead to a professional career. When I say ‘professional career’ I dont only mean modelling, I mean ehancing confidence skills, social skills, leadership skills and life skills that will assist in ANY career:)

Raaheel Tayob

I believe that people shouldn’t be defined by the way they look. Beauty pageants tend to focus on the superficial aspect of life and not the most important thing, which is character. I think people put too much emphasis on something that’ll eventually disappear.

Hoosein West

I have a daughter that loves to model and it takes great courage to get up on a stage infront of a crowd and at a young age. Kids that are not afraid to express and show their beauty I salute them. It takes guts to walk and smile and talk to the crowd but hey they do it. I also think that it teaches them to set goal and reaching them also they have more self confidence and they learn that it is about socialising and communicating.

I think it is great!

Maggie Fikkert

Positives and negatives can be associated with teen pageants. One could argue that these pageants place even more pressure on a young child, still trying to come to terms with the emotional turmoil of puberty, which may lead to various disorders, including eating disorders. It could even result in decreased confidence, masked by artificial augmentations later throughout their lives. There is a descriptive Afrikaans saying “Vroeg ryp, vroeg vrot”. Conversely, there are countless positive aspects associated with teen pageants, that include invaluable lessons and skills learned and acquired throughout the process. The skills include public speaking, class and etiquette, persistence and confidence that can all be leveraged right through their future careers. In additional to this, most of these pageants are associated with donations and acts of humanity and care for the disadvantaged and less privileged, which typifies the contrast of these extremes; the yin and yang of teen pageants

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