Pageants come with steep price!
BEAUTY PAGEANTS, THOUGH GLAMOROUS, COME WITH STEEP PRICE. By Crystal Booker
KANSAS CITY, Mo – We have all watched Beauty Pageants on television at some point in our lives from Miss USA to Miss America to Miss Universe. We are enchanted by the lavish productions and the beauty of the contestants. The longer you watch, you began to pick and choose your favorites. You don’t turn the channel and risk missing any excitement. And, at the end of the pageant you feel satisfied; especially if your contestant won. It all looks great but do you truly know what goes on behind the scenes? Do you know what it takes to put on an event like this? It takes money, blood, sweat and tears.
According to Nationals Inc., which is a beauty pageant hosting company, the beauty pageant industry is a multi-billion dollar industry. A beauty pageant entry fee can range anywhere from $495.00 to $1,000.00 depending on the pageant. Just think. If a beauty pageant entry fee is, for example, $495.00 and that particular pageant had about 220 contestants; the pageant would generate well over $100,000.00 in entry fees alone. This amount doesn’t include extra fees for photographs and admission ticket prices; which are usually $20.00 or more. One pageant can easily net well over $200,000.00.
On the bright side, the prestige and notoriety one can gain from competing in a beauty pageant is phenomenal. This experience can lead to the opening of other doors such as modeling and even acting. Some contestants may choose to go on to become stars, while others may not. My daughter, Ariana, was a finalist in The “Miss Pre-Teen Kansas City Pageant” which was held on August 8th at the Lied Center of the University of Kansas. Most of the contestants were veterans of the beauty pageant world. Many others (like us) were new to the pageant world. Surprisingly, when asked the question pertaining to the reason why they were participating in the pageant, the majority of the girls answered “we want to gain confidence and make new friends.”
The contestants are under so much pressure
It is apparent some girls, like my daughter (pictured above), enter these beauty pageants by choice. It is also apparent that some do not. It is usually their mother that is the driving force behind them. These poor girls don’t stand a chance against mom. They don’t want to be a disgrace to their parents so they concede and follow through. They are willing to risk failure and the consequences that come with it for a shot at the crown. In the end there can only be one winner. And every girl hopes she is the one.
The pressure of winning and being the best can be a bitter pill to swallow. Some can handle it with grace. While others crash and burn. This is why so many child stars have so many issues in their adult lives. They never got a chance to be “real kids.” They weren’t allowed to experience real childhood. Now that these young ladies are adults, they are trying to recapture what was lost as a child. Some succumb to the dark side of fame and turn to drugs as a solution. For some the outcome has proven to be fatal, while others get help and emerge survivors.
The fact remains that fame comes with a very high price. The price we are willing to pay and the true price that is inevitably paid can only be determined by individual experiences. If your daughter expresses interest in entering a beauty pageant, please be supportive. And, above all else, let her decide. Remember, in the end, she must outshine the competition. But, your daughter still needs your love and support to keep her light shining. Never let the light of inspiration dim or fade.
Crystal Booker, a distinguished member of the Kansas City Film Critic’s Circle, is the movie critic of Kansas City’s Magic 107.3 FM. She is also a contributing writer to I Love Black Movies.com. To view her movie reviews, click here. For the latest reports, check out “Crystal on the Scene.” She welcomes both your questions and comments at crystalb@crystalsbonusandreviews.com
To see a teen beauty pageant feature, click the play arrow.
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October 7th, 2009 at 6:43 pm
great article!!! As a former participant, i can relate to the stress these events cause.
October 8th, 2009 at 10:57 am
For the latest beauty pageant info, visit http://pageantcenter.com/
October 20th, 2009 at 9:39 am
this is really cute…nice feature
bookmarked for sure
October 29th, 2009 at 5:58 pm
I really enjoyed this article. These young girls are under alot of stress in these competitions. I agree with you Crystal. I think the mothers put too much pressure on these young ladies to perform and win. They forget that these pageants are supposed to be fun. The experience should be what counts the most.
November 9th, 2009 at 7:30 pm
Nice article Crystal. I have a niece that participates in these pageants. It is alot of hard work. Those girls go through alot.
December 19th, 2009 at 3:09 pm
Good article. Pageants have gotten so expensive. Unless i raise some extra $$$ or get some sponsors my daughter may not participate this summer.