I have had numerous opportunities to be wrapped up in these types of things. I personally think they are a terrible thing to get a child into. My oldest daughter has always had extrodinary beauty (all of my daughters are gorgeous, don't take that wrong!) and I have been approached by complete strangers telling me she needs to model...even at 6 months old. As tempting as it was, I had to think long term about the effect that it would have. I did some modeling as a toddler, and I don't have memories of it, but I still didnt even want to put her in anything that young. On top of the effects on the child, I worry about pedophiles as well. I have watched many documentaries on pagents, and even mothers of 6 year old girls will get small "falsys" to put in their tops so their chests don't look so concave
. Now that my oldest is going to be 7 she has asked about our local, country bumpkin pagent that they hold yearly. I just don't even like that idea. This country has become far too vain as it is, and while I want my girls to feel comfortable with themselves, I do not want them to ever develop pridefullness over their looks.