Dec 31st, 2009 | Written by Original Writer | Posted in Clothing |

A beauty pageant wouldn’t be a pageant without the formal dresses. Children’s pageants are no exception. Children’s beauty pageants started becoming popular in the 60′s, whole the adult version had already taken hold for more than 40 years. These pageants often mirror adult pageants as children are judged on sportswear, formal dresses, dance and talent. Judging criteria is based on capability, the poise of the child, perfection in looks and actions, and confidence in movement and speech. There are pageants for children as young as a couple of months.

An important part of the pageant process are the formal dresses or evening dresses. Children are magically done up to resemble tiny women with makeup, fake teeth (fitted to close gaps made by lost baby teeth), colored contact lenses, fake tans and even hair extensions are all part of these children’s repertoire. These formal dresses often mimic adult dresses. They can be short to long, flowing skirts to snug fitting tube dresses with accessories that often over shadow the small child. Pink is a common color though many may adopt vibrant colors to showcase their children’s personality. The formal dresses can also be embroidered or embellished. These dresses may cost anywhere from $100′s to $1,000′s and sometimes more. These pageants can certainly add up with some entry fees totaling around $600.00 and that is after parents have already spent thousands of dollars in dance lessons, makeup, travel and pageant consultants. It is a expensive hobby but it can also bring big bucks!

The rewards can be enormous as many talent scouts and casting agents frequently visit the pageants for new faces. Even though the children are earning prizes and money, they are not considered to be “working” and are exempt from federal child labor laws. Prizes can include electronics, toys, scholarships and grants, cash, tiaras, sashes, robes, and trophies. Everyone is a winner and everyone receives some sort of prize. Pageants also have different rules, so it becomes hard to set a law that will cover very pageant. These pageants set their own rules and regulations. Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Texas, California, Arkansas, and Vermont currently do not possess laws on the books that deal with child pageants.

It is certainly understandable to see why some parents have issues with these little girls strolling down the runway in their shimmery formal dresses. Yet, the participating parents say it has a positive impact on their child by teaching them confidence. Many parents say that their child enjoys the experience and the competition. Yet can confidence really be taught in the absence of anything real? Beauty pageants teach girls that your body and hair have to be the way which a panel of judges say is best regardless of comfort, health and for some people moral good standing. Parents might bypass some of the joys of being young, of having friends and playing after school. The stress about body ideals, modeling, and trophies will plague most people’s adult life long enough.

For more information regarding formal dresses be sure to check out Formal Dresses Boutique.

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