I understand that some mothers cant resist dressing up their beautiful daughter and putting her own show for all of America,and i think its ok,as long as it doesn't go too far.I wouldn't force my daughter to compete against her will,but if she expressed to me that she'd like to be in a pageant,I'd agree.I think it would be fun to dress her up-most moms love dressing up their little girls,and doing their hair.There's nothing wrong with it.As for the fact that they learn that beauty is important,they are going to learn that anyway.They read tales like ther ugly duckling,who was disliked becuase of its appearance.I think if you forget the beauty side for a moment,it can also promote self confidence.
For or against pageants?

I agree that these beauty pageants for little girls can go too far thanks to
control-freak parents.

In most cases,its just mothers living through their daughters.I think they promote low self esteem from an early age and brainwash girls to believe that beauty is all that matters.While that is probaly true,its cruel to expose them to this harsh reality from such an early age.Beauty pageants do enough damage to the self esteem of a grown woman,so just imagine what its doing to little girls.I think they promote body image negatively and its sad to see that so many little girls are dressing up as adults,wasting their childhoood.I wouldn't enter my daughter into a beauty pageant,because i dont want her to learn that beauty is everything.I'd rather see my daughter playing outside in her overalls,and with her hair in pigtails,than on stage in front of millions of people,with teased and titned hair,a face full of makeup and revealing clothing.
I think its sad.There's something not right about 5 year olds wearing gowns costing into the thousands,and have huge dangling rhinestones on their little ears.

I don't agree with it at all. Little girls parading around in make-up and skimpy bathing suits make me sick. Little girls should be dressed up like little girls, not adults.