Beauty Contest aimed at teenagers

[loztheloz]

I am totally new to this site, finally joined after hearing so much about it, so hello all!!
My teenage daughter, only just turned 13 wants to enter a competition she has heard about, which involves having your photo rated on facebook. The prize is free photo shoot.

www.bella-uk.co.uk/Bella-UK/Miss_Photogenic.html

I wasn't too happy with the thought of strangers looking at pictures of my 13 year old daughter, so I said no. I also did a bit of digging on this companies website and other sites, and found that they are also running a contest for what the call curvy women. Anyone size 10 and over!! Now I am only 29 ( yes very young mum) and a size 10 and certainly do not think I'm curvy!

Do you think I am being unfair, or should I be very wary about this? These beauty contests in my opinion are awfully sexist, and I don't want her growing up thinking women are there to be judged rated and ogled at. Is it right that this company is encouraging young girls to upload their photo and be rated?

[AliceTwirled]

I think you're right to be concerned for the reasons you say.

I have also come across some rather exploitative questionable groups on facebook which purely revolve around put your picture in our group and we'll rate you. No prize. Nothing. But yet presented as if they are some legit beauty/modeling company.

object have some good info on beauty pageants in general.

[AliceTwirled]

And welcome

[loztheloz]

Thanks, that link from Object was great. I am going to have a chat with my daughter, when she stops sulking and show her some of the information on there.
I also found an online petition against this exact contest!

[Bandwithering]

NO WAY should she willingly offer herself up to be graded like cattle.

[Bandwithering]

I totally agree with that article and what it says about beauty contests in universities.... you may be intelligent but never mind about that, what really counts is, are you pretty? and meanwhile, the men get by on brains and personality.

[Bandwithering]

ps LoztheLol, if you can't get through to your daughter because of the reasons on the object site, remind her that competing won't make her any more beautiful on the outside. But a damaged self-esteem on the inside won't help her be a beautiful person not face.

[AliceTwirled]

If she's at all inspired by political activism type stuff, there are lots of relatively young women in Object who do direct activism. . It might show her it's not all just 'old' people being out of date. They were in some documentary series aimed at teens that featured lots of activist orgs, but I can't find it.

[loztheloz]

Thanks, I'll think about showing her the link. I don't want her to have this view that women are objects, but I also don't want her getting too involved it things at her age. I just want her to be a child!

I'm not sure if I'm allowed to post this on here, but there is a small online petition against this competition. I guess it probably won't stop it, but perhaps the people involved may think twice.

www.ipetitions.com/petition/nottscountychildbeauty/

[AliceTwirled]

Sure. I know when I was that age, I would have been inspired by that but it's totally horses for courses.

And thanks for the petition link.