Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland
beauty pageant

Heavy makeup, high heels and frilly dresses 'inappropriate' on pageant children

Minister Frances Fitzgerald today welcomed the decision of a Dublin hotel to pull out of hosting a child beauty pageant this weekend.

MINISTER FRANCES FITZGERALD has today welcomed  the decision of a hotel in Dublin to pull out of hosting a child beauty pageant.

The ‘Toddlers and Tiaras’-style pageant was to take place this Saturday at the Bracken Court Hotel in Balbriggan in north county Dublin, with babies, toddlers and teens taking part in the beauty contest but the hotel cancelled the booking yesterday

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland today, Fitzgerald said that she was concerned about the pageants because she sees it as the “inappropriate early sexualisation of very young children”.

Obviously all children dress up and play at dressing up – that’s quite contrast to the dressing up we see in these kinds pageants – the amount of heavy makeup, the high shoes, the frilly dresses, inappropriate on a child of 3, 4 and 5 – very different to the kind of dressing up that we all grew up with.

The Minister urged other hotels to “take the same approach” and refuse to host such events in the future.

The organisers of the pageant have said that it will still take place, as planned, on Saturday.

Related: Dublin hotel pulls out of hosting child beauty pageant>

More: Senator calls for child beauty pageant to be cancelled >

Poll: Would you enter your child in a beauty pageant? >

Your Voice
Readers Comments
74
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.