When we heard that boys -- some as young as two weeks old -- were increasingly participating in child beauty pageants, we can't say we were surprised. Especially since we heard it from TLC, who bring us "Toddlers and Tiaras," a mesmerizing show about pageant participants and their insane stage mothers.One of the stars of the boy pageant scene is Cruz Rodriguez, a New Jersey entrant who's just under 2 years old. He'll appear on the show in January, after producers of the show documented his appearance in the Tampa Miss Glitz Pageant.
But it's not Cruz's first time at the rodeo -- according to an interview his mother Nicole gave South Jersey's Courier Post, Cruz has been modeling almost since birth.
"People would come up to me, mistaking him for a girl, and tell me that my little girl was so beautiful and I should get her into modeling," Nicole told the paper. "I could only imagine how he would stand out as a boy." The article adds that she's "growing her son's curls long so he can keep that girly look."
It's not such an unusual thing for boys to participate in pageants, although they certainly do so in much smaller numbers. Child pageant competitors can vary from "Baby Misses" and "Misters" (aged "0-11 months") to "Junior Misters," boys of age 4 and older and girls from 1 year old to as old as 16. Boys are separated by age as entrants and don't often compete in the same categories as the girls.
But the second-season premiere of "Toddlers and Tiaras" caused a stir back in April, when the mother of the first boys to appear on the show said that she signed up her sons for pageants because, lacking daughters, she'd "just turn 'em into girls." Some, like women's site Jezebel, worried that it forced the boys "into gender roles they may not be naturally attracted to." Some just thought it was weird.
In an excerpt from the show, a pageant mom takes the stage with a 2-week-old baby boy named Cavin who's too young to hold up his own head. Another young pageant Mister, who comes off like a true vet of the scene, remarks, "He wants to win really, really, really badly. But he doesn't know that." Check out the clip below and let us know what you think.
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Thursday 24 September
By VeggieGal17
There is something inherently disturbing about kid pageants. I am always left wondering what is missing from the lives of the parents, the the overwhelming need to take a shower to wash the creepy feeling away.
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Thursday 24 September
By Karen
I had all three of my children in pageants 2 girls and 1 boy. The boy took numerous crowns and titles but the boys pageants only go up to the age of 4 or 5. my oldest daughter took numerous crowns and titles. My other daughter hated them and was never forced to do them. But she decide when she got a little older to do dance competitions and modeling. But I always get it to a limit never being the pushy mom I did it because the 2 of them were very outgoing and loved them. The other didn't until she actually got older.
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Thursday 24 September
By Ashley
To judge a child based on their apearance seems so disgusting to me. I want my kids to grow up feeling good about themselves; for their personality, brain and the way they treat people. Not to raise kids that think that the world only looks at their appearance to judge them. Pageant parents can make any excuse they want, but its crap!
Thursday 24 September
By kimberly
It's never a good thing for a parent to live his/her life through their kids. Pageants are just plain foolish and bad for the kids' self worth.
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Thursday 24 September
By Julie
This lady is going too far making him look girlier. What is wrong with her?!!!
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Thursday 24 September
By Shorty
I participated in pageants from the time I was 5 up to 35. It is not the pageants that are bad it is the type of pageant. The system that I was involved in is still active today and they look for natural young ladies not 5 year olds that wear more make up than I do. I was encouraged to become more active in charities and look beyond myself. I was encouraged to explore different talents and I found I could sing and dance well and have enjoyed doing both all over the country with this pageant system. My mother never pushed me and I had a ball and I still work within this pageant system as a volunteer and I still love it. I think parents need to be very careful about the type of system they involve their child with. Make sure it is for the children and it is age appropriate and not over the top.
Pageants can be a very positive experience and it was for me! I think it is the type of pageant that you involve your children in that is the real issue here and who you are in the pageant for.....your child or yourself.
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Thursday 24 September
By superdupermom
Have you ever noticed that (most) parents of these pageant kids are overweight ? Living through their kids?? HELL YA!!!
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Thursday 24 September
By Kelly
Superdupermom,
Well it seem as though you are perfect. I started pageant at 9, and now 30 years later, my daughter is competing as well. After fighting cancer and heart problems I have put on weight and you could say that I am over weight. But with my 30 years of pageants, I have learned to be comfortable with who I am and not change who I am, but love myself and have confidence in myself. I can tell you that I am not living thru my daughter at all. My son is in sports and I see NO Difference from pageants. Matter of Fact I have seen more parents be harder on the sports stuff then I ever have with pageants. What we choose for our children is our business, and we really don't care what people like you say. We find it very funny that you guys just don't get it. So Pageant bash on...and we will Pageant ON.
And I agree it is all about the system, and so like most poeple in world, if it makes my chiild happy then SO BE IT.
Thursday 24 September
By Andy
I really believe that these moms who push and bully their children feel they missed out on something earlier in life. Most are fat, overweight bullies and the children suffer so much. I watched one fat cow hit her child because she lost. Take a look at Patsy Ramsy......fat, overweight and a chronic pageant loser when younger.
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Thursday 24 September
By Debbie
my daughter is 10 and has been competing in pageants since she was 8 months old. She has always loved being on stage and performing. If you have never been to a pageant or met any of these girls, then you dont know that they do have real lives. They have other hobbies and interests, and they are NOT taught that beauty is everything. My daughter does ballet, is a straight A student and was voted last year as most popular. Please dont judge us until you have actually sat at a pageant and gotten to know the kids. Kids that do competitive cheer and dance usually wear more make up and dance/dress more questionable then our kids, but yet you always want to down our kids. WHY?
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Saturday 06 February
By keli
Pageantry doesn't seem so Horrible, its the obsessive way parents routinely participate in them. I have heard pageants say they have invested 70,000 dollars in pageantry. OMG!!! For what? A 10 dollar crown. I can see a pageant here and there, but the over and over again and constant spending is way too much. Pageant moms say no one criticizes baseball or dance. But these are abilities that can/will enhance thier lived FOREVER. There are better ways to showcase kids, and give them confidence. Pageants aren't the worst way but why so much all the time?
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