There are several television shows on cable these days following the lives of families who choose to take part in childhood pageants. What we see, as viewers of these television shows is a limited version of what really goes on behind the scenes in those pageants. What we see are what these families and parents want us to see (for the most part). But what really goes into preparing for these pageants and what the little girls really go through is a whole different story. Here’s a small look into the inner workings of childhood pageants, behind the glitz pageant dresses.

Entering a child into a typical pageant can cost anywhere around $500.00, to thousands. The costs all depend on the entry fee of that pageant, the costumes and dresses the contestant wears, and the cosmetic prep and hiring of cosmetic professionals to prepare them for their pageant performances. Families will spend weeks and months in preparation for their pageants, and take them very seriously. They do this because they claim it heightens self-esteem of the little girls (and sometimes boys) when they take part and compete in pageants. They also claim that the children enjoy doing them.

One of the most expensive aspects of a childhood pageant will be the costumes and dresses. Depending on the competition guidelines, different styles of dresses will be needed. Most pageants these days require that little girls dress up in dresses called glitz pageant dresses. Glitz pageant dresses all have similar aspects to their design. They’re all over the top, in terms of color and adornments (beading, jeweling, sequins etc). They also tend to be short dresses, with stiff tutu’s and underskirts that barely cover the child’s rear ends. Along with the glitz dresses, girls are made to wear heavy make-up and have their hair done in a way that’s very grown up and “large”. Many little girls wear hair extensions and wigs with their glitz dresses. They also will wear an apparatus called a “flapper” which is a set of teeth that they wear over their real teeth, giving them the appearance of a perfectly white, straight, and almost unnaturally perfect smile. When it’s all said and done, a little girl done up in one of these get-ups will barely appear to look like the little girl she really is.

The reality is, little girls don’t become more self-assured adults from pageant participation. One study done showed that girls who regularly participated in pageants had higher BMI’s and lower self-esteem than girls who didn’t. On top of all of this, some families have gone bankrupt and spent entire family earnings on pageants.

If you’re a mom or dad thinking about having your little girls participate in a pageant, think about the financial and emotional consequences before you do. Your little girl may look adorable in a glitz pageant dress, but is the whole package of participation really worth it? What are you getting out of it? Can you really afford it?