Toddler's & Tiara's Behind the Tears

I believe that on beauty pageant shows like "Toddlers & Tiaras" and "Little Miss Perfect" children lose their freedom when their mother's take them down the pageant road.

Little girls become 'little women' at the time they should be 'little girls' doing the things that little girls do.
It is a sad commentary on our society when children are exploited in such a way.

After watching several episodes of beauty pageants for little girls I came to the conclusion that the pageants are more for the mothers than they are for the children.

It is this belief that inspired my poem The Tears of Fancy Face.

Another pageant is coming
I can tell

I've just turned seven
And pageants are heaven

Mommy is frantic and talking to daddy'
'Bout how to have enough money for the entry fee

She says not to worry,
She'll have it by Monday
Even if she has to work Sunday

Mommy tells me I'm pretty
But reminds me there are prettier girls

Who smile at the judges
And blow them kisses

Sometimes I think
I love the judges more than Jesus

I'm losing my baby teeth
My smile won't be pretty
Until I get my flippers

Mom prays that they'll come in the mail
Before we hit the pageant trail

Mommy and I play "crowning"
I practice my smile and bow

Getting the crystal tiara
Will make me the prettiest girl there

When we play 'crowning'
She doesn't look sad
Or mean

Like she did last year
When I didn't get queen

Mama says
I've work to do

I must practice my walk,
And talk

But I'm not perfect yet
My hair is dull

She takes me to a lady
Who puts goop on my hair
to make it come 'alive'
and make it pretty

We're going to the Fancy Face pageant
I get to wear makeup and have fancy hair

I'll wear a sparkly outfit
With diamonds on it

But mama says my skin is too white
It's 'yucky'
White is not all right

I go to a dark room
Brown color comes out of the walls

It's cold and gets into my eyes
It makes my skin crawl

Mama says 'it's worth it,
All the other girls are doin' it.

Don't frown
I need to be brown

To bring out the color
of my gown."

I must be perfect

To the top of my head to the tip of my toes
Have pretty feet,
When I stand I make a model T

Pretty hands are next
With nails that sparkle

I sit still while they paste my nails
Wait for the paint to dry
Be careful they don't break

I'm still not right

Mama says I have too much hair on my eyebrows
We're a 'hairy bunch' she says

They put hot wax on my brow
And a wax strip
Rip it off

Take off a little more, she says
"No it hurts!"

A little more Mama tells the lady
"It hurts to be beautiful
Don't be silly."

Mama says I need more hair
She buys some yellow curls
Pins them to my head

They're heavy
I need the curls
She says
To make me look like
the other girls

When we check in the hotel
I see the past Ultimate Grand Supreme
Signing autographs

The other girls bring her gifts
I asked her "Do you want to be my buddy?"
She says, "I already have one."

She makes me feel ugly
How can anyone want me?

After all the girls go on
I go to the platform
Mama tells me to stand still
While they announce the winners

I wait for my name to be called
For Ultimate Grand Supreme

I don't hear my name
but I get
Prettiest smile

And prettiest hair
I don't' smile when they give me teddy bears and stuff

It's not Ultimate Grand Supreme
It's not enough

Why didn't I get Ultimate Grand Supreme?
It's mama's dream
I get Grand Supreme

They call another girl's name
Her dress is prettier than mine

Her hair is bigger
The judges like her better

Mama is not happy
When she looks at daddy

I want to slap the winner
And take her money

Mama says I should have practiced more
Smiled at the judges

Shook my behind
But never mind

There's always next year
I'll be a year older

And bolder
I'll win Grand Ultimate Supreme
That's her only dream
That I win Grand Ultimate Supreme