Thursday, December 22, 2011

miss universe attacked over malnourishment

Stephanie Naumoska
Stephanie at the Australian finals of the pageant in Sydney. It appears she is having a difficultly filling her, already, skimpy bikini.
An article from the Daily Mail discusses the malnourishment of Miss Universe contestant Stephanie Naumoska. 19 years old and measuring just 31-25-35. She is the perfect height for a model, coming in at 5'10''. All though her BMI is 15.1 according to the World Health Organisation that means she is malnourished. Her BMI is suppose to be between 18.5 and 24.9 to fall into an average category.
has a Body Mass Index of 15.1 - and that, by World Health Organisation standards, means she is malnourished. Her BMI should be between 18.5 and 24.9 to fall into the 'average' category.

When the pageant organisers asked why they allowed Stephanie to participate in the pageant they explained that her ribs and pelvic bones protruding alarmingly have to do with her heritage, she's Macedonian. A spectator at the event said she is so thin if you didn't look close enough it's possible to miss her.

Dietitians urged her to seek medial attention because she is dangerously underweight. Health expert Melanie McGrice said Miss Naumoska needed urgent blood tests, diet analysis and a general body assessment. The Australian Medical Association called on pageant organisers to impose a minimum Body Mass Index of 20.
Miss Naumoska was beaten in the final by 21-year-old TV presenter and model Rachel Finch, who at 5ft 9in and measuring 34-24-34 appeared to have just a little more flesh than her skinny rival.

Rachael Finch


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1172844/No-role-model-Miss-Universe-pageant-attacked-malnourished-beauty-queen.html

Sunday, December 18, 2011

The cost of a crown



It is a no brainer that beauty pageants come at a hefty cost. Just to make things simpler I’ll discuss the cost of a Glitz Pageant.  Breaking down the cost of everything you would need to participate in a Glitz Pageant. According to Dorothy Poteat, director of Southern Elite Pageants based in Chapel Hill, NC, the very low end of the spectrum is between $400 to $500, minimum, per glitz pageant. The midrange is $1,500, but she's seen parents drop $3,500 or more in preparations for one big day.  A glitz pageant six times a year can easily run $10,000. The entry fee alone varies from $50 to $500, depending on the level of the pageant. The contests also charge for competing in separate categories, such as talent and casual wear, each an additional $20 to $30. Factor in the outfits (as many as six per pageant), promotional photographs, coaching (typically $50 per hour, at least once a week), dance, voice lessons and travel expenses. Bellow is a breakdown of the cost for beauty pageants essentials:

Coach: Lessons typically cost around $100 per hour from a top coach.

Pageant hair: You'll need to purchase a wig, a wiglet, a fall, or a mini-fall. Get one made of real human hair. Sometimes you can find a used one on Ebay.

Dress: These dresses aren't cheap. A used competitive dress for a child will cost from about $500 to over $1,000. A new custom-made dress, of course, is usually significantly more. If you're not ready to purchase a dress, you can rent a good one for around $75 to $150 per pageant.

Flipper: A flipper costs about $250-$300.

Shoes: Little girls in short dresses need plain white Mary Janes with a matte finish.

Hair and makeup: Price varies widely from pageant to pageant. At a small local pageant, you can get a good artist for around $65. At a big national pageant, this same person will charge more because of demand.

Tanning: The average price for tanning is around $25.

Jewelry: Little girls will need a pair of simple simulated-diamond studs. The older girls will need a pair of cluster earrings or a pair of dainty dangling earrings. You can easily make your own necklace like this or buy one from a pageant person.

Number pin: The cost for such a pin is nominal, usually from $2 up to over $10.

Hair adorments: Most little girls wear a hair bow that matches their dress.The bow should have a few Swarovski stones on it to make it sparkle

Pageant photos: The judges see and judge the photos before they ever see the girls. This is the judge's first impression of your contestant, so make it a good one.

 Eden Woods, a well-known contestant in Beauty Pageants, she is a recurring on the television series Toddlers & Tiaras. Eden’s mother, Mickie Wood, has turned Eden’s beauty pageants into a second career. She has spent up to $ 3000 on a dress and in totale the Wood family admits of spending $ 70 000 on beauty essentials, such as spray tans, fake hair and photos.

"Yes, the past can hurt, but the way I see it, you either run from it, or learn from it." - Rafiki, The Lion King



http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=8128371&page=1


http://habee.hubpages.com/hub/Kids-Beauty-Pageants-What-Youll-Need-to-be-Competitive

Sunday, December 11, 2011

World Congress Against the Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents

November 25-28 2008 at the Riocentro Exhibition and Convention Centre, located in Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The goal of the convention is for ''The World Congress III will mobilize heads of State, government officials, experts and thousands of activists to move forward the global agenda to stop the sexual exploitation of children and adolescents. The previous two Congresses took place in Stockholm (1996) and Yokohama(2001)''.

The article from UNICEF.org explains that many studies indicate that the sexual explotation of children and adolescents is increasing. One study is the 'UN Study on Violence Against Children'. The study concluds that violence against children is happening everywhere, in every country and society and across all social groups, everyday. Extreme violence hits the headlines but children experience daily repeated small acts of violence by the people they know and trust. Violence against children includes physical violence, psychological violence such as insults and humiliation, discrimination, neglect and maltreatment. All though the consequences vary according to the severity of the actions the long term results for children are very often grave and damagaing.
Some statistics on the National Center for Missing & Exploited indicate that 1 in 5 girls and 1 in 10 boys will be sexually victimized before adulthood. Another statisc demonstrates:
  • Approximately one in seven youth online (10 to 17-years-old) received a sexual solicitation or approach over the Internet.
  • Four percent (4%) received an aggressive sexual solicitation - a solicitor who asked to meet them somewhere; called them on the telephone; or sent them offline mail, money, or gifts.
  • Thirty-four percent (34%) had an unwanted exposure to sexual material -- pictures of naked people or people having sex.
  • Twenty-seven percent (27%) of the youth who encountered unwanted sexual material told a parent or guardian. If the encounter was defined as distressing - episodes that made them feel very or extremely upset or afraid - forty-two percent (42%) told a parent or guardian.

These percentages are way too high, it’s unacceptable. I’m feeling reassured that there are some countries out there taking a stand and trying to prevent sexual exploitation.

The more you like yourself, the less you are like anyone else, which makes you unique.
Walt Disney 


http://www.unviolencestudy.org/
http://www.unicef.org/media/media_45679.html
http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PageServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=2810#6

Friday, December 2, 2011

Wait... What?!


Pageant tool kit, every contestant has their own and, pretty much, includes the same must-have items for any pageant transformation. According to TLC.com, this kit includes:



Butt Glue

Contestants use this spray adhesive to keep their swimsuits in place.

Cupcake Dress

This style of dress has many ruffled layers and resembles a tutu.

Curling Iron

Extra Jewelry

Fake Eyelashes

Fake Nails and Nail Glue

Fall

Attached to a child's own hair, this hairpiece cascades down and is normally curled.

Flipper

Contestants use temporary clip-on or snap-in teeth to enhance a crooked smile or cover missing teeth.

Foam Head

When she's not wearing a wig, a contestant will store the hairpiece on a foam head.

Glue Gun with Glue Sticks

Parents use glue guns to attach sequins, rhinestones, beads and appliqués to their children's outfits.

Hair Straighter

TONS of Hairspray

Hot Rollers

Makeup

Sewing Kit

Shoe Covers

Contestants rely on these to prevent scuffs.

Skin Shimmer

Straws

They protect contestants' lipstick.

Wiglet

Used to make hair look fuller, this hairpiece usually is placed at the crown of the head.



See all of that? That is only some of must haves to get from the before photo to the after photo. That list doesn’t even include: tanning, teeth bleaching, waxing and shaving! Yes! I did say tanning. Parents do tan their children, for obvious reason to appear darker. One episode I watched a parent did bleach her children teeth, the children ages 5 & 8, received teeth bleaching from their mom. Not many kids receive teeth bleaching because they wear flippers. For waxing and shaving children as young as seven get their eyebrows waxed and legs shaven. One mom explains that shaving her daughters’ legs helps the tanning lotion stick to her legs. All of this just to win a pageant and few thousand dollars.


It’s not cheap to show off your child’s beauty. Parents typically spend between $100-$200 on pageant clothing, although some pay as much as $1,000 for a gown. Pageant fees cost another $100-$200 per contest, and the 41 mothers who Levey interviewed competed in an average of five pageants during the past year. In addition, those with higher incomes may hire someone to do the child’s hair, or a pageant coach to give their child an extra advantage.” (http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/2000/06.08/beauty.html) This is a good estimate of the costs for a pageant. Don’t forget to include lodging and, food for the weekend and transportation fees.

You wouldn’t even know that the two photos are the same girl. This is because of the “beauty pageant transformation”, I guess you could call that. After all the makeup, tanning and fake hair the contestants’ result is a full makeover. And it’s not just this girl is every contestant; they appear to be behind their age. Keep in mind, all this is for a “glitz pageant”. There are various forms of pageants: glitz, natural, semi-glitz, face, scholarships, co-ed and online pageants.    

Boys and girls of every age, wouldn’t you like to see something strange?
“This is Halloween”, The Nightmare Before Christmas 

Thursday, November 24, 2011

toddlers & tiaras


Toddlers & Tiaras, an American reality series debuted on TLC in 2009. Follows the controversial lives of children and their parents through out weekend beauty pageants. Each pageant little girls and boys are transformed into much older looking children with the aide of makeup, false eyelashes, spray tans and fake hair to be judged by their looks and personality. As the final weeks settle in the stress level raises. From making hair and nail appointments, finishing up the gowns and suits, last minute coaching sessions or rehearsals, are on the must to do list for any child’s performance. 

 On occasion I have watched this show if only nothing else is on. It’s a type of show with the same story line in every episode because of that I can only watch so many episodes before it gets annoying but no worries because there is rarely a Toddlers & Tiaras marathon.

I don’t have a negative opinion about beauty pageants. It’s a fun way to spend a weekend getting all dolled up and becoming a princess for the day and it’s a good bonding type with mom and/or dad but once the pageants become extremely competitive that is a whole other story . . . When you start to have rivals and always going the extra mile too win you know it’s more than a good time it’s a full out life or death competition! Okay... Maybe that’s a huge exaggeration but oh well. Oh yeah, another thing once the parents goal is more than to have fun when it’s the sparkly crowns, the money and big titles take over as the primary goals that is when there is a problem.

I think I’m rambling a little too much here and becoming off topic. Then again I don’t think this post actually had a point. Anyway, beauty pageants should he a fun time and a bonding activity but once you take it the extra mile and it’s all about winning then you are too obsessed with the pageants.

My, my, what beautiful blossoms we have this year. But look, this one's late. I bet when it blooms, it will be the most beautiful of all.
– Mulan