Like everything in life, every circumstance, or situation, it impacts different people and children in different ways.  It is the same for the world of pageants, participating in pageants will have a positive effect on some children, and will have negative effects on some children.  This is also true regarding participating in sports, or any other cultural activity on a competitive basis.

Children are born with predispositions, they are not blank, and that is why from a young age, two children born in the same environment, receiving similar stimuli, will develop different personality traits.  So it is important to get to know the traits of a child from birth, to ensure they are guided in ways, and into spaces where they will likely blossom and thrive.

For a couple decades, the world of pageantry had a negative reputation.  For feminists, it was seen as perpetuating the sexualisation of girls from a young age, and to focus on external beauty and things as a determinant for happiness. Numerous research has been conducted that shows that girls, learn to compete against each other from a young age.  And many cultures socialise girls from a young age, to believe that their biggest goal in life should be securing a husband, and having children.  The cultural norms and expectations of the past, did not bode well for raising girls to be independently thinking women, who have big dreams.

However, times are changing, and with time, so have how contests like pageants are conducted.  Pageants, are  no longer about the physical presentation of a girl, they are about her intellect, her heart, her ability to be relatable, and having a purpose or serving society.  Not all girls will gravitate towards pageantry, however if you find your child, boy or girl, want to enter pageants, here are some good reasons why supporting them may not be a bad idea.

1. Your child will come to know that their physique is unique, and that they should celebrate themselves exactly as they are.  The big, bad world, still does a lot of physical stereotyping, judging people according to colour of their skin, tone of the skin, hair type and all kinds of physical attributes.  The antidote to this, is raising all people to honour and see beauty in the differences in themselves, and of others. A positive resulting from pageants is how physical beauty has been broadened, women of all skin tones, hair types, and body types have been rocking global crowns, that have catapulted them into global stardom.  One that comes to mind is Zozi Tunzi, who is Miss South Africa 2019, and went on to be crowned Miss Universe 2019.  She took the world by storm with her short, natural hair, and chocolate brown skin.  Her charismatic character, empathetic intellect, and kind heart shone through her every encounter on a global stage.

2. A major deterrent of anxiety, depression and many mental, emotional and physical health diseases, is having purpose, feeling purposeful.  And most pageant participants become advocates in various sectors of society, and they make great impact.  It is a requirement now for many pageants, that participants take a stand for something.

3. Pageants help participants to become confident, and not in the superficial way.  They have to learn how to walk and speak confidently, and be confident in their own minds, and how they see the world.  This builds deep, unshakeable confidence.

4. Participating in a pageant requires preparation, and this requires discipline.  Discipline is an attribute that is necessary for success in life, no matter that what success looks like, differs from person to person. 

5. All the above lead to a child who becomes the leader, as they come to learn about the world, and have to think of responses to problems, as well as rally others towards a cause they believe in.

It is important to always be guided by your child.  Every child needs balance.  They should view pageantry like any cultural activity, like being part of the debate team.  If your child starts focusing on superficial things, such as depending on makeup and clothes to feel confidence, then you need to have them pull back from pageantry.  Or if they only feel good when praised for their beauty, then you have to have conversations with them to ground the confidence, and wellbeing in who they are, and to feel good about themselves, whether people praise them or not.

Ntombenhle Khathwane is a solutions mediatorship specialist, who trained with the ALSTAR, including training as a Neuro Linguistic Practitioner. With over 20 years leadership experience, Ntombenhle is an integrated leadership in action specialist, who has been facilitating for 5 years. Ntombenhle is also an awarded entrepreneur, writer and social justice activist.