A child 's world is fresh and new and beautiful, full of wonder and excitement. It is our misfortune that for most of us that clear-eyed vision, that true instinct for what is beautiful and awe-inspiring, is dimmed and even lost before we reach adulthood (Carson). Children are the fastest-growing segment of the beauty pageant market, with annual children 's competitions attracting an estimated 3 million children, mostly girls, ages six months to 16 years, who compete for crowns and cash (Schultz & Murphy). Beauty pageants have become large, lucrative businesses in the United States, and at the expense of the innocence and welfare of the children. Child pageant competitions have skyrocketed despite of the negativity it has taken from anti-pageant media, …show more content…
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