I don't think I would allow this for a few reasons.

It's very expensive. You have to buy them the outfits, shoes, makeup, and false teeth and hair. Because the little ones often are between baby and adult teeth, they have gaps but for a beauty pageant, they get false teeth to cover the gaps. They would also need some kind of talent tutor, be it music, singing, acrobatics, etc. All of this adds up to big money. Also, there are the travel and hotel expenses.

Also, I don't think I like the culture of it. The kids might be doing it because it's fun, but the mom's seem to go crazy. There is or was a tv show about kid beauty pageants and I didn't much like how the mom's would get crazy about the pageant, and the kid not walking properly, or not doing something.

Though this question lead me to look up a bit about pageants. This article is interesting (http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2000/06.08/beauty.html) because the author got a small grant to research why people put children in beauty pageants. Some of the interesting answers are: to give my child confidence, to let my child know that there will always be people better than her, to get her comfortable in front of people. Also interesting though is that it seems that pageant entrants are the people least likely to be able to afford it, low income families. Considering the financial burden, it's pretty ridiclous.

Unless my daughter for some reason really wanted to do this of her own accord, then I would not subject her to it.

If she really, really wanted to do it, I might. But I would explain to her that if she enters, a) she will not be allowed to wear make-up or any inappropriate clothing and b) it's just for fun, and she needs to understand that looks are not the most important thing. If I felt she could handle the situation, and not walk away feeling dehumanized, I might let her just so she could see for herself what it was like, and not resent me. I would never want to see my daughter rebel by becoming a floozy, as I plan to raise feminist children (whether they are male or female).

I would also encourage her to participate in sports, art, or another activity that was based on her efforts and creativity, so she knew she had a brain and other talents.

It's her life and I think what she wants to do should be her decision. I would advice her about what it entails and also prepare her for failure. I would give her information about the tough competition involved. Try to give her as much help as possible in helping her to succeed and then leave the rest to God. I would support her whether she fails or succeeds.

I did when she was a baby, and she placed fifth. I did not pursue this one because I seen how the other mothers were. I did not want my daughter being a priss who never played in the dirt or was afraid to get dirt. Has she wanted to pick it up when she was a teenager she could have, but I am glad she did not.

No, I would never allow my daughter to enter a beauty pageant. I would prefer to teach my daughter that beauty is from the inside rather than being only external looks. I do not want my daughter to learn to value herself on her looks nor do I want my daughter to learn to value herself on other people's opinions of her looks.