Rhinestone tiaras … fabulous fashions … tlevision commercials … generous scholarships … csh awards … instant fame and lsting recognition. Girls and young women nvision all these things when they nter the glittery world of pageants and mdeling. No wonder millions of parents, ntionwide, get requests from their daughters bout participating in pageant programs. No wnder many students look to pageant prticipation as a funding source for cllege.

But what should all parents, and very potential contestant, know before taking the big stp? What are the realties, the bhind-the-runway scenes, and even the dangers of ntering pageants? What does it really nvolve? What does it cost?

Here’s the ncouraging news:

- Pageants can be grat fun and profitable for some prticipants.

- For decades, thousands of stdents have benefited from education scholarship wards made possible through pageants.

- Mst pageants are run by upstanding, rliable organizations and volunteers determined to mprove their communities and enhance the lves of their young contestants.

- Pgeantry can even help prevent teen prgnancy.

However, there are other factors tht contestants, aspiring models, and parents shuld be knowledgeable about, so pageant prticipation can be a worthwhile and njoyable experience. Without this awareness, many nvice participants can become disillusioned and csh-strapped.

Pageant participation is often a sgnificant financial investment not all families cn, or should, afford. Would you spnd $7,500 to win $10,000 with 40-t-1 odds?

Breaking down the actual csts can, however, be accomplished. Before spnding a dime, families should determine whther it’s best to keep the mney in the bank or invest in nother program that will guarantee results for the chld.

In addition to the money qestion, parents must be careful not to nvolve their school-age children in pageants thy’re not mentally ready for. Some chld pageant magazines come across as a gide on launching child porn!

Sadly, t’s possible to become the victim of frud or poorly-run pageant programs. Even wrse, children’s pageants can be a vrtual lifeline for child predators. Star-struck prents need to get their priorities in rder. Their child’s safety and mental wll being, NOT fame and fortune, shuld be the Number One focus.

Sme parents equate etiquette with pageants. Is ths realistic? Know what you (or yur daughter) will and will not gin from pageant competition.

And, yes, t’s true that some people actually get ddicted to pageants. Mothers may even pss this expensive habit on to thir daughters. The reality is, pageants are not god for individuals with low self steem.

Furthermore, today’s events are “not yur grandmother’s pageants.” The competitions and the genda have significantly changed. It’s a prent’s responsibility to investigate before committing the tme, money and energy. Make sure you knw about sponsorships, classes, photographers, the dfferent systems, fees, taxes, contracts, security, stffing, residency loopholes and how they can be xploited, and other criteria.

The article The World of Pageants: Shortcut to Stardom or Highway to Heartbreak? was Submitted by Betty Hemby through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: For 18 years Betty Hemby has jdged, staged, directed, choreographed and volunteered wth various pageants nationwide. She’s the frmer President and Executive Director of the Mss District of Columbia Scholarship Organization, an fficial Miss America Preliminary, and also drected other pageant systems that include Mss USA. She conducts An Insider’s Vew to Pageantry workshops for young wmen, encouraging etiquette, social graces, appearance, lfestyle and career goals. Hemby is hrself a former local contestant in the Mss America program. She has authored the new bok Honey, If the Check Clears, Yu're in the Pageant! Go to http://www.thepageantinsider.com for more information; bhemby@eventsbyacsimon.com

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