Psychologists and sociologists have long warned that basing a child's self-worth on physical appearance can lead to body dysmorphia, low self-esteem, and eating disorders later in life. In a Junior Miss pageant, the "beauty" standard is not that of a child—it is a curated, adult standard of beauty scaled down to a smaller frame. When a girl learns that her value is determined by the symmetry of her face or the glitz of her gown, it creates a fragile foundation for her identity.
A Tarnished Crown: A Review of the "Junior Miss" Pageant Experience junior miss beauty pageant