Letters

Putting age restrictions on beauty and talent pageants

THE EDITOR, Madam:

ON A RECENT visit home, we attended a 'Beauty and Talent' Pageant in St. Elizabeth and to say we were shocked by the experience would be a major understatement. The Miss St. Bess pageant showcased what was said to be beauty and talent. However, the oldest entrant was only nineteen (19) years old which meant that the majority of entrants were between the ages of 14 and 18.

Do not get us wrong, there is abosloutely nothing wrong with showcasing beauty and talent. However, one has to put a question mark beside the thoughts of the organisers of such a competition when there is a lingerie segment involved.

How can an adult with a logical mind conjure up the thought of including a lingerie segment in a competition involving 14-year-old children? Where are the parents of the children that are entering these competitions, wherein the vast majority of the patrons are adults and half of this vast majority are adult males? What kind of lifestyle are parents and the promoters of competitions promoting?

Age restrictions

Then, to make an already sad situation even worse, the lingerie worn by these children was mainly transparent pieces of cloth made for the pleasure of adults! There was nothing long or uncensored about their choices of outfits. To our utter repugnance, the children were flaunting breasts and buttocks (mostly "uncovered" in thongs and they had the bedroom moves to go along with the attire (or lack thereof).

Then we wonder why there are so many incidences of teenage pregnancy within our society.

We sincerely hope the promoters and sponsors of such events will take careful consideration of either putting age restrictions on such a competition or considering different segments that are appropriate for children.

We are, etc.,

ANYA & GARY ROCHESTER

beautifuldimples@hotmail.com

Connecticut

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