Pageant mum who splurges thousands on beauty queen daughter, 4, denies 'sexualising' her
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A young mum who splurges thousands on her beauty queen daughter has hit back at claims she is 'sexualising' the four-year-old.
Enrika Milne, 26, from the Isle of Sheppey, Kent, spends two to three hours preparing Arielle for pageants.
By kitting her out with hair extensions, fake nails and extravagant dresses, the mum says she is schooling her daughter to become a future Miss England .
"I would be upset if she stopped doing them now, as they’ve been great for her confidence and have taught her all about charity work," Enrikia said.
"In a lot of pageants, contestants raise money for charity too.”
(Image: PA Real Life)
(Image: PA Real Life)
Since she started competing in April 2016, the beauty queen has taken home more than a dozen crowns - wowing audiences with her adorable costumes, including a cowgirl, gummy bear and Disney villain Maleficent.
But Enrika, who spends up to £350 preparing Arielle for a single pageant, is forced to defend herself against people who condemn her for 'sexualising' her daughter.
“We [the pageant community] do get misjudged, but I want Arielle to do what makes her happy,” she said.
“Pageants have been amazing for her confidence. A lot of kids her age struggle with self-esteem, but she doesn’t.
"If she’s already this confident at just four, she’ll go on to great things.
“I want her to be Miss England one day, and I think having that focus will keep her on track and stop her going astray, drinking and smoking, in her teenage years.”
(Image: PA Real Life)
Enrika, who runs a tanning and beauty business and is married to company director Wayne, 35, got the pageant bug after watching Toddlers and Tiaras on TV.
The American reality show charts the highs and lows of child beauty queens as they battle it out to win prestigious titles.
As Arielle was only tiny at the time, Enrika waited a few years before scouring Facebook for pageants in her local area.
Then, in April 2016, the tot took to the stage for the first time and, despite some initial nerves, loved every second.
(Image: PA Real Life)
(Image: PA Real Life/Lucia Moss)
“I’d never want to make Arielle do something, but at first she needed some encouragement,” Enrika admitted.
Now, Enrika and Arielle have travelled all over the country competing – with Wayne driving them from pageant to pageant, and even helping his daughter get ready, by assisting with her hair and tan.
Using her skills as a beautician, Enrika does Arielle’s makeup herself, applying eyeshadow, glitter, false lashes and lipstick.
The youngster also wears £100 hairpieces and has special acrylic nails applied by her mum.
(Image: PA Real Life/Elaine Moss Starrs)
“Day to day, she wears hair extensions and gel nails, which I do for her every week,” added Enrika.
“She doesn’t wear makeup every day, but she can apply it herself. She’s getting really good, she can do her own mascara.
“She’s not keen on the false lashes, but she wears them for competitions.”
With the cost of Arielle’s makeup, bespoke costumes – which can cost £300 a time – travel and hotel stays when competing in pageants far from home, Enrika estimates she’s splurged thousands on the hobby.
(Image: PA Real Life)
She continued: “It’s worth every penny, when you see how confident Arielle is. She’s amazing for her age, she even makes little video blogs about her life where she’ll chat away.
“I see pageants as an investment in the future.
“They are expensive but you need to be unique to impress the judges.”
Enrika said she and Wayne love being involved in the pageant scene, as it also enables them to enjoy quality family time.
(Image: PA Real Life/Steve Tough of Ste)
She continued: “We can sometimes be away for three weekends a month, so I love the fact Wayne comes too.
“It’s quite rare to see dads in pageant audiences. Everyone loves him, he’s so funny and he really helps out.
“He’s very supportive. He even learnt how to apply Arielle’s tan through watching me.”
Wayne said: “I’m very heavily involved in helping out. I help on the day with tan, hair and make-up as well as stage props.
“The other mums call me pageant dad of the year. There are only a few dads that go, but far fewer get involved.
“Most will find a quiet corner and that’s where they will hide all day, but not me. I’m often there in the background with the other mums giving my views.”