Pageants are about confidence, not beauty, says teenager
A girl of 14 has defended beauty pageants, claiming that the competitions are about boosting confidence.
It comes after child protection charity Kidscape called for children under 8 to be banned from taking part in the events, saying the contests sexualise children.
Competitor Jasmine told BBC Radio 5 live's Victoria Derbyshire: "If pageants were all about beauty - I wouldn't win because I am a size 18."
Comparing them to dance competitions, she said: "I don't see how pageants can get such a bad reputation... when dance is like - if you're too big, you can't dance."
08 Apr 2014
- From the section UK