Experts Warn Against Mini Miss World Contest Where Children as Young as Two Are to be Paraded

Child welfare campaigners have slammed a pageant that is planning to parade children as young as two on the catwalk at a mini Miss World contest, as damaging, harmful and unwelcome .

Child welfare campaigners have slammed a pageant that is planning to parade children as young as two on the catwalk at a mini "Miss World" contest, as "damaging, harmful and unwelcome".

In the contest, to be held in London in October, nursery-age toddlers and primary school girls will be judged on their looks and personality.

Miss World 2010 is American Teenager Alexandria Mills
American teenager Alexandria Mills has won the coveted Miss World crown for 2010 after defeating more than 100 other contestants at a sparkling ceremony in southern China.

The Mini Miss International competition will see girls modelling outfits in formal, sportswear and fashion categories.

"This contest may well have a detrimental effect on the young girls involved," the Mirror quoted Lucie Russell, of children's mental health charity Young Minds, as saying.

"But on a wider level it also sends out a dangerous message to other children that appearance is all that matters," she said.

Gibraltar Crowned Miss World 2009
Miss Gibraltar Kaiane Aldorino was crowned Miss World 2009 on Saturday, outshining 111 other hopefuls at a glittering ceremony with a distinctly African flavour.

Michael Connellan, of the Family and Parenting Institute, said that childhood must be defended.

"Parents don't want their children experiencing too much too young," he added.

Transsexual Miss World Contest Aims to Boost Awareness
Shimmering in a tight gold evening gown, a Japanese television host wept and called for greater tolerance as she was crowned the world's most beautiful transsexual at a pageant in Thailand.

Toddlers under five in the "baby beautiful" section will be dressed up in party frocks and carried or walked down the catwalk by their mums.

A boys' contest called Little Man International is to be held alongside the girls' show.

Miss World Targets AIDS Battle in 2007 Pageant
More than 100 of the most beautiful women on the planet have gathered on a Chinese holiday island ahead of Miss World 2007 and for what organisers hope will be a pageant with a purpose.

"This is a hobby, it's having fun. It's about children enjoying themselves," organiser Pam Boon insisted.

Contestants pay up to 100 pounds to enter the contest, and prizes include a Nintendo Wii games console and shopping vouchers.

Source-ANI