It is estimated that 250,000 children compete in more than 5,000 pageants across the United States each year. The world of child pageants has reemerged on the pop culture scene with the popularity—and shock— of the TLC reality series, “Toddlers and Tiaras.” The show, now in its fourth and final season, documents contestants and their families as they prepare for pageant shows across the country. “Toddlers and Tiaras” recently made headlines when the series showed a 3-year old dressed as Julia Robert’s hooker character in “Pretty Woman”, complete with crop top and leather thigh high boots. Her mother, Wendy Dickey, shocked at the outrage and media frenzy, explains, “Well, at this pageant there was an option to do celebrity wear. Julia Roberts is my favorite actress of all time. I thought it was real cute to do Julia. She’s 3, if she was 10 I never would have considered this. But as young as she is, I thought it was very comical.” Other episodes have featured a mom adorning her daughter with fake breasts and padding on the butt to portray Dolly Parton, and another dressing her daughter in a gold conical bustier as Madonna in the 80s

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