Baby Beauty Queens

Synopsis

As the American phenomenon of the children's beauty pageant hits the UK, this documentary uncovers a surreal new world where nine-year-olds get fake tans and seven-year-olds wear contact lenses.

With the grand final of the first-ever Mini Miss UK beauty contest taking place at a leisure centre in Milton Keynes, it soon becomes clear that tantrums and tiaras may prevail over perfect poses and pouts. The mastermind behind the pageant is a middle-aged ex-beauty queen, who plans the entire event from her stairwell in Colchester.

The film follows three girls and their mothers in the lead-up to the big event, and as they prepare to dazzle the judges the real reasons why they are desperate to be crowned Mini Miss UK become apparent. From the evangelical Christians who are convinced that God will help them win the pageant, to the disadvantaged kid for whom the contest holds the key to a better life, the film portrays an eccentric, and at times disturbing, snapshot of modern Britain.

Credits

Director

Alisa Pomeroy

Producer

Alisa Pomeroy

Executive Producer

Nick O'Dwyer

Broadcasts

1. Mon 20 Jul 2009
   21:00
   BBC Three
2. Mon 20 Jul 2009
   23:45
   BBC Three
3. Wed 22 Jul 2009
   03:10
   BBC Three
4. Wed 22 Jul 2009
   21:40
   BBC Three
5. Thu 23 Jul 2009
   01:55
   BBC Three
6. Sun 26 Jul 2009
   20:00
   BBC Three
7. Mon 27 Jul 2009
   02:15
   BBC Three
8. Wed 5 Aug 2009
   03:10
   BBC Three
9. Sat 8 Aug 2009
   02:45
   BBC Three
10. Mon 10 Aug 2009
    00:40
    BBC Three
11. Mon 10 Aug 2009
    03:35
    BBC Three
12. Fri 14 Aug 2009
    03:40
    BBC Three
13. Fri 11 Sep 2009
    03:10
    BBC Three