I spend £2.5K entering my 5-year-old into beauty pageants – people say I’m traumatising her but I don’t care
A BEAUTY pageant mum, who spends £2,500 a year on competitions and clothes, says she doesn’t care about being slammed by other parents.
Catherine Oliver’s five-year-old daughter, Ava, has been taking part in pageants since she was just 15 months old.
The 32-year-old mum from Ruthin, Wales, is currently getting her little girl ready for the finals of Miss Beauty United Kingdom.
But it’s not all glitz and glam for the family, who have had to deal with anger and accusations from other parents.
“I entered Ava in the Prestatyn Carnival Baby of the Year competition when she was just 11 months old – and she won,” Catherine said.
“Now, we travel all over Britain and are currently getting ready for her finals in September.
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“As long as you've got that sash on and make an appearance it counts.
Catherine, Ava's mum
“Ava has had some negativity from some parents.
“When she was about three, she was accused of fighting with a child, pulling her hair and swearing at her.
“Then, they were going on about how Ava’s being traumatised [because we put her in pageants] and all this.
“Some people can be very aggressive and are just not very nice.
“You’ve got to take the good with the bad, really.
“I am proud of her.”
Featuring 12 different prizes, including the title and sponsorships for other competitions.
The full list includes:
- At our UK National Pageant we will crown six overall titleholders who will each win:
- £385 sponsorship fee to compete in Internationals
- £618 international package fee fully paid for Internationals
- £500- £1,000 cash scholarship to be used towards travel to Internationals*
- Gorgeous custom rhinestone and pearl official IJM crown
- Satin International Junior Miss sash
- Winners photoshoot with Jason Wade Photography
- Hair and makeup with Glamsistas provided for photoshoot
- Queens Retreat UK or European weekend break with accomodation provided for each Queen plus one chaperone
- Custom ad page designed for Internationals by Jason Wade Photography
- Monthly online and in person training in preparation for Internationals
- Customised IJM merchandise
“For finals, it’s £60 for her entry.
“You’ve got the hotel and that’s an extra cost.
“Then, the petrol and charity pageants – they can range up to £40 per entry.
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“I want to say with all the dresses and everything [we spend] up to £2,500 a year.
“This includes hotels and everything else. It all adds up.”