Glamour Pageants
To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing to inform you and others of what I believe
to be a scam involving Glamour Pageants.
Back in September, I received a letter in the mail regarding
a pageant to be held in Rhode Island. The letter said
that this company was going to be in the area looking
to scout new faces, and that this was not like other
pageants. It claimed that it was for first-time models,
kids that had no previous experience. The children were
not going to be allowed to wear makeup, and they didn't
want to see expensive "pageant dresses" on
the kids.
After much contemplation, I decided to enter my four-year-old
daughter who had no previous experience. I sent in her
pictures and a check for $20.
I soon received a letter back saying that she had been
accepted, and that I would need to come up with $100
in advertising that was to help pay for trophies, crowns,
etc., for all of the kids. I saved myself some time and
just took out an ad myself and sent in the check for
$100.
Soon the pageant day arrived, and I found myself astonished
that there were 75 girls competing in her division!
The "glamour pageant" was a complete joke
and waste of time and money. They had the children walk
down a small runway, stop and smile for two judges who
remained completely emotionless throughout the competition,
and then have their picture taken.
I was also surprised when I started hearing all of these
mothers bragging to one another about all of the pageants
their girls had been in. One mother was even telling
the event coordinator how her daughter had been modeling
since she was a baby.
I found this to be very unfair to those of us with children
who had never done anything like this before. They could
have cared less about whether the children were experienced
or not.
About a week later, I received a letter in the mail
from Young
Faces requesting an interview with my daughter.
I wasn't going to be able to make the time, so I emailed
the owner and never heard a word back. I had done a little
research on the company prior and found that they were
in good standing with the Better Business Bureau.
My advice to others is to research beyond that and not
assume that just because there haven't been any complaints
filed against them that they aren't shady. I would also
inquire as to why they are coming from out of state and,
if your child is selected, are you expected to travel
to that state?
I guess I should consider myself lucky in that I only
lost $120. But the story doesn't end there.
As I was leaving with my daughter, I was approached
by a woman who asked me if I would enter my daughter
in her modeling pageant, Little Miss and Mr. Hollywood.
I told her I would think about it and that she could
call me.
A few days later, I received a call from her, asking
if I would be interested.
I started inquiring about the cost of it all.
She said the entrance fee would be $60. If I wanted
my child's photo in the book, it would be $20. If I wanted
to enter her in the photogenic contest, that would be
another $50. On top of that I would need to come up with
at least $100 in program sponsors for ads.
She said that the winner in each division would receive
a modeling contract with Model Kids Inc., her own modeling
agency in Rhode Island.
I told her that I was turned off with the Glamour Pageant,
and wanted to know bottom line what it would cost to
have my daughter be a model for her agency.
She told me it would be a $100 registration fee and
then $400 for photographs, that she requires 400 cards
to be made, and that they are $1/card taken by her photographer.
Knowing that I should not have to pay that kind of money
up front, I said, "No, thank you," and that
was the end of our conversation.
I just wanted to let others know about my experience
with these companies. I am sure someone out there has
had better luck than me with them, but I have yet to
find them.
Sincerely,
F.Y. in Boston, MA
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