France Votes To Ban Sexy, Sexy Child Beauty Pageants Because They Know What’s Up

child beauty pageantsFrench pageant moms are no doubt crying into their pixie sticks today given that La France is gearing up to deliver an epic smackdown on child beauty pageants. No Honey Boo Boo, “Toddlers & Tiaras,” and Thylane Blondeau debacles over the pond.

French24.com reports that the senate voted to “ban beauty pageants for children under 16.” And not only that, but pageant moms who transgress and perhaps go all DIY illegal pageant underground could face two years in prison and a fine of 30,000 euros. That’s like THREE pageant dresses and thousands of pixie sticks, you guys!

Apparently, the amendment is just one component of a larger bill devoted to women’s rights:

The senators who voted in favour of the measure argue that it will protect children from being prematurely ”sexualised” through the use of heavy make-up and often provocative attire.

The amendment was prompted by a a parliamentary report entitled ”Against Hyper-Sexualisation: A New Fight For Equality”, which, in addition to calling for an end to the pageants, encouraged a ban on adult-style clothing for children, including padded bras and high-heeled shoes.

”Let us not make our girls believe from a very young age that their worth is based only on their appearance,” the author of the report, former sports minister and current senator Chantal Jouanno, said in an interview with free French daily ”20 Minutes” last year.

The concerns and issues behind the amendment reportedly hit maximum WTF after then 10-year-old Thylane Blondeau appeared in sexualizing Vogue spread.

Not surprisingly, pageant folk are not pleased with the government vetoing their favorite past-time:

If the bill is signed into law, as expected, pageants like the annual ”Mini-Miss” contest in Paris will no longer take place.

The pageant’s creator, Michel Le Parmentier, has protested the amendment, saying that regulations, rather than an across-the-board ban, would be more appropriate.

Le Parmentier has said that if the law is passed, he might move his pageant to Belgium but close to the French border, in order to accommodate French contestants who want to compete without having to worry about legal consequences.

Did somebody say PAGEANT PROTESTS? Imagine the tulle possibilities!

For now, the bill reportedly heads to the National Assembly (French Parliament’s lower house), for some healthy debate and another vote. But in admittedly premature celebration of such legislation, we’re playing Eve Vawter‘s favorite music video on loop:

(photo:  Glitter Girls Pageants)

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