Experts Warn Against Mini Miss World Contest Where Children as Young as Two Are to be Paraded

Child welfare campaigners have slammed a pageant that is planning to parade children as young as two on the catwalk at a mini "Miss World" contest, as "damaging, harmful and unwelcome".

In the contest, to be held in London in October, nursery-age toddlers and primary school girls will be judged on their looks and personality.

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The Mini Miss International competition will see girls modelling outfits in formal, sportswear and fashion categories.

"This contest may well have a detrimental effect on the young girls involved," the Mirror quoted Lucie Russell, of children's mental health charity Young Minds, as saying.

"But on a wider level it also sends out a dangerous message to other children that appearance is all that matters," she said.

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Michael Connellan, of the Family and Parenting Institute, said that childhood must be defended.

"Parents don't want their children experiencing too much too young," he added.

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Toddlers under five in the "baby beautiful" section will be dressed up in party frocks and carried or walked down the catwalk by their mums.

A boys' contest called Little Man International is to be held alongside the girls' show.

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"This is a hobby, it's having fun. It's about children enjoying themselves," organiser Pam Boon insisted.

Contestants pay up to 100 pounds to enter the contest, and prizes include a Nintendo Wii games console and shopping vouchers.

Source-ANI