British charity Kidscape has criticized the website for putting the participating girls at risk. But according to a Sept. 5 article by John Sutton of England's Evening Gazette newspaper, the mother of 15-year-old contestant Sharne Suggett says she's fine with both the competition and her daughter's involvement:
Mum Kelly, 32, insisted the experience will be good for Sharnes self-confidence, and dismissed claims by charity Kidscape in June that the Miss Teen Queen UK competition puts girls at risk.The debate over the appropriateness of this website and the competition it promotes is the latest in a long line of controversies related to the sexualization of young girls and the risks adolescent and teen girls face online.
This is a well run competition - out at the swimming baths or in the park your kids could be at risk, but this is properly policed, said Kelly. ...
The website did display chest, hip and waist measurements, but these have since been taken down. In June, organiser of the competition Lina Perrini defended putting the measurements up, saying: Sponsors need to see the girls statistics and whether they measure up, so to speak.
This week pictures showing girls in their early teens wearing bikinis or showing cleavage remained on the website.
Posted By: Aspen/CRC
