Princesses or Monsters?

An Analysis of the Role of the Freak Show in Toddlers & Tiaras

Abstract

This essay explores a modern-day incarnation
of the historical freak show: the child beauty
pageant reality show Toddlers & Tiaras. The author draws connections between both freak shows and Toddlers’ use of the concepts of normalcy, display, and consent, which ultimately reveals that shows such as these have a detrimental effect on how audiences view young girls, and the contestants themselves may feel negative about their self-worth and femininity after participating in pageants.