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Behind the Scenes of Online Baby Pageants
by Shauna Smith Duty
If you want to dabble in baby modeling without leaving home, Internet pageants may be a good option for you and your child. Typically called “photo contests”, Internet baby pageants award pageant prizes, like tiaras or crowns, certificates, or trophies. Some national magazine photo contests offer the chance to be on the cover of a magazine, cash prizes, or television exposure.
To Pay or Not to Pay
Whether you’re purchasing goods or entering contests, paying for anything on the Internet carries some risk. Internet baby pageants are divided into two categories: paid pageant contests, or PPCs, and free pageant contests, or FPCs.
Companies like signatorpublishing.com, picture.com, circleofphotographers.com, pictureofamerica.com, and pch.com will print your baby’s photo in their collection if you agree to purchase a copy, which usually costs $40 or more. These are not legitimate PPCs, so don’t be fooled. Sometimes parents pay for a copy of the book, but never receive it.
Other PPCs are legitimate, so use networking, like the boards at www.ratemybabypics.com and Yahoo! Groups to inquire about contests prior to paying for and entering them. If the prizes for the contest seem in line with the cost of the pageant, and people in your Internet networking circle have found the contest to be legitimate, you can feel fairly secure that entering the contests is a wise choice.
FPCs usually offer non-cash prizes, but winning can be fun and boost your child’s resume for potential modeling or acting work.
Pros and Cons
Legitimate, professional Internet pageants are out there in cyberspace, however, so are con artists. How can you tell the difference? According to pageant mom Lauren Fraser, you can’t. “It is, in my opinion, harder to regulate scams with Internet pageants and people are less likely to enter them, so it’s hard to know if you’re getting involved with a reputable system.” Fraser also recommends checking the www.voy.com boards for Internet pageant reviews.
Fewer contestants could mean better odds, so novice pageant contestants may have an greater opportunity to win Internet pageants than non-Internet pageants. There are also no travel expenses, designer pageantry clothing, or professional photos required for Internet pageants. Any parent with a good digital camera can enter FPCs at no cost.
What’s Your Goal?
If, like Fraser, you and your child enter pageants as a hobby, photo contests are a great option. However, if you’re interested in kicking off a modeling/acting career for your child, there are other, more strategic routes to explore, like submitting comp cards to agents.
Shauna Smith Duty is a freelance writer and homeschooling mother of two in Roanoke, Texas. Visit www.shaunasmithduty.com to read more of Shauna’s articles and find out about her latest projects.
Comments
CAV_Mod |
Mon, Apr 03, 2006 10:42am
Do any of you have tips that would allow parents to find legitimate contests on the Net? And additional advice on how to avoid being scammed? |
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jennjim |
Wed, Jul 05, 2006 9:31pm
Yea, if anyone needs help i can help...Dylan's been doing it n loves it. i can give u the info to local pageant. |
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rlowery82 |
Sat, Jul 01, 2006 7:04pm
Talk to your friends see if they have entered any and what they thought.....If there is a contest you are interested in ask the director if it is ok to get some references (they all should have them) Also keep on eye on thier winners and who keeps entering thier contest! We have all been taken one time or the other... I run a contest myself and I have been scammed before! It doesn't happen very often but Just keep your eyes open because they are alot of fun! |
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