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"Toddlers & Tiaras": 3-Year-Old Paisley Dressed As "Pretty Woman" Prostitute

Fatima Rizwan |
September 8, 2011 | 3:23 p.m. PDT

Staff Reporter

TLC’s hit show, “Toddlers & Tiaras,” is no stranger to criticism, but has it truly taken the glitz and glamour of child beauty pageants too far? The Parents Television Council was outraged this week, after seeing pint-sized Paisley impersonating Julia Roberts in a scene from Pretty Woman. Not so bad, right? Well, the PTC found it highly inappropriate when this 3-year-old dressed as a prostitute for her performance. Paisley strutted the stage in black thigh-high boots, a mid-riff bearing dress, and platinum blonde wig.

Paisley in another pageant competition (Courtesy of Discovery)
Paisley in another pageant competition (Courtesy of Discovery)

Little Miss Paisley was competing in the “Queen of Hearts” pageant in Statesboro, Ga., before offending the PTC. The Council told TMZ, “We have a serious problem when The Learning Channel features a toddler, who probably hasn’t even learned to read, dressed as a prostitute showing off her sexy strut. There’s no question, TV executives are complicit in robbing these small kids of their childhood.”

Although the toddlers on the show have been flaunting fake eyelashes, fake teeth, and fake tans since the first episode, it is no surprise that the PTC has reached its boiling point. Last week’s episode featured 4-year-old Maddy Jackson emulating country superstar, Dolly Parton, fake breasts and all. Maddy fully committed to her impersonation of Ms. Parton by wearing a C-cup detachable bust and butt pads.

Many people have been questioning what could possibly be stirring in the minds of the mothers that allow their little girls to not only parade around in such controversial outfits, but also even compete in beauty pageants. Wendy Dickey, mother of Paisley, defended her daughter’s outfit by telling TMZ it is “less revealing than gymnastics wear and swimsuits”. She goes even further by defending all pageant moms, stating, “I don't know why people are focusing so much on pageant moms when there's much more harmful things people are letting their children do!"

Although TLC has not issued a formal statement as of yet, the network has removed its Facebook wall after an overwhelming amount of negative feedback.

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