I used to think it was horrible how parents would put their kids through pageantry until Savant and I owned a formalwear store. We learned that little girls sometimes like taking part in pageants because it gives them a chance to have fun with friends, dressing like princesses and fairies. Obviously, this is different than parents going crazy and turning their daughters into prostitots, but it does show that there is some gray area to the topic.
There's a huge difference between what Hull described. It's simple, if the child enjoys it, let it be. If it's clearly tortured, then it's child labor.
It bothers me whenever I see Boys participate in pagents. I find it hard to belive that they actually WANT to be there. Those parents are just upset that they didn't get a girl to dress up. Of course, if the kid really wants to participate, there is no problem there.