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Mom: 2-year-old not too young for international pageant

Cara Anthony
The Indianapolis Star
Ebony Roberts and her daughter Laila are headed to the Sunburst International Beauty Pageant in Atlanta on Thursday where Laila will compete for a grand prize of $10,000.

INDIANAPOLIS — A mom who is being criticized by some for entering her 2-year-old daughter in an international beauty pageant is firing back.

Ebony Roberts and her daughter Laila are headed to the Sunburst International Beauty Pageant in Atlanta on Thursday where Laila will compete for a grand prize of $10,000.

News of her decision to enter Laila in the pageant was published by The Indianapolis Star on Tuesday. Almost immediately, it attracted criticism from parents who say beauty pageants exploit children. Others argued that the pageants make children grow up too fast by allowing them to wear makeup, hair extensions, fake nails and false teeth.

Roberts, however, said in response to the criticism that babies and toddlers are discouraged from wearing makeup at the pageant.

"She is going to be completely natural," Roberts said. "I am not going to make her do anything over the top."

Roberts said pageants are an opportunity for Laila to gain self-confidence.

"Her childhood should be her childhood," Roberts said. "We do pageants because I want Laila to try different things."

Roberts said she also works on sharpening Laila's social skills through sports.

"I want her to try everything," Roberts said. "Eventually she will tell me what she doesn't like."

On the pageant stage, Laila is a standout, Roberts said. The toddler earned the chance to represent Indiana at the international competition after sweeping the statewide Sunburst pageant in May.

Sunburst encourages parents not to apply makeup on contestants two or younger. There are also restrictions for constant up to age 6.

Blush and lip gloss are allowed but the pageant wants parents to use "very little makeup if any, on this age group." All other groups may wear age appropriate, according to the pageant's website.

"I think she is my princess and I have no problem sharing that with everyone," Roberts said. "She's very excited, she told me she wanted a new crown."

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