to cringe at a facebook 'friend' entering her 16mo old DD into a modelling competition?

[DaydreamDolly]

I totally understand having pride in your children and thinking that they are beautiful and beguiling, but I really don't understand why you would enter your young child into a baby modelling competition for a large brand. I just see it as prostituting the babies and I don't like it!
Especially when the mum puts it on their facebook status and encourages people to vote.... so, am I being unreasonable? Do I need to get over myself??!

Basically I expect your friend would like the prize and hopefully she understands that if on fb the person with the most friends wins, never never are these things about the aesthetic beauty are they?

I don't think it's prostituting a baby at all.

I think that saying people must be in need of "validation" is reading a bit too much into it! Goodness me if I had known people would be quite this judgemental I definitely wouldn't have entered! I thought people would see it as a bit of fun, with the possibility of winning a nice prize which would benefit all the family...although I suppose there probably are some crazies out there who believe this is the start of their child's glorious modelling career...

YABU and actually sound rather jealous.....my sister entered her son and I happily voted.

I think posting in AIBU about this is far more attention seeking....

4 of my 5 dc's have modelled on and off all of their lives so far. DS (now 13) and DS2 (now 7) have been the most "successful". DS1 has a substantial sum to see him through uni, even deposit on first house if he chooses when he is 25.

We have met some lovely people and been to some great places, 9 times out of ten the kids are treated very very well, on the odd occasion they are not, you tell your agency, they deal with it, or you choose to not work with that cpompany again.

Both my ds's love seeing themselves on things, they have made lots of friends who they tend to see time after time at shoots, we are with a reputable agency and when dc's tell me they don't want to do it any more, we'll stop.

And yes sometimes I put their recent pics on facebook or similar, then the rellies that don't live near us/have a boden/white company nearby, can see.

dc5 has never modelled, she is cute but simply does not have the personality for it, my choice.

Yes there are some pushy mums, (and dads) but truly, they are few and far between.

DS1 has catwalk modelled, he was asked I didn't push him. It has done his confidence no end of good.

yabu, if she chooses to enter her baby into a competition then why shouldn't she?

By the sound of it, it's her general boastful attitude that pisses you off more, and yanbu to find that irritating [hsmile]

Ah, now I feel rubbish for entering my DD. Only did it for a bit of fun and for the Next vouchers. My post-pregnancy wardrobe could do with all the help it can get. Then realised that its really about how many friends you have :(

Feel free to vote for my gorgeous Sophie

I'd just ignore her status updates (as I ignore all "vote for me/my child/my cat/my washing line" status updates)

Tbh what worries me far more are the people who think their children have been "spotted" by a model agency and if they just pay a fee... Had a relative do that, against DH and my advice, then come back to us 6 months later saying "we haven't heard from them again, do you think it's a scam?"

I| know IABU but as AIBU is busy today I thought I'd bump this and shamelessly ask you to vote for Sophie (link 2 posts up)

Or just look at her pic and tell me how gorgeous she is to make me feel good :)

I think it's vulgar too.

My DS is, of course, gorgeous but I would NEVER make him model!

It's something you are getting them to do for a monetary gain that they have no choice in.

Dislike.

So all kids that model are being prostituted?

Re All kids that model are being prostituted - Not if they're old enough to choose to do it.

I personally wouldn't put my children forward for modelling. Why would you? Other than to get some self satisfaction that your child is verified by a modelling agency as gorgeous enough to model.

My Ds was spotted by a photographer who said he could easily get him work. We were just in a shopping centre and started talking, he didn't even try to sell me photos, do I am sure it was genuine. I didnt do anything about it as I was sure Ds was the type of boy who would be far happier taking a camera to bits than posing in front of it. If had been a different type of child I may have considered it.

I had a friend who posted a link urging everyone to vote - was really surprised as they are not the kind of people I thought would go for that sort of thing - felt a bit awkward not voting - but I hate that kind of thing.