To feel uncomfortable putting make up on my 3 year old

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DD (age 3) does a dance class that she loves and is taking part in her first show next month.

In the information sent to parents, it says stage make up is mandatory and she has to wear: blue eyeshadow, pink blusher & red lipstick. It says mascara & foundation are optional but 'they do look better with them on'.

The show is mixed ages so I clarified whether make up is really required for Pre-School age and they said yes.

I do understand that it's stage make up and part of its purpose is to look 'better' under the stage lights, but I just feel really uncomfortable putting make up on her at age 3. To me, she is perfect as she is and teaching her about make up at such a young age sends the wrong messages to her.

AIBU?

@Londoncallingtothefarawaytowns

I actually think this really shows your “ class” You’re right to refuse it. It’s disgusting these little girls dressed up like strippers. I’m sure she’s beautiful and talented as she is

Of course they’re not dressed up like strippers

It's literally so you can see their features under the lights because the lights are so bright. It's nothing about beauty standards, I wouldn't say it's a beautiful look, it's a massively over exaggerated look so you can even see them. Once you are in the audience, they just look normal. It's not unusual at all, very standard for dance schools.

Oh and in the dance school I went to, yes the boys had the same make up as the girls, fake tan, blusher, red lipstick, dots in the corners of the eyes and all. Not a sexist or sexual thing at all.

I was a bit unsure about putting stage make up on my kids (5 and 7, not 3 though) but went with it. In our case it was not so specific and was for boys as well. It felt more like them having face paints on, which is something they have had many times since they were small.

I put minimal make up on them and then in the excitement of backstage they ended up getting extra make up from older students with glitter and all sorts. They really enjoyed this. And yes, this also included DS!

My DS was in a dance show aged 4 and he had a bit of stage make up put on too - I was slightly taken aback as had never been involved with anything like that but he didn't seem bothered. The older students applied it for the little ones.

My child's dance school doesn't ask for make-up and they all looked fine in the show! Didn't cross my mind for a minute that they looked featureless.