Collett Smart, child adolescent psychologist and educator reports on the child beauty pageant recently held in Sydney. Collett was invited by Today Tonight to give an outsider's opinion on the event.

“She’s a gorgeous girl isn’t she?”

“Give them a round of applause, aren’t they stunning?”

“What a lovely dress!"

“Wow, Sydney Australia, where did you get these beautiful girls?”

Collett Smart, member of the Collective Shout team and child/adolescent psychotherapist has been actively campaigning against child beauty pageants.  She has written a number of articles, has spoken at protest rallies and has been outspoken in the media. She recently appeared on Today Tonight to debate Mickie Wood, the mother of a well known child beauty pageant participant. From there she was invited to attend the child beauty pageant recently held in Melbourne. Collett attended the event and has written about her experience on 'planet pageant.' As posted on The Family Factor.

So the pageant has come and gone but not without a trail of debris left in its wake. As an advocate for childhood, I have had an interesting week, watching all the drama unfold.

The national campaign against child beauty pageants has achieved significant traction so far. The campaign has raised awareness of the issue and encouraged concerned individuals to speak out against the exploitative nature of what is essentially a child sexualisation pageant.

Activist groups have sprung up on Facebook and have attracted thousands of supporters. Australians Against Child Beauty Pageants was started by a concerned member of the public and is now administered by us. Pull the Pin (on beauty pageants for children) led a national rally against child beauty pageants on May 24 with the support of Collective Shout, our members, MP's and the broader community. There has been significant media interest and we have been asked to comment on an almost daily basis.