Fake breasts and bottom padding for FOUR-year-old beauty queen takes TLC's Toddlers and Tiaras show to 'new low'



The latest incarnation of Toddlers and Tiaras, TLC's look into the bizarre world of child beauty pageants, has sparked outrage and disbelief.

Last night's episode featured four-year-old Maddy Jackson from Mt Juliet, Tennessee, emulating buxom country singer Dolly Parton - complete with fake breasts.

The young child is not able to read properly, can barely string sentences together and seems unclear as to who the country singer star is - yet is propelled into a surreal version of womanhood by her mother, Lindsay.

Bizarre: An earlier episode saw four-year-old Maddy Jackson wearing fake breasts and a padded bottom on stage for a beauty pageant

In an attempt to mimic her curvaceous icon - who is known for her ample cleavage - the toddler is shown sporting the C cup detachable bust and butt enhancements before performing live on stage.

With the extra padding concealed under her Barbie pink Lycra catsuit, Maddy's tiny frame is transformed into an hourglass silhouette.

The tiny peroxide blonde's mimicked appearance of a woman in her late 20s h as sent a chill through many viewers who deem her mother's actions anything but responsible.



Many believe that the show may influence youngsters to adopt similar behaviour - and campaigners have even set up up Facebook groups in a bid to force the series off the air.

Inappropriate: Lindsay Jackson sees no problem with dressing her four-year-old in fake breasts and bottom enhancements to improve chances of winning a pageant

'Take "Toddlers And Tiaras" off the Air!' has 1,108 members and three other similar groups make the same demands.



One fan, Teresa Spence Bruce commented: 'I just saw a commercial where they strapped silicone breast to a 4-5 yr old absolutely disgusting.'

TV.com's Tim Surette wrote: 'Toddlers & Tiaras has always been guaranteed to put an unsettling feeling in your stomach... But I'm drawing the line of arguable decency at fake t**s.'

Baby queen: A more normal looking Maddy

Bree Davies of Denver Westword said the show has 'hit a new low.'



'We were reminded,' she went on, 'that the parade of childhood depravity still exists.'

When questioned on NBC's Today show yesterday, her mother Lindsay, who entered her first pageant contest when she was nine months old, defends the enhancements used by her daughter, telling presenter Savannah Guthrie:

'To some people, it's over the top, to us it's just what happens... It's just normal. When she wears the fake boobs and the fake butt, it's just like extra bonus.'

She too dressed as Dolly Parton when competing as a youngster. I n a clip before the show, the Tennessee mother says of the carefully sewn padding: 'Everybody thinks it's hysterical.'

But others seems less convinced and Maddy's stylist Michael Booth believes the attire is a step to far.

Interviewed backstage at the competition, where hundreds of young hopefuls battle it out to be crowned beauty queen, Michael said: 'I wasn’t a big fan of the outfit with the boobs in it. She’s very young, but hopefully the judges will perceive it in good taste.'

Other young contestants also seem perturbed by her appearance, as they watch Lindsay rearrange her daughter's fake breasts and one even probes the chicken fillets before Maddy crosses her arms in defense.

Curvaceous: Maddy sporting padding on her bottom, hidden under her Barbie pink catsuit, which her mother, Lindsay (pictured) deems as her 'fake butt'

Criticised: Maddy's mother defended the fake breasts in last week's episode but the imitation C-cups provoked a storm of controversy

Lindsay says as she watches her child's confused expression: 'I don't think Maddy knew how to explain and why she had those enhancements on.'



Maddy's grandma, Barbara also defends the beauty pageant world, which is primarily concerned with contestants' external appearance, explaining that the cash prizes can be put towards expensive schooling fees and dozens of toys for the children.

Enthusiastic: Lindsay insists that competing in beauty pageants is a hobby Maddy enjoys

Despite criticism, Lindsay is happy for her child to be glamourised and states that her daughter thoroughly enjoys it as a hobby and can stop competing at any time.



She added: 'With anything people are going to think things are over the top but with gymnastics or dance or competitive cheer-leading you wear hair, you wear make up.'

Toddlers and Tiaras airs on Wednesdays at 9pm on TLC



