My Daughters Competed With JonBenet Ramsey

I thought JonBenét looked like a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader. She stuck out like a sore thumb.

One by one they strutted down the runway. There were girls of every size and shape, some 'prettier' than others, but one little girl in particular caught my eye.

By Citizen Correspondent Laura Shanley

Date Posted: 08/12/08

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JonBenet Ramsey was a child beauty pageant queen found dead in the basement of her family home in Boulder, Colorado, eight hours after she was reported missing shortly after Christmas in 1996. Her parents were under suspicion for many years, and while the case is still unsolved, this summer new DNA evidence cleared JonBenét's parents of any wrongdoing. The case has continued to captivate the world and stir up controversy about child beauty pageants. This story is in the words of a mother of two "real girls" that walked the runway alongside JonBenét, and who lived less than a mile away from where the mini beauty queen was found murdered.

It was the summer of 1996 and the local mall was holding a modeling contest. There was no charge to enter, and the winner got an all-expense-paid trip to California.

"Please, Mom, can we do it?!" my daughters asked excitedly. Joy and Michelle were 13 and 9 at the time and I wondered if they could deal with the rejection that goes hand in hand with modeling contests. Even the prettiest girls lose, and for those who win it can be a mixed blessing.

Did I really want my girls being judged on their looks? They were insistent, however, and so I agreed. I submitted their photos and the following week we were notified they had both made the semifinals. That Saturday they were to be at the mall at 10 a.m. for a briefing.

Saturday morning the mall was all abuzz with girls ranging from ages three to 19. A tall, thin, 40ish, former model (no doubt) made her way to the front of the room and spoke into the microphone.

"Congratulations, girls, on making the cut! The semifinals will be held tomorrow morning. Six of you will go on to the finals tomorrow afternoon. I want you to understand this is not a beauty pageant. We don't want you to buy a new dress for the occasion. We also would like you to refrain from wearing makeup. We're looking for real girls, not beauty queens."

The crowd let out a collective sigh, and it was obvious that many of the girls - if not their mothers - felt that being a "real girl" just wasn't good enough.