High Glitz

High Glitz is the title of Susan Anderson's most recent glimpse into the sinister sweet world of American beauty pageants. The title is also pageant speak for a particular category of pageant, one where razzle and dazzle knows no bounds. 'Glitz' means hairpieces with rhinestone studded ringlets, 'cupcake' dresses (more pageant speak), faux nails, teeth and tans. Judges are partial to sequin spangled Pro American costume and cosmetic excess. As Anderson explains “it’s a world unto itself, with its own rules,”

Visually High Glitz is eerily mesmerising, each heavily made up, coiffed and costumed child seems to resemble in different measures - a Vegas Barbie, a burlesque Shirley Temple, a miniature Stepford wife, and even recently (and controversially even for the pagent world) 3 year old Paisley Dickey dressed as Julia Robert’s prostitute alias in Pretty Women.

Anderson's treatment of the competitive 'Beauty' culture is perfectly non partisan. She has all the respect and fascination of a visiting anthropologist documenting an exotic tribe where the customs and beauty rituals appear fascinatingly alien.

The words that accompany the spectacular pictures in High Glitz are well chosen and provide a number of perspectives on the cause, consequence and politics of such pageants.

Beauty Pageants have become for many families, an involved and expensive sport. A sport that is to be played competitively, with all the devotion and discipline of an Olympic gymnast and all the capital of a campaigning politician. The cost of accommodation, competition entry and coaching in the finer points of modeling, and talent training - is high. Prizes, even substantial cash ones given with the sash and tiara of the 'Queen Supreme' (overall winner of an entire agent) are not enough to cover costs. While it may appear that these parents aren’t motivated by money, the underlying push is for a career path in beauty pageant scene where the money can be very good for older girls, and can lead to careers in modeling.

Anderson's book features portraits of America's hopeful beauty queens aged between 18 months and 13 years. Looking past the unsettling sight of their baby faces caked in make-up it's easy to imagine how enticing this world must seem to the little girls who compete within it. The fussing and attention alone would make it addictive. Imagine if you got to play dress-up on that scale, and with that much parental participation! The fractured part of this fairy tale is that - many little girls work so hard to win a trophy or ribbon worth of validation and leave empty handed. One wonders about the psychological devastation and potential for long-term damage that occurs to those who don’t make it, as well as the mental and family pressure that surrounds those who do.

High Glitz in striking visual eloquence tells of western culture's obsession with beauty, excess, youth and fame. You have to congratulate the blatancy of such events, it's extreme artifice is paired with a naïve honesty that doesn't try to conceal the often merely implied sub text that girls are rewarded and judged according to their looks. It doesn't bother justifying itself, it's self evident - of course little girls should be glossed, groomed and trained like show poodles. Naturally the skills to cultivate a little girl are the ability to look as inanimate and ornamental as possible. Whether you find High Glitz is deliciously kitsch, totally wholesome or unusual child cruelty there is no doubt that it deserves attention.