Childhood beauty pageants interfere with healthy child development in many ways, including physically and mentally. More than three thousand competitions are held each year in the United States, in which more than one hundred thousand children under the age of twelve participate (Giroux 39). Some competitions last up to half a day. Because the competitions are so long, competitors resort to energy drinks to stay awake. Some mothers give their children energy drinks and excessive amounts of caffeine to keep them alive and prepared for the judges. “A 2011 study by the American Academy of Pediatrics found that excessive caffeine consumption could lead to neurological and cardiovascular problems in young children. Psychologists also warn that caffeine can have behavioral and mood-altering effects in children (and can cause anxiety, shorten attention spans, and be addictive)” (Wolfe 434). When children participate in beauty pageants, they learn to believe that these may be the roles they will play in adult society in years to come. Many people argue that child beauty pageants are a shame and should no longer be allowed because they take away the innocence of the child competing. “Karen Steinhauser, At the time of JonBenet's murder, Denver Chief Deputy District Attorney Karen Steinhauser said, "It's impossible to look at these photos and not see a little girl being terribly exploited" (Hollandsworth). The Denver deputy chief was talking about photos she saw of young JonBenet with face makeup and hair styled like a grown woman. The feelings Denver's chief deputy felt are feelings many people still feel today about child beauty pageants. William J. Cromie says that "the mothers at the bottom and top of the paper......d who is not a true crime author and media analyst, says: "I found, in the course of my work, pedophiles who went to great lengths to obtain videos of little girls” (Hollandsworth). Not all contests are harmful, but the most harmful contests are the most popular. Beauty pageants hold a special place in American culture. They have started and may or may not end in the coming years. There have been many debates about the negative effects that beauty pageants have on their competitors and on society. Many mothers of young contestants and adult contestants themselves spend more money on beauty pageants and beauty pageant preparation than on education. Beauty pageants arouse emotions and societal prejudices in their contestants. They should be stopped because they cause body dissatisfaction, self-esteem issues and harm healthy child development..