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Medford, OR 97501

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I am the mother of one of the girls in the 3- to 5-year age group that placed in the Lil' Miss Medford Pageant, and I am appalled at the comments in the April 15 letter, "Appalling pageant."

I will tell you that my daughter was not wearing make-up in the pageant, nor does she have a fake smile and the "wave," as the writer put it. My daughter was having fun and gaining self-confidence. What was the letter writer teaching her daughter? Obviously it is not good sportsmanship.

Not everyone can be a "winner" in these pageants, and if that is why she entered her daughter in Lil' Miss Medford, maybe she should think twice before she does it again. Every participant and parent should be happy for the others. They are all children to be proud of for giving it their best.

I also object to her using Jon Benet's name. That child was the victim of a heinous crime and had nothing to do with this so-called "personality pageant." My child is an "everyday girl" who plays with Barbies and likes horses.

As for the comments in the dressing area after the pageant, it is in poor taste to make negative comments in front of children who are supposedly learning self-confidence and good sportsmanship. We should be setting the example.

Hopefully the writer's daughter can go on to be a proud young lady and think of her experience as a positive one.

-- W Anderson, Medford

Regarding the April 19 letter, "Pageant misses":

My daughter won the Little Miss Medford Petite title, age 3-5 division. I am very upset that this woman has the gall to accuse me of knowing the judges and saying that my daughter was all made up and not your average 5-year-old.

I will have you know that my daughter loves to play with Barbies, climb trees, play with her friends and even gets in trouble. She had no makeup on and her hair was simply curled and pulled up on the sides.

My daughter won because the judges saw in her natural poise, beauty and talent. All those things shined through her personality on stage. This woman would not have gotten upset at all if her daughter had placed.

It makes me angry to think about all the hard work these little girls put into this pageant and have their bubbles burst because of one selfish mom.

She was in the dressing room ranting and raving that the pageant was fixed. What a great message she is sending to these children, including her own daughter. If she had such a problem with the pageant why didn't she go talk to the director? Not blow off steam in front of innocent children.

-- Sharon Barker, Medford

Regarding the April 19 letter about the recent pageant. I'm sorry to say, but Mom has ruined it for her daughter. If you would have asked her daughter if she was having fun, she would have said yes. Not now! My daughter has been doing pageants for four years. Sometimes she wins, sometimes she doesn't. That is life. My daughter always congratulates the winner.

The little girl who won in the age 3-5 division was wearing no makeup at all, her hair was done by mom. The little girl and her mom do not know the judges.

My daughter was in the next division; she came in second runner-up and she did a sportswear routine. She was very proud and would have been just as proud had she not placed; in her heart Mom and Dad have instilled in her that she is winner no matter what.

This mom getting angry has taken away the fun her daughter could have had. There was a dinner held that evening. There were girls there who had not even placed having a great time.

Have you ever heard the term "Little League mom?" Well, here we have a classic "pageant mom." She is a poor sport and it is unfortunate that that is what she is teaching her daughter.

-- Janet Manley, Medford

The Miss Medford Pageant has received a lot of bad press lately. I would like to mention some of the good things I saw. Each girl was given the opportunity to express herself, while building her confidence and self-esteem. Whenever you can present yourself to an audience, make an introduction and display your favorite sportswear, or show your talent, you have matured. Girls that chose sportswear over talent did, in fact, place.

From the beginning we were informed that the pageant was open to all girls from Jackson County, and why not? We look to the surrounding communities as part of our own don't we? These communities will benefit by appearances from Miss Medford.

My daughter was thrilled to see Miss Medford, Addi Reed, last summer at the Children's Festival in Jacksonville.

I do not know co-directors Anna Marie Prince and Tina Self personally, but I have to commend the effort they put forth. They made themselves available for questions or to calm fears at all hours of the day for months. Although, there were things I too would like to see changed, many things were done right.