My daughter, Diamond Tiara, has been doing pageants since she was 18 months old, when she won "Little Miss Photogenic" at a contest our local mall was having.  It was my cousin's idea.

Diamond is now six and has competed in well over a dozen pageants for babies and children ... and has won at least half of 'em.  She knows how to wow the judges with her personality, charm, talent, and overall style when it counts.  

I am extremely proud of my baby girl.  I am her biggest supperter and fan.

Sometimes Diamond gets grumpy before a pageant, but it isn't long before she bats those incredibly long, long lashes of hers and gives it her all.  She is all business when it comes to competing, especially when it comes to the competitors, who are often twice her age.  She hates the preparation times (and what kid doesn't??), but other than that, competing in pageants is in her blood.

When Diamond hits that stage, I'm right there, cheering her on, encouraging her, and telling her to "sparkle".  And "sparkle" she does: she's my little fourth of July firecracker!  (Her birthday is on July 4th, so she will soon be seven in only a few more days!)

People get really annoyed with me when I mention that my little princess competes in child beauty pageants, but hey ... as long as Diamond enjoys it (and she does at this current time), then why not??  I'm not nearly as bad as some of the mamas I've encountered in past pageants.  At least I let my daughter know that it is okay to lose and that life goes on when she does.  I also let her know that  she doesn't have to do it if she doesn't want to, and that minute she lets me know that she doesn't, then I will pull her out of the pageant circuit and let her be a normal little girl.

When Diamond is competing, she is at her peak, but once away from the bright lights, camera flashes, tiaras, and fancy outfits, Diamond is a regular little tomboy.  She can get as dirty as her brothers: she climbs trees, makes mud pies, plays baseball with the neighborhood kids (and her brothers), and loves to catch frogs, snakes, and worms.

Between that (and her vocal lessons and pageants), Diamond is one very busy, loving, happy little girl.

She is my mini-me.  So don't say I am exploiting her or using her because I'll be the first one to tell you that I'm NOT!!  Diamond so happens to be one of the most level-headed little kids out there!

~To be continued!~