Whatever happened to Mini Pops!

I was in grade school when I got to watch Mini Pops for the first time. The kids in the video were my age and knew how to sing and dance. There was especially this cute guy (probably 12 yrs old) that I had a crush on! He was the star of the video Yellow Submarine!



What did I think of it? I was only a kid and I would slip the cassette into the video and dance along! It was fun.

Now, 20 years later I realize that Mini Pops stirred quite a controversy back then in UK. When I watched this video, I realized how some people referred to the show as pedophilic!

I watched more! 20 years ago, I never thought those lyrics were sexual (I had no idea what they meant) or the make-up was excessive! I was only a kid. But today, I know about how children are exploited through kiddie porn all over the world and how child pageantry is taking their childhood away, I think I look at it differently.

But I listened to all those interviews and how the grown former Mini Pops think of their experience, I realized, if the show was only made for kids to watch and dance along, would have been ok. But god knows, if pedophiles got a hold of even one show, they would think they died and went to heaven!

I know for a fact that when I become a mother, I will never engage my child in pageantry or sexual acts and performances. All that said, singing and dancing is one the funnest activities kids can do. Where do you find that fine line where "cute" becomes "exploited"?

What do you think? Did you ever watch those shows? What do you think of child pageantry, teen pageantry or competitions such as Miss World? Would you watch? Would you allow your child to participate if she really wanted?

For what is worth, all those kids in those shows were very talented, seemed to have fun and made me happy every day after school! I hope the show never impacted them negatively.