Organiser of Irish pageant ‘can’t understand what all the fuss is about’

The organiser of the first Irish staging of a contentious, US-themed child beauty pageant this weekend says she is baffled by the critics and stressed: “I really can’t understand what all the fuss is about.”

Universal Royalty boss Annette Hill was speaking as it was revealed that the four-star Bracken Court hotel in Balbriggan, Co Dublin, will host the competition, which will feature “babies, toddlers and teens”, on Saturday.

Hotel general manager Rory Keogh said he saw “absolutely no problem” with staging the competition, which more than 50 Irish youngsters are set to compete in.

Mr Keogh said: “As long as the event is run professionally, which I’m sure it will, we’ve absolutely no problem with it. And if it all goes well, they’ll be welcome to come back next year.”

Chiefs of Texas-based Universal Royalty had up to now gone to great lengths to keep the venue secret.

Since the event was announced child psychologists and children’s watchdogs have voiced their concerns about the early sexualisation such contests have on participants. However, yesterday, the families of all the youngsters taking part, including some from the UK and Australia, were informed by email of the venue.

Universal Royalty boss Annette Hill had taken the precaution of booking two reserve venues, in case the first-choice Irish-owned Moriarty Group hotel fell through.

Yesterday Ms Hill, who is due to appear on The Late Late Show tomorrow night , said she had every confidence that the event would be a “complete success”.

Eight-year-old Eden Wood, America’s most famous child pageant starlet, also posted an upbeat Facebook video message, announcing the venue. The now ‘retired’ Eden, who is also due to appear on The Late Late Show with her mother, Mickie, will take part in a meet and greet with fans at the venue on Saturday morning and give pageant coaching to budding Irish starlets.