A beauty pageant for babies is coming to Brighton.
The Teenie Mr and Miss contest is coming to the city next month and parents of boys and girls aged from zero to 16 are being urged to sign their offspring up.
Reality TV star Jessica Wright – of The Only Way is Essex – will be appearing at the competition.
The organiser said she felt the lingerie model – who was filmed having a breast enlargement oper- ation for the TV show – was a “good role model”.
But outraged Brighton mothers have condemned the Brighton event as “tawdry” and expressed concerns it could sexualise youngsters.
Mother Anita Moss, of Southampton, who is behind the event, said: “I think she’s a good role model because she looks pretty.
“All the kids love TOWIE. I think they like the way she looks. They want to grow up and look like her.”
Ms Moss said babies aged just 14 months had been entered in her previous catwalk competition, but it would be up to parents whether their children wore make-up.
She said: “It is a catwalk, but it’s up to the parents whether they wear makeup.
“The kids want make up, but it’s just stage makeup, and we judge them on their inner beauty.
“The little ones just walk up and down, the older ones do routines.”
Miss Moss said her own three-year-old daughter Beau had entered several pageants and she was intending to dress her up in a “little show girl outfit” for the Brighton event.
Ms Moss added: “We have had a bit of interest already – but most people interested are coming from up north.
“We want to get more kids from Brighton.”
Mother Jenifer Saunders, 31, of Shaftesbury Road, Brighton, said: “I’m really surprised to see this kind of event in Brighton.
“I can’t think of anyone who would think that contest is good for very young girls. At best it enforces the belief that young girls should be judged on their looks and at worst sexualises them.”
Mother-of-two Jo Bowring, 36, of Southampton Street, Brighton, said: “It’s horrible – the idea that children that young need to com- pete in such a tawdry contest.
“What kind of message is it sending our children, that their physical appearance is so important?"
