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A mum has defended her parenting after her four-year-old daughter – called Ocean – was crowned Britain's Most Beautiful Toddler at the controversial under-12 Miss Glitz Sparkle pageant at the weekend.
Mum Bianca Alsop, 26, admitted to using minimal sun protection so that the little girl can achieve a perfect tan while she strutted her stuff in a tiny pink swimsuit and clutching a cuddly stuffed kitten.
But despite criticism, Bianca declared herself a proud mum, saying: "Winning was the best prize for me. As a mother you think your child is the most beautiful - and this confirmed it."
Bianca, and Ocean's grandma, Denise, 49, spent three weeks preparing the child for the contest – and went to eyebrow-raising lengths to make sure she looked perfect.
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Bianca, from Boston, Lincs, told the Sun: "I like Ocean to be tanned so I don't put high factor sun cream on her. Instead, she sunbathes with me and I let her wear the tan-enhancing factor 15 that I use.
"Our family don't like fake tan but will use it on her if she hasn't been on holiday."
Bianca and her partner Lee Orrey, also 26, entered their 18-month-old twin boys Milan and Madrid in the pageant.
Despite Ocean's success, Bianca still picks holes in her young daughter's appearance.
"Ocean has a sticky-out ear which she has inherited from her dad - we call it the family 'ear'-loom," she said.
As soon as she is old enough to have her ear pinned back, I will be taking her to have it done. That's no big deal. In fact, I would consider that a minor imperfection that just needs tweaking.
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"I will not lie to her when she's older. If she needs something doing and asks me, I will be truthful.
"I know what looks good. I have fake boobs, Botox and teeth veneers and I know when something needs putting right.
"I put a boob job on my Christmas list from the age of 13. Dad finally gave in and paid for them on my 20th birthday.
"I get birthday Botox each year - I've been doing that since I was 23.
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"But I'm not naive. In the future the competitions will get bigger, which will mean we may have to resort to pulling a few extra tricks out of the bag."
It wasn't just Ocean who experienced success at Sunday's US-style pageant in Lincoln.
Bianca said: "We entered our boys Milan and Madrid too. I put bronzer on their faces to add depth to their holiday tan and we used half a pot of wax to perfect three different hairstyles.
"All the prep was worth it because Madrid got a Best Hair sash as well as Best Personality and Best Smile."
Bianca's children beat fierce competition from more than 40 other children at the event, which have been slammed by child welfare charities for encouraging the sexualisation of young girls. Sections of the competition included swimwear, a beauty round, a talent round and a Hollywood Star round, in which kids were encouraged to dress up as movie stars.
Claude Knights, director of Kidscape, has described events such as these as 'disturbing'.
But Bianca defended entering her daughter.
The reason we did the pageant is in the hope that the kids get talent-spotted. Living in sleepy Lincolnshire, we have a disadvantage when it comes to modelling jobs. The agencies always go for London kids as they are the most accessible," she said
"You could have the best-looking child on the planet and if you live more than an hour from London it's unlikely you will make it in the child talent or modelling industries.
"The children who take part in pageants are a different breed. They are kids who like the limelight.
We've got dull, old-fashioned, apron-wearing mothers making their comments, but no one criticises them because their children are boring.
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Hmmm!
At the risk of sounding like an 'old-fashioned, apron wearing' parent, what do you think?