Despite what some might think, not all former child beauty contestants regret their pasts in the pageant world. In 2012, The Cut interviewed six women who had once been pageant "stars," and their reports were mixed. 

According to Robbie Meshell of Louisiana, who did over 100 pageants between the ages of 3 and 7 and then 14 and 27, the pageant circuit was great. "I love everything about pageantry," said Meshell. Because she lost her mother at a young age, she claimed that the publicity surrounding the events brought her confidence and the chance to share her mother's story.

Tamara Tobin, who started doing pageants at age 7 — and whose children are doing them today — had similar feelings. However, not everyone had strictly pleasant experiences. Heidi Gerkin, who entered the childhood beauty pageant world at 7, recalled how her interactions with other contestants caused her to feel insecure. "In the world of pageants, you might perceive someone as your friend, and then they seek out weaknesses and turn that around on you," she said. "You never knew who was really your friend."