By KIM KUMMER
Springville's Art City Days began Saturday with a baby contest.
Parents were encouraged to dress their children in a manner that best suited the child's personality. The children were judged in three categories: appearance, personality and reaction to the judge.
'All the babies are cute,' said Pam Bradley, a contest judge.
Kimberley Mower, mother of 23-month-old Trinity, entered her daughter in the contest 'because I think she's the cutest baby in the whole world. It doesn't matter if she loses, I still think she's the cutest.'
Even though baby contests are hugely popular in Utah and are promoted as non-beauty contests, they've raised their share of concern.
Camille Heckmann, current Miss Provo and a BYU senior majoring in dance, believes children should be judged on talents and personality -- not outward beauty.
Heckmann began entering beauty pageants at age 15 and enters contests with the idea that, win or lose, it is a positive experience to perform and make new friends.
However, 'No child deserves to be molded into a contestant. They should be able to be a child,' she said.
Marion Wells, associate professor of psychology at BYU, said that judging solely on beauty can be damaging.
Underlying motivations can turn baby contests from fun to serious when 'people stop paying attention to the normal growth of the child,' Wells said.
In Saturday's contest, Boys and girls were judged separately and by age categories, 0-4 months, 5-7 months, 8-10 months, 11-13 months, 14-18 months, 19-24 months and 25-36 months.
Each participant received a polaroid photograph from Playland Photography in Spanish Fork, a ribbon and a certificate for a free 8 X 10 photo. Door prizes were drawn throughout the day for miscellaneous baby items.
The contest was for Springville and Mapleton residents only and volunteer judges came from other cities. In previous years, the contest was not geographically restrictive, but it became necessary due to its popularity, said Sandi Miner, chairperson of the baby contest. This year, 175 children preregistered with almost as many registering at the door.
First-place winners in each age category will ride on Springville's antique fire engine in next Saturday's parade. Second- and third-place winners will also be in the parade.