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A camera crew will be in Cape Girardeau on Tuesday and Dec. 7 filming at the LeGrands' home and around town. They will then follow the family to the "Wild Wild West Show Down" pageant Dec. 10 in Indianapolis.
Jacy's mother, Gina LeGrand, said she received a call from the show about three weeks ago.
"We were in a violin lesson, so it was really quiet. We caused a huge disturbance at SEMO," LeGrand said.
The call came after "Toddlers & Tiaras" noticed Jacy about a month ago while filming at the pageant "Disco Diamonds," presented by Beautiful Me in Springfield, Mo.
LeGrand said they received the call around 7 p.m., and the show wanted an audition tape by noon the next day. Despite the short notice, she said they stayed up all night making the tape and made the deadline.
Jacy began competing in pageants two years ago and has since competed in nearly 50 pageants and won more than 75 crowns. In August, she was named Ultimate Grand Supreme, the highest award that can be won on her level, at "America's Ultimate Extravaganza/America's Best National" pageant.
"There hasn't been very many where she hasn't won one of the top three titles," LeGrand said.
Jacy's first pageant was at the SEMO District Fair, where she came away empty-handed. However, her luck turned around in her second pageant, when she won the title of Little Miss Jackson.
After that pageant, Jacy began taking pageant and modeling lessons. She gradually began competing in more pageants locally to "support all the people around here that put pageants on," LeGrand said.
Eventually, she moved on to state and national pageants. LeGrand said the farthest the family has traveled for a pageant is Columbus, Ohio.
For the LeGrands, these pageants are a family affair. LeGrand said that for most pageants she does Jacy's hair and makeup. She said her husband takes care of things such as building props for Jacy's routines.
In addition, LeGrand said they generally travel as a family.
"Usually several people come depending on their schedule," LeGrand said.
That includes Jacy's older brothers, who attend the pageants when their schedules allow.
LeGrand said preparing for these pageants requires a lot of practice, including modeling lessons. She said every category requires a different look, a different outfit and a modeling routine specifically for that category. For example, Jacy will compete in five categories at the pageant in Indianapolis: a beauty category, two outfit-of-choice categories, a "Wild Wild West" wear category, a talent category and a Super Model Showdown category.
LeGrand is excited about her daughter's upcoming television appearance. She said that while some girls on "Toddlers & Tiaras" "show their rear-end," Jacy will not be on of them.
"Jacy is not a brat. She is very well mannered," LeGrand said.
She hopes that by seeing Jacy on television, others will find her as a role model.
"I don't see any badness coming from it with my daughter. It has been healthy for her," LeGrand said.
LeGrand said being in pageants has changed her daughter into a confident young lady and allowed her to meet lifelong friends.
Comments
How embarrassing!
This is about the parents issues not the kid. IMO Sick behavior.
Disgusting people and a laughable, disgusting show. Truly sad when people don't realize they're laughing at you and not with you.
Wow, what embarrassing and seemingly jealous comments! Congratulations on being on the show!
Why do you want your 8 year old to look like she is a 30 year old ? I guess fake boobs are next. And when does she do her school work.
My, my, my how sad. That poor little girl will never have the chance for a normal childhood and all the wonders of growing up.
I'm sorry this is not about Jacy, it's about mom and dad and bragging rights.
By the way vf43WRX, there is nothing here to be jealous of, only pity. Were is DFS when they are really needed?
Congratulations on this achievement. So sad there are such jealous and insensitive people in this world.
This is an interesting story about a child doing something for herself. Her parents are good people with best intentions and help their child enjoy herself. You don't have to agree. Perhaps society wouldn't be the way it is if people would mind their own business and let others do what makes them happy with no affect on others.
One may disagree with the negative comments but to claim they're motivated by jealousy is dishonest. There are those who legitimately question the efficacy of beauty pageants for girls this young and it is a question worthy of closer examination.
Can't get over how parents live through their children! It is so sad.
Give it a rest people. Don't know these people but congratulations to them and their daughter and good luck.
Some of you complaining here pack your kids up every weekend to soccer tournaments, baseball tournaments, volleyball, nightly practices, trips out of town, spending money on uniforms, fast food, etc. etc. I guess this just doesn't fit in your mold.
I suspect it's more jealousy than anything.
Dug, you just made my point. There is no difference between parent driven sports and parent driven beauty contest.
It's about, "my kid did this or my kid did that". How many times have we seen parents acting the fool at sport events because a judge or umpire made a negative call on the child?
True. Interesting part of the story is she was in her violin lessons when they found out. Good for them.
There are bad parents in anything - walmart, kids sports, beauty pageants, coaches - you name it. I don't make blanket assumptions that these people are bad parents. I consider myself a very good parent but I might not be as good as these folks.
So I think a simple congratulations is in order and let it go. Unless you know a lot more about these people than anyone else here.
It's exploitation of a minor. It's sick.
Have any of you even watched the show? You dress a little girl up like an adult street walker and then you prance them around in front of grown adults. Some of them even go so far as to show lots of skin and teach them how to shake their patooties... How is that NOT exploitation of a minor? DCFS should step in.
All of you people who are posting rude comments might want to keep in mind that these are real people with feelings and there's no reason to be so mean. I do personally know this family and I have known Jacy's mom and her whole family since she was a child herself. This is a nice, normal family and Jacy is a very nice, normal, wholesome kid who is proud of her accomplishments, but doesn't act like she thinks she's any different than any other kid. I have never watched Toddlers n Tiaras or any other pageant, but I can say that your mean comments are hurtful and there's no need for it. The rule for commenting is, "Please be respectful of others."
The irony of some of these posts...
Jacy is a very sweet well rounded little girl. We are so excited for you.
Exploitation of a minor? Seriously? Get a grip.
So is violin lessons, soccer, cheerleading, blah, blah, blah.
Again, congrats and good luck!
This is sick. I don't see how dressing up a 8 year old like a drag queen is normal.
Do you even know what a drag queen is?
I don't necessarily agree with the type of pageants that this little girl does, but obviously her parents feel it is good for her. When you go on a tv show such as this one you know there are going to be all kinds of opinions and negativity. I applaud the LeGrand family for trying to show pageants in a good light. I will be anxious to see if the show actually uses her and actually portrays the family in a good light. I haven't seen a show yet that a family should be proud of how the parents or children act....We shall see!
"but obviously her parents feel it is good for her"
Some parents see nothing wrong with kids missing too many school days and/or letting school work take a back seat to extracurricular activities.
Others parents see nothing wrong with beating a child with a belt, belitting a child on national tv, locking a child in a closet or allowing a child to go hungry.
Sorry, none of the above is appropriate parental behavior. This extravagance is about the parents, not the child, child's happiness or trying to offer a well-rounded childhood to all the children in the family.
I personally, think prostitution should be legal for anyone of legal age. But IMHO, dressing kids like tramps and teaching them to sell themselves is just wrong.
It's not Okay...No matter who she is or, or who the family is.. or what they do or do not do... IT'S NOT OKAY. You are teaching your child that the only thing she has going for her in this life is her looks. She is nothing if she is not considered beautiful. What is that? You are no better than someone who treats women disrespectful in another country. This is wrong on every level. Why is the SE Missourian even justifying pedophilia?
Although I do not agree with the ridiculous display of these pagent children, I agree with others in that it is no different than people who pack up their kids every day and every weekend for a sporting event. When they are not actually competing they are at some enhancement facility or program. It just gets to be too much. My son played sports . He loved baseball and golf. He wanted to play basketball but they wanted him to play 24 hours a day all year round. Like he said
" mom there is a lot more to life than basketball". So he quit and did the things he enjoyed, like fishing, camping with his family and friends. He played baseball in school and summer league and played golf for school in spring. We are from a very delusional small town in which basketball is the world. We have no Nba stars from our town amazingly. Another words they ruined a lot of young peoples basketball experience. People you need to let your children be who they are. They will grow up to be much happier well adjusted adults .
Congrats Jacy!! You are such a role model for all young girls your age. Your hard work and dedication has definitely paid off. So proud of you!!!
This story made the newspaper because someone local is going to be on TV, which is, in fact, news. I find it cruel that some of these posts have been so terribly negative. Regardless as to how you feel about the show, what difference does it make if she is on it? Leave it alone, and show some decency. I am hopeful she doesn't read your awful posts and learn how mean people can be.
I think anyone who promotes this or encourages it should have to register as sex offender. A minor child has no place in a beauty pageant. An 8 year old in a beauty pageant! seriously?! With all the predatory sex offenders out there and all the push to get more sex offender laws passed, I can't believe this is even legal!
Are you serious? There are beauty pageants all over SE Missouri for festivals in town and they award small kids too. It's a long tradition throughout the area. This beautiful child is confident, plays the violin and is traveling to Ohio to compete.
What's your kid doing today? Sitting on the couch playing nintendo?
So you agree with Beaker that parents should register as sex offenders for doing this?
My kids are enrolled in college at SLU and Wash U. Another kid is in Junior High. They are all getting a good education. Thanks for asking.
I am a bit on the fence on this one. However, after cropping out her body and leaving just her face, I am amazed as to how much, with all that make-up and expensive hair style, she looks like a 18 year old! I may be a bit less pro on this type of expoitation after seeing this photo of an 8 year old. This child is indeed beautiful without being in a pageant or painted with expensive make-up from mom's cabinet. Beauty is NOT a talent and pageants like this should NEVER be in the same catagory as sports!