'Toddlers & Tiaras': Mia vs. Kayla In Shirley Temple Showdown (VIDEO)

The theme for the pageant featured on last night's "Toddlers & Tiaras" (Wed., 10 p.m. EST on TLC) was "Old Hollywood Glamour." Knowing there was a $10,000 grand prize up for grabs, some of the pageant moms were even more stressed-out than usual.

Going into the talent round of the competition, Mia's mom Marina had already had one pretty monumental meltdown after she decided that pageant director Miss Annette hated Mia and had treated her unfairly. But she still hoped that little Mia could recover from her poor performance in the beauty round with a knock-out Shirley Temple routine in the talent round.

With five other Shirley Temples in contention, Mia really needed to stand out from the crowd, and she gave a very cute performance of the old Temple standard, "Animal Crackers In My Soup." Pageant judge Rich Juzwiak said that she did indeed stand out, and that her singing was "impressive."

However, the next Shirley Temple on stage blew "The Good Ship Lollipop" out of the water as she dragged Shirley Temple kicking and screaming into the "Toddlers & Tiaras" world.

Little Kayla may have been sporting the requisite Shirley Temple curls, gingham and lollipop, but she also had a bare midriff and some raunchy moves that seemed more appropriate for The Pussycat Dolls than a toddler pageant.

As the crowd cheered Kayla's antics, and Miss Annette joked "we've never seen a Shirley Temple like that before," it was all just too much for Mia's mom. Marina gathered her family and said "Let's go! I don't want to see any more."

Later on -- after Marina had another epic meltdown -- Mia got the good news that she'd won $500, but it was still not enough to make things right for Marina.

Catch up with the world of toddler pageants each Wednesday on "Toddlers & Tiaras," which airs at 10 p.m. EST on TLC.

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Comments

[jupiterjenni]

02:15 AM on 02/25/2012

So many Americans don't understand the paranoia that was pervasive in Soviet Russia. They also don't understand how to parent without coddling, so when they see a parent who works hard to coach her child (who was the most age-appropriately dressed and performed adorbale, age appropriate routines which the judges LOVED) they call it child abuse. Shame on THEM, not Marina!

The bottom line is that Mia will grow up to have character and will be able to accomplish whatever goals she sets. I bet the coddling parents' kids will be serving Mia at McDonalds someday.

I will concede however that Marina would probably benefit from some counseling and anti-anxiety medication.

[SMTo]

11:51 AM on 04/07/2012

I don't think anyone had a problem with the way Marina was coaching Mia. It was er behaviour at the pageant that was deplorable. To scream like that in front of her 4 year old who was clearly terrified and thought it was all her fault, to not be there to comfort her daughter and to not be there to support her daughter when she won something - my heart broke for little Mia.

It was like watching Mommie Dearest - Mia's going to spend the rest of her life trying to get her mother's approval and when that doesn't happen, do whatever it takes to be accepted. That is no way to bring up a child.

[Darlenecdn]

05:43 PM on 02/05/2012

Watching this episode my heart just broke for Mia. Mia's mom needs professional help, her behavior is not normal.

[Goldie Parch]

09:22 PM on 01/25/2012

Mia and her brothers are good kids. Someone should call child services because that woman "Marina" is psychotic and by far the most abusive parent to have been shown on Toddlers and Tiaras. She wasn't posturing or performing, she was just insane. PLEASE call child services if you know these people.

[marinemom117]

06:11 PM on 01/25/2012

Wow.... they just ran this episode again and I caught it from the beginning this time....OMG. Mia's "mom" (and I am using this term loosely) was the meanest, most abusive, saddest excuse for a human being I have seen. This poor sweet girl is so hungry for her mother's love that my heart just broke for her. Why her father doesn't step in is beyond me. Thank goodness her brothers seemed to offer some hope for love. I have never understood the "pagentry" lifestyle at this age for any child. Most of these kids could care less and don't even want to be there. Shame on TLC for fostering this behavior.

[Barbara DeZan]

05:42 PM on 01/22/2012

I just caught this "show" while flicking around channels looking for something to watch for a couple hours. I'm sorry I found it.

What is wrong with these people? This is disgusting and the parents should be arrested for trafficking in pedophilia and child abuse. Might as well hang a sign around these little girls neck saying "for sale".

It's the most awful display of parental abuse I've ever seen.....

Shame on these parents, shame on those who promote this and shame on the judges...

[AlexDamian]

07:57 PM on 01/19/2012

Guess Mia's dad forgot to stipulate that he wanted a SANE mail order Russian bride.

[susanmc67]

07:17 PM on 01/19/2012

Is anyone else concerned for Mia on Toddlers and Tiaras? Shouldn't she be removed from the home of her abusive mother? Marina needs professional help and should not be a parent. She's forcing her 4 year old into the super-sexualized, super-competetive freak show of child pageants. This child wants nothing more than to please her psychotic mother and go to Seaworld to touch a dolphin. Marina is so screwed up that she has forced her sons (although she never speaks of them or acknowledges their presence so I'm not sure if they are her sons) into the parental role while she has her irrational fits over imagined infractions against her. The sons wind up trying to comfort and appease both Mia and Marina at different intervals in the show. Marina makes Mia feel like a failure over and over again. Do we sit in our living rooms and watch as this four year old gets destroyed by an ugly woman who wants to live vicariously through a toddler?

[jupiterjenni]

02:19 AM on 02/25/2012

Mia wasn't in the least sexualized. She had the most age appropriate costumes and routines. For you to suggest she be removed from the home she loves is trite.

[MckinleyG]

06:23 PM on 01/19/2012

Mia was so sweet, and her brothers were so kind to her. It made me so sad to see those kids trying to make everything right for their mother. Marina needs to stop acting like a spoiled child and realize how lucky she is to have those children. I hope the father had a serious talk with her. Those kids are either going to struggle thier whole lives feeling like they never measure up, or, they will run as far away from that woman as they can as soon as they can. I just want to hug them and tell them they are just fine.

[susanmc67]

07:19 PM on 01/19/2012

I couldn't agree with you more. Well put. I'd like to hug those kids too and tell them that they are wonderful

[Barbara DeZan]

05:44 PM on 01/22/2012

I'd like to snatch them away from their parents and put them somewhere they are safe, in a normal home with loving people who wouldn't exploit them.

This is disgusting.