Miss America Mallory Hagan Defends Toddlers & Tiaras, Says She's (Surprise!) a Fan of Child Beauty Pageants

Beauty queen stands up for controversial reality show, which has in the past under come under fire for placing young girls in sexualized situations

There she goes: Miss America is off and running with her take on child beauty pageants.

And—surprise, surprise—she's a fan of them.

The 23-year-old Brooklyn gal admitted she's hooked on Toddlers & Tiaras, telling the New York Post, "It's my guilty pleasure."

Detractors have accused Toddlers & Tiaras of exploiting young girls by dressing them in racy getups and placing them in sexualized situations.

Its chorus of critics has included, among others, Vanessa Williams—a former Miss America herself—as well as JonBenét Ramsey's father, John Ramsey, who called the show "very bizarre."

Hagan, however, says she has fond memories of her days as a young pageant hopeful.

"I absolutely loved doing pageants when I was little," she says. "They weren't as grandiose as the ones you see on television, but I enjoyed being onstage."

As for whether she takes issue with girls getting such a young head start in the pageant game?

"I think a hobby is a hobby," Hagan adds. "If a child wants to do it, that is their prerogative."