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diving4gold wrote:

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I remember watching Living Dolls on HBO, I find the idea of kiddie pageants so bizarre. I decided to do a Google search and see what happened to a couple of the kids. Leslie Butler is still doing pageants, she looks the same although looks as though she has some implants. Her Dad Michael and his partner have split. Swan Brooner is no longer doing pageants, she stopped after her Mom passed away in 2003, her father passed away a couple of years later. It sounds as though she is living with her sister Silva in Alaska.

Living Dolls: The Making of a Child Beauty Queen is a 2001 Emmy award-winning HBO documentary. It was directed by Shari Cookson.

Synopsis

The documentary follows five-year-old beauty contestant Swan Brooner and her mother, Robin Browne throughout the year of 1999. The two live in Florida with Swan's half-brother, Bubba, her half-sister, Silva and her younger brother, Devon.

Throughout the film, Robin, who used to serve in the American military, trains and grooms Swan with a no-nonsense attitude for the state beauty pageants. In Swan's bedroom, various trophies and crowns are displayed, although Swan mentions she does not know what contest she won them in.

Robin takes Swan to South Carolina to compete in a national contest. However, Swan loses after nearly forgetting the words to a song. The two move on the next contest. Before they set out, Robin's boyfriend has already offered to help Robin and Swan with whatever expenses needed to cover the pageants. Robin's son, Bubba, is a juvenile delinquent, who has already been involved in fights with his peers at school and has been arrested a few times. However, Robin has been too preoccupied with Swan to attend to Bubba, although she mentions she cares and loves all of her children.

The documentary later focuses on Alabama residents and beauty pageant coaches Michael Butler and his partner Shane King, along with Butler's seven-year-old daughter, Leslie, who has won 27 national titles in her pageant span (Butler's dad mentions that Leslie won her first pageant when she was three weeks old while she slept). Shane is coach to Leslie, Swan and various other young beauty pageant contestants. Meanwhile, Leslie is preparing to compete in the Glamour Doll USA pageant after a nine-month hiatus. She later wins the top prize.

Ultimately, Swan is crowned Miss Grand National Star Grand Supreme, winning $2500, the largest prize she has received. Leslie is crowned Overall Dream Girl, winning $500.

Aftermath

Swan is now fifteen years old, a cheerleader, and an honor roll student. Swan doesn't do pageants anymore for her guardian can't afford the fees. Her mother, Robin Browne, died in 2003 of a heart attack; Swan went to live with her father in Alaska, who later passed away from cancer. Swan currently lives with her older sister. Leslie is still competing in pageants; Michael and Shane are no longer a couple. Swan wishes she could still do pageants as her older sister works in college to raise the money so Swan can compete. Leslie has been doing lots of pageants and plans to compete in the Miss America pageant when she turns 18. Beautiful Swan has grown up. Hopefully she will be able to continue pageants. That is all...