Sasha - Beauty Queen at 11

BBC Documentary: UK Girl Dreams of Beauty Pageant and Show Biz Fame

Aug 6, 2008

Is Sasha Bennington from Burnley really ready to be famous at 11? And famous for what - being famous? Her mother thinks her looks are her ticket to success.

At first glance Sasha Bennington looks like any other 11-year-old girl, happily bouncing on a trampoline in her back yard. As soon as we meet her mother Jayne, however, it’s clear Sasha is anything but. A former glamour model, Jayne is determined that Sasha will succeed where she did not, and she knows exactly what has to be done. Bleached hair (with extensions), fake tan, false nails, full make-up, plus acting and cheerleading classes; these are all part of Jayne’s plan to get Sasha into the highly competitive world of show business.

British star Jordan is Sasha's Role Model

Seeing Sasha chatting with her friends, she doesn’t appear very different. All the girls are into clothes and make-up, and the general consensus seems to be beauty, not brains, is the way to succeed in life. Jordan, Britain’s best known glamour model, is mentioned frequently as the person with an ideal life – handsome husband, always in magazines and on TV, two lovely children, and now she writes books as well. Sasha says she’s been bullied in the past, by people who were jealous of her looks, but she knows who her true friends are. Anyway, she adds, “if you’re pretty you get a fit boyfriend”.

Her mother seems convinced this is the kind of life she should be aiming for, but her father Martin appears somewhat baffled by it all. His job means he is away a lot, and when he’s home he prefers to tackle renovation projects than be dragged to Sasha’s latest casting session or photo shoot. He knows this is all Jayne’s idea, and basically stands back and let her get on with it.

Sasha Enters US Child Beauty Pageant Circuit

An attempt to get Sasha onto the books of a Manchester modelling agency does not go well. One look at her portfolio and the agency director is clear; child models need to look like children, not somebody in full make-up who can pass for a teenager. She also wonders if this is really what Sasha wants to do -every time she asks Sasha a question, Jayne answers for her. An appearance on a daytime TV show also produces mixed results – the host basically tells her she is a very pretty girl, but are her parents not worried she’s growing up too fast, pushing her in this direction at such an early age? Absolutely not. The next phase is to get Sasha onto a much bigger stage to showcase her talents – the U.S. child beauty pageant circuit.

Mother Jayne Bennington Says it's all for Sasha

On arrival in Dallas, Jayne is looking forward to choosing a dress for Sasha, and gazes longingly at the sash and tiara the winner of the pageant will receive. Reality soon kicks in, however – pageants are a billion-dollar industry, and if Sasha has any hope of winning she needs help from the professional “pageant moms”. Out goes the Barbie-pink dress (green will bring out the colour of her eyes), and in comes hours of practice to learn how to walk properly, when to look at the judges and when to smile, as well as endless run-throughs of her cheerleading routine. In the end Sasha wins three trophies, but is not crowned overall Supreme Queen.

It’s hard to know who to feel more sorry for here – her mother, who is obviously living vicariously through her daughter, or Sasha, who, after all, is only 11. When asked if she likes being on TV, she replies yes; when asked why, she says “Don’t know, haven’t got a clue". Whose dream is this anyway?

The copyright of the article Sasha - Beauty Queen at 11 in British TV is owned by Arlene Kelly. Permission to republish Sasha - Beauty Queen at 11 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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Aug 17, 2008 1:34 PM

Guest :

sasha is my idol i am 13 and her style is hip hop funky her hair should be another colour a bit darker by beth booth age 13 xxxxxxxx luv ya

Aug 26, 2008 1:06 PM

Guest :

What a disgrace Sasha's mother needs to be told to back off! Sasha was like a rabbit in the headlights and did not diserve to be treated like this. Sasha is a pretty girl who was incapable of strining a sentance together due to her mother living her unsuccessful dream through her daughters better looks. The final close of their documentary should have been "I want to be a beauty queen because I will be grounded by my Mum if im not!!!" :-(

Aug 31, 2008 4:58 AM

Guest :

If you want your child to look like a prostitute this is the route to go. This mother is obviously trying to relive her childhood through her daughter. Beauty pageants are degrading. I'm always appalled at anyone who would even consider them, but putting hair extentions, fake nails, fake tan, fake eyelashes, and enough makeup to keep a brothel in business for a month on a child should be enough to have Child Protective Services take the child away and given to a family that can show her what a normal life is. I feel sorry for this little girl who already announces that she's dumb but she's pretty so that's okay. That mother is one sick puppy.

Sep 1, 2008 5:55 AM

Guest :

i dont get how an 11 year old can get onto tv and into magazines just because they wear make up and enter a few beauty competitions,.
i dont see any other girls in those competitions getting 'famous'.
does sashas mum try to find these tv appearences,or do they try to find her??i just dont get it!!
i wear make up,extentions and fake nails and im 14.but its not like sashas committing a crime.

Sep 1, 2008 11:24 PM

Guest :

She's not anything special. Any child of 11 could look like that if they were to apply their makeup with a spatula. It's wrong, disgusting and the end product is a girl who won't have any self-confidence unless she's wearing 7 layers of makeup.

Jayne Bennington needs to have her head read. I think there should be some kind of regulation against putting slutty makeup on your 11 year old and bleaching their hair. She'll be one of those foul old ladies you see at the beach, all brown, wrinkly, moley and saggy, wearing leopard print bathers.

Sep 3, 2008 9:09 AM

Guest :

What a sad documentary. Everything is geared round Jayne's little bit of almost fame. The most depressing thing of all is that she even called her kids Max (Max Power) and Sasha (sash) and really believes that, because some car fan lads leered at her, she was once in the modelling business.

Sep 3, 2008 10:49 AM

Guest :

sasha is a very good looking girl for her age

Sep 5, 2008 11:40 AM

Guest :

I am 12 and i look alot like her but with a better physique and i dont bleach my hair or wear fake nails regularly i feel that any young girl, i admit with SOME make up can look beautiful

Sep 5, 2008 11:24 PM

Guest :

sasha is amazing she is starting her dream now nd it would make loads more money in da future to be honest at the end of the day it is her life nd viewers cant change that it is wat she wants to do nd it is up to her if she wants to be model so just leave her alone yer it would maybey look a bit nice if her hair was natural she is a beautiful girl nd people who r saying bad stuff about her r just jealous that they dont look dat way nd they r probaly all ugly it is just girl who has started secondary skewl nd now has chosen wat she wants to be nd is going down da right path to fufill her dream so please leave her alone i hate peeps who call her a prostitute they r just sad they dont look as pretty nd as beautifull as saha bennington nd sasha's titel should be sasha beauty queen at 11 because she is beautiful nd every1 no's dat so face ok by sian woollard

Sep 7, 2008 8:25 AM

Guest :

She is a very pretty girl and will go far in the future after watching that progreamme about her i keep dying my hair but dark brown with blonde highlights and and i want fake nails and i would love to have spray tan so thankyou sasha your programme has made me change.

From sarah marshall in bath

Sep 10, 2008 12:58 PM

Guest :

heyy sash ur stunning nd if i was u i would of gone wif the pink dress nd u should of won lol lyl bbe .xxx :) fromm sumone

Sep 10, 2008 7:22 PM

Guest :

Girls, please consider intelligence a far more beautiful and positive way to attract attention to yourself than this artificial glamour... Looks fade, but wit and charm never do...

Sep 18, 2008 12:41 PM

Guest :

looks arn't everything they do fade no matter what. sasha is't as pretty when she's got make-up on she looks pretty whithout make-up on but when she gets dolled up like that she doesn't look that beautiul because under all that make-up their could be a big secret that no1 knows about, not even here!!!

sasha will say her mum doesn't push her to do things but i think she does. no girl should be pushed like that by any1 and i think her mum is PATHETIC !!!!!!! SASHA DON'T 4GET LOOKS ARN'T EVERYTHING JUST THINK ABOUT THAT!!!
From an 11 year old girl in burnley.

Sep 22, 2008 1:50 PM

Guest :

im 13 and my mum lets me get my hair highlighted, have fake tan and wear make up its what everyone does!! x

Sep 28, 2008 5:00 AM

Guest :

this is pathetic tbh..
this young girl is being made into a sex object and its not even her fault, her mum is a asshole and should see a counciler!

Sep 29, 2008 6:52 AM

Guest :

I dont see anything wronge i started dying my hair at 9 im 12 now i wore fake nails at 9 and make up and i always have fake tans. Good luck sasha you will go far im 12 and im entering a beauty pagent. Ignore those nasty idiots wishin they were u hope in the future we can meet as models :D

Oct 8, 2008 9:32 AM

Guest :

Sasha is very beautiful i want to look like her

Oct 10, 2008 11:04 AM

Guest :

i admit sasha is gorges but she is like a barbie doll i rekon she like's her cheerleading and wants to get on with it, im a cheerleader and im not that preety she will still get a fit lad even if she dousnt dress like a slut fake nails cool but the fake tan not cool if she were in my school she would get called abarbie doll no affence.(id luv to luk lyk her really)
luv ya from georgia in skem
xxxxxx

Oct 10, 2008 2:09 PM

Guest :

I think this is sick. I am 13 and would die if my mother put me through this. What kind of life is this poor child living? A fake one obviously. Child Protetion Services need to step in, and I mean NOW!

Oct 11, 2008 10:13 AM

Guest :

i dont mind if sasha is a beauty queen but her mum is goin a bit ott (over the top)she should let sasha decide how to look coz after all its her decision if she wants to be like her slutty mother or make a life out of herself ..her mum is fuckin slag

Oct 15, 2008 10:30 AM

Guest :

heyyyahhh there

I am doing a project on Sasha Benninton about children of the world nd i have chose her out of absolutely every1!!!
I think it is absolutely disgusting how her parents are treating her nd i bet every1 else agrees wid meee!

I have compared our life styles and clothes and what i do for a living and also her and the are completely different...
I have to say she does look about 20 years older and i reli would not want to.

By Sophiee Matthews'xox
=]
iloveeyhoo xxxxxxxxxxxxx

byebye for now

Oct 17, 2008 8:53 AM

Guest :

I think Sasha is so horrible not in a nasty way but becacuse her mom needs to lay off because she is not as "glamorus" as u think p.s she is horrible and i just don't belive it i also hope that u know about the britans model contest its was on for 9-11 if u an't enterd her u r dumbed bacause i av entered and i am going to win her hair on the photo with her mom is horrible and i think that top she is wearing is horrible it is also to small lay off mum its not worth it and Sasha ur mom just wants to be famous she doesnt want u to be open up girl/mom from skye smith p.s not worth it mom xxx

Oct 21, 2008 1:27 PM

Guest :

i thnk sasha is really bonny,however i thnk u should of went 4 the pink dress in the big beauty comp coz of your bright blond hair dont change your luks #frm sinead xx

Oct 22, 2008 1:43 PM

Guest :

the best thing that could possibly happen to Sasha is if her Mother would die in a car accident right now!!!! God help the poor child!!!!

Oct 22, 2008 2:13 PM

Guest :

im 12 and no offence but when they asked her three things about herself and she said "im pretty im blond and im dumb" i was thinking omg how can you be proud to be dumb i dont think its he fault her mom probley kept telling her its more iportant to be pretty than smart i was watchin this with my mom and im 12 and i dont go around wearing a mask made out of makeup i wear it sometimes at school but seriously when your 11 and your idol is katie price there is defenetly somthing wrong with you theres nothing wrong with beauty pagents but i stop dreaming about being an actress when i was 5 i never really wanted to be a model my mom even said that she would feel horible if she did that to me its like saying if you dont look like a barbie doll you wont get on in life she is stupid but thats not her fault im not jealous of her i auctually feel pity towards her.

Oct 22, 2008 5:14 PM

Guest :

I think it is very, very sad that Sashas mother is living HER dream through her child. Mum treats Sasha like a friend not a daughter. Yes, it is very important to get on with yur children but this is really too much!!!!! Does Mum have any friends of her own?? If she does a true friend would tell her to get a grip and encourage her daughter to do something worth while in life, where she will be valued as a person, not for looks. I wonder where Mum will stop - lets say the beauty contests don't work out as planned? Will it be page 3?? Is this what a mother really wants for her child?

Sasha said her Dad told her she was dumb - of course she will think this if one of the most important people in her life tell her that!! How dare he compare her to her brother! Every child is an individual.

My advise......

Mum and Dad take a look at you little girl - thats what she is - A LITTLE GIRL!!! - NOT Mums Barbie doll!!!!!! Dad take a stand, do you really want your mates looking at your daughter that way? It might not be happening now, but it is only a matter of time!

Sasha look inside yourself, what do you really want to do with your life? I know you are only 11, and more than likely want to wear make up, go to the cinema with friends and do all the girl stuff. You must have aspirations? Goals? Beauty might get you so far, but this will go, trust me!!! Alwas have a back up plan...... and make it your plan, not Mum and Dads!!!!

Oct 22, 2008 5:42 PM

Guest :

Absolutely no class!

Oct 23, 2008 1:16 AM

Guest :

Having watched the documentary all I see is a little girl who is desperately unhappy and desperately trying to please her mum. Yes, she’s pretty – but most 11 year old girls are and certainly most would look similar to her with the same level of pampering, make-up and beauty treatments. Yes, she lights up in front of the camera (she is clearly photogenic) but did anyone notice that the only time her mum looks at her with any pride is when she is modelling or parading herself – basically when she is doing what her mum desperately, desperately, DESPERATELY wishes she could be doing. Her mum’s comments at the beauty pageant about how “I would look good in that [the crown, the sash etc]” say it all. Even the American beauty pageant mum picked up on Jayne’s desperation! Jayne needs serious counselling to deal with her disappointment at her life and for Sasha’s sake she needs this as soon as possible. Otherwise Jayne, you will pass on only insecurities to your daughter not your passion and drive. Watch the documentary back for yourself. Does your daughter smile? No, she smiles only when prompted.

An eleven year girl needs a mum, not a manager.

Oct 23, 2008 2:28 AM

Guest :

I HATE people like her and her mum all they think about is them selfs really !! sasha obviously doesnt want it as much as her mum , she always talks for her!
Yes she pretty but she only 11 and wants to become some dumb blonde footballers wife!!
her mum is really pushy and needs to give sasha some space!..

your proberly really nice people...this is just my opinion (:

Oct 23, 2008 11:54 AM

Guest :

I'll admit Sasha is a beautiful girl and if she wants to be blonde, wear fake tan and nails then good for her but having watched her mother order her to perform like an animal and then get mad at her when she doesn't I felt physically sick! What kind of mother would let there daughter go through life thinking she is thick?!?!? Yeah her role model is Katie Price but I think everyone would agree that she has got a brain or else she wouldn't have made as much money as she has right now, with the modeling, tv and underwear, etc.
Threating to ground your child for not getting accepted to a modeling agency is disgusing that women has no right to call her self a mother! Wont social services rescue that little girl before its to late ....

Oct 24, 2008 3:50 AM

Guest :

Such a sad programme =( Sasha is quite pretty, but like a lot of people have said, any young girl with that amount of pampering can look gorgeous. Her mother knocked me sick, 'its what Sasha wants.‘ Does it look like that's what she wants? At what point did she decide this? When her mother told her she has no brains but that doesn’t matter because she can bleach her hair and wear 15 layers of make up? That poor girl seems so unhappy, only smiling when told to. And where will all these beauty pageants get her? If she really wants to be a model (which I’m not convinced she does) then she needs to look like child and do proper child modelling for reputable companies. As her disgusting mother was told, but no, she wants her daughter to be desperately unhappy, believing she is ‘dumb’ and will not feel worth anything unless she has make up on. By all means, let her wear a bit of make up if all her mates are, maybe get her hair highlighted on special occasions, fake nails on her 13th birthday .. that to me, would be reasonable. Oh and Mum dear, your darling daughter’s hair is going to be ruined by the time she’s 18 you stupid slag

Oct 24, 2008 3:50 AM

Guest :

Oct 25, 2008 9:01 AM

Guest :

i like sasha because she pritty i am going to a same like her i am

Nov 10, 2008 9:57 AM

Guest :

sasha your very pritty i wish i was as gud looking as u i wud like 2 be your friend b cus im 12 ps be who u want 2 be not who ur parents want u 2 be!

Nov 20, 2008 12:46 PM

Guest :

im not bein funni or noffin but the exstentions are fab but fake tan im 13 and im not even aloud to do that did u hear her mum if u dont win this ur grounded BITCH!!! its all ass i rekon sasha just wants 2 get on wiv her cheerleading.
Georgia 13 x

Nov 20, 2008 12:49 PM

Guest :

omg that one down there "she's buttifull in every way she props but that wow m8
georgia

Nov 20, 2008 12:56 PM

Guest :

yer marh is controwling luv be what and who ya wanna be not wat thatstupid bitch want u 2 b luv yeah hun xx georgia

Nov 22, 2008 5:37 AM

Guest :

i was 3l3v3n wh3n i got my f!st fak3 nai|s

Dec 2, 2008 10:56 AM

Guest :

She's nice but don't you think she is young

Dec 8, 2008 2:36 AM

Guest :

i love your life sasha

Dec 8, 2008 2:37 AM

Guest :

i love your life sasha

Dec 26, 2008 7:01 AM

Guest :

I think that her mother should leave the descision of what sasha wants to do with her life to sasha. If she wants to keep this beauty queen stuff up then thats her choice put her mum shouldn't me the one choosing something like this for her. I watched the documentary and whenever a question was asked either her mother answered for her or she replied in very limited words often using, 'I dunno.' You can tell she's been told that she doesn't need to concentrate on learning much because of her limited vocabulary

Dec 30, 2008 1:07 PM

Guest :

i have already wrote a comment which is by sian woollard,
i think sasha is a good inspiration to allnot with all the make up but she is going down the right path if she wants to be a model, you have to be good looking and she is, you have to be used to having all the star treatment and she is.
all those paople calling her a prostitute they are just unhappy with them selves and are taking it out on a beautifull girl to make them feel better but to those people hu think of her as a slut think about this: imagine if you are sasha and you have searched this website and you are reading all about what other people think about you, you wouldnt be happy will you, so to those people hu are calling her a slut and a disgrace and a prostitute back off and keep your opinuon to yourselevs.
and plz stop saying bad things about sashas mum as her mum is leading her the right way and i wish my mum would let me fly over to TEXAS to go to a beauty pagent!!!!!!!!!!!
so plz just shut up to those bitches who are calling sasha all the names under the sun

Jan 21, 2009 4:24 PM

Guest :

sasha is kwl i saw her programe on the tv i really thought that she did really well in her compitions

Jan 22, 2009 11:59 AM

Guest :

as i am 12 i dont think she should be having all these beauty treatments because she is pretty already. she shouldnt be spoiling her face she could maybe get all that stuff done when she is older she is to young !

Jan 22, 2009 12:14 PM

Guest :

sasha tbh... your pretty but do you realii want to be going though this at 11 ? im 12 i dont were fake nails i dont have false hair(haha) or were fake tan...go get a tan on holzz, grow your nailss DURR ! much easier and way more attractive, stand up to your mum she is foul and shouldnt be making you do this she is a horrible mum i hate my mum to do this :) << thats my advise take it you need it realii x and you should make anouther show i like watching it better then big bruver tbh althought i like it :) just grow up ! and tell your mum to ******** luv yah x x x x x (make anouther show) and tell your mum its a show about yuu not about her,,,,, have you got msn ?

Feb 13, 2009 10:53 AM

Guest :

Hi im 11 years old to , sasha i have watched you on t.v and you are realy cheeky and moody and you are just like a mrs prim little doll and if u are like that no one will like u so have a think !!!! x

Mar 16, 2009 2:01 PM

Guest :

im just like sasha im the same age as her and im competing against her on saturday, but i havent been able to get into half the things she has done , i think its really unfair because i know alot of girls who compete against me and sasha, and are just like her and me, but all the fame is around sasha, someone else should get a turn!

May 19, 2009 8:34 AM

Guest :

I loved this programme, but come on really you wouldnt put a 11 year old in all that make-up. Just cause her mum wansnt a sucess she forced her daughter to do all those padgents. Even though she wanted to do it shes fake her smile was pathetic and what she said in the progamme "im pretty, dumb and blonde," You shouldnt really be into playboy at the age of 11, and that gren dress she wore was vile and disgusting. Her pictures are pretty but when your trying to advertise "real women" you wanted want a 11 year old having model shoots done wearing loads of make-up it was like a mask. i wear mascara and thats it and im older than her, so all people who want to be a glamour model, think twice

May 19, 2009 8:34 AM

Guest :

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