Lil Miss New Jersey Pageant review: Fraud 75

I just want to say you people should be ashamed of your self. This is why this town is the way it is. Your daughter didn't win that's life. I've been in polenty of pageants. By looks of your comments none of you have. I congratulate Shakia for giving our Urban dwelling children a chance and something different. God knows all and tickets were $25 and $15 smh the Children acted better. I could go on but you ppl showed your true colors here. Get off the web and spend more time with your daughter practicing maybe next year. Everyones a winner but you showed your daughter how to lose sorely. God bless. Its not about money all the time, or even you. Act your age not your shoe size ladies.

hahahahah THIS IS TRULY FUNNY I KNOW WHO PAGEANT PARENT 75 IS PLUS I SEE RIGHT THROUGH YOU FIRST MENTOR..
MY HATERS ARE SURLY MY MOTIVATORS! ITS SO FUNNY HOW IM GETTING ALL THIS FEED BACK FROM PARENTS PLUS VIEWERS BUT ONLY 2 PARENTS WERE REALLLLLLLLLLL ENOUGH TO CONTACT ME! NO ONE CALL OR EMAIL ME BUT HAVE SO MUCH TO SAY PLEASE GET OFF OF IT ALREADY AND LET MY LIL MISS NJ ENJOY HER CROWN BECAUSE TRUST IN BELIEVE YOU WILL SEE ALOT OF MISS CHARDE! SO PLEASE STOP ALL THE HATING AND MOVE ON TO THE NEXT CAUSE THATS WHAT IM DOING IM SO DONE! BOYZ COMING SOON HAHAHAHA

This MOM again, replying to pageantparent75... look I am not here to write novel, spelll check, etc. I am basically saying how I feel at this moment. The comment I made was not towards you, if you read it correctly it was to the person/people who may have a concern regarding my daughter's win. My daughter is the one who is representing the pageant. I am protecting her hardwork with claws out.
YOU started this forum and have ALOT to say. Why is it that just about ALL the other pageant parents have made theirselves know but YOU...
WHO THE HELL ARE YOU? You have too much time on your hands. With this being said. Will YOU be at the meeting
Sunday?

Also to mention even do it was more bad than good one good thing I have to mention is gave me the opportunity to meet some good parents and also my daughter couch Miss Topanga Harmony and now I good friend a good raw model for my daughter she is very active in the community and also help a lot in the pageant does fund raiser for kids who need it... Also she was MISS BLACK AMERICAN NEW JERSEY in 2005-06 also did lots of pageants and like to help people and no one thank her neither in person or the program or anywhere.. BUT MISS TOPANGA THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP AND ME AND MIRELIS LOVE YOU...IM SAYING THIS BECAUSE THIS BLOCK IS FOR POSITIVE & NEGATIVE COMMENTS WELL IM DOING ONE GOOD...:)

Hi Pageantparent75 this is the Winners father, Jason Mills (no need to hide behind a fake name)...I believe I articulated myself quite well (if you read both posts) and when I did use profanity I said [censored] and it was spelled exactly like this, but I do apologize if I offended anyone but I think you can understand why my wife and I are a bit upset. To be honest our beef isnt with anyone, but we wont just let peopel say anything and think that there is truth to it. And if you feel as if the production, the practice the whole start to finish was a fraud or unprofessional, etc...then that has nothing to do with me, but for people to say that the only reason why my daughter won was because my wife is friends with Shakia? Or the fact that I contributed a backdrop out of the kindness of my heart for ALL of the contestants to use? or that my wife helped out LAST year as a VOLUNTEER (a year that my daughter didn't even compete) and the only reason why my wife helped out is to do something POSITIVE for the kids. To attack the integrity of the pageant and committee is one thing but to bring an innocent child into this (my daughter) who worked very hard to have a chance to win, only to have PARENTS not children, but grown adults question how she won...cmon really. What if I told you she competed twice before and didnt win, and yes we knew Ms. Little then. We dont operate that way, I teach my kids to work hard, have fun and whatever happens, happens BUT always accept it with pride and dignity. And let me once again remind people who somehow think we are related to Ms. Little, I repeat we are in no way related. And as far as being friends, when you grow up in Trenton its hard NOT being friends with people who still live in the city, my wife and I are friends with A LOT of people who attended the pageant not just Ms. Little. So in closing, because I hate to keep going back and forth, Im not concerned with the people who were upset with the level of production, the way practices were held, etc, etc, Im addressing the PARENTS who make statements about my daughter winning and don't know any of the FACTS, just assumptions. Thanks again for listening.

not sure what that 't code is

Hi Pageantparent75 this is the Winner's father, Jason Mills (no need to hide behind a fake name)...I believe I articulated myself quite well (if you read both posts) and when I did use profanity I said [censored] and it was spelled exactly like this, but I do apologize if I offended anyone but I think you can understand why my wife and I are a bit upset. To be honest our beef isn't with anyone, but we won't just let peopel say anything and think that there is truth to it. And if you feel as if the production, the practice the whole start to finish was a fraud or unprofessional, etc...then that has nothing to do with me, but for people to say that the only reason why my daughter won was because my wife is friends with Shakia? Or the fact that I contributed a backdrop out of the kindness of my heart for ALL of the contestants to use? or that my wife helped out LAST year as a VOLUNTEER (a year that my daughter didn't even compete) and the only reason why my wife helped out is to do something POSITIVE for the kids. To attack the integrity of the pageant and committee is one thing but to bring an innocent child into this (my daughter) who worked very hard to have a chance to win, only to have PARENTS not children, but grown adults question how she won...c'mon really. What if I told you she competed twice before and didn't win, and yes we knew Ms. Little then. We don't operate that way, I teach my kids to work hard, have fun and whatever happens, happens BUT always accept it with pride and dignity. And let me once again remind people who somehow think we are related to Ms. Little, I repeat we are in no way related. And as far as being friends, when you grow up in Trenton it's hard NOT being friends with people who still live in the city, my wife and I are friends with A LOT of people who attended the pageant not just Ms. Little. So in closing, because I hate to keep going back and forth, Im not concerned with the people who were upset with the level of production, the way practices were held, etc, etc, Im addressing the PARENTS who make statements about my daughter winning and don't know any of the FACTS, just assumptions. Thanks again for listening.

To pagentparent75 you are so correct no one use profanity in are comments we only address the conserns about the pageant we didnt say nothing about LMNJ OR HER FAMILY nothing to do with you but your making it like we did... But is true the program was poor quality we the parents only gat good copies and that was like 15 of them but if you want to talk about money multiply 200X25 thats appr. how many people was there and some ppl pay $30 to get in plus all the funraiser don't say that all was good because it wasn't and this parent 75 I quess knows you, because until the mentioned in this side I didnt know about you been an LP last year and my daughter is been in pageants before and that's not permited ones you work for a person you CAN NOT BE A PART OF THAT PROGRAM SPECIALY A BEAUTY PAGEANT>>>> another part have her daughter in several pageants and she know what Im talking about...and to pageantparent75 my e-mail is lindavillegas74@yahoo.com will love to meet you...Thank you. AND PLEASE TO YOU PARENTS OF LMNJ NO MORE PROFANITY... PPL LOOK BETTER QUEIT. IF THE ARE NOT GOING TO TALK PROPER :) :)

? Is there a meeting set up for this coming Sunday? Pageantparent75 so what your requesting is money that you gave up for these pamphlets ads? If this is the case then its not Fraud here, is just the fact you want what you paid for, you didnt get it so now you want an re-fund? Am I right? I'm trying to come up with a conclusion to this post, handle it and take this post down because we wouldnt want none of our children to this info because then they start assuming & coming up with reasons why they didnt win and holding on to things vs the other kids and they see mom going off and etc. so its not really a good look! Again any parent that had a child in here I would like to offer my after school program to them all year for free you can email me at trentonhouseofhope@gmail.com and its located at 145 Brunswick ave., Trenton, NJ

This is Lil Miss Nj Mom... I am pissed off by the ALL The FALSE information about myself and my daughter's win. My daughter worked her ### off for preparation. If this was your first pageant use it as a learning experience and get a professional to teach your daughter . How to walk, how to smile, how to win. I read a couple comments. what I have to say is Please come to the meeting SUNDAY if you have any concerns regarding my child's victory. I am PISSED and i can be reached at KJLove017@gmail or call Shakia for my phone or address. This internet and i dont want to place that here, but if u need, PLEASE contact me.. This whole situation is ###.

One last thing I need to say...is that despite whatever opinions you may have formed on your own, from seeing/participating in the pageant or just being influenced by what you read on here...let's look at a bigger picture. Regardless of how you may feel about Shakia Little, the production, the winner, or what Im saying...look at the fact that each child that participated WANTED to participate and we should support them whether they win or lose. I see a person (Ms. Little) who is trying to do something positive, she makes no profit from this and if anything she pays A LOT out of pocket. Im sure its not easy to put together a production like Lil Miss NJ without any help from the city or outside investment (whether you liked the show or not). Its about pulling our (parents, community) resources together to do something positive, ESPECIALLY in a city that gets so much negative press. Ask yourself, could you do a better job? Have you done something (on this level or any level ) like this for the kids of our community in the past 5 years? I bet after the immediate emotion of it all, if you ask all of the kids who were in the pageant they will all say that they had fun, and thats what its ALL about. PLEASE STOP MAKING THIS BIGGER THAN IT REALLY IS, thank you for listening.

Hi, I read the posts on here, and I just have to say a few things. Im the father of the winner, and I must say that Im really disappointed in the parents that said this production was a fraud. I completely understand that you are entitled to your own opinion but at least base those opinions on VALID FACTS and not just assumptions. For example I made the backdrop (last minute) for the pageant because it was a Wiz theme, I did not make that specifically for my daughter, it was strictly for the show and for ALL of the contestants to use, basically it was a just a kind gesture from myself to the Pageant expressing my thanks for doing something so positive for ALL of the contestants. Also my family which includes myself, my wife, my daughter (the winner) and my son are in NO WAY AT ALL related to Shakia or any member of her family. Nor are we VENDORS... when it came to the Pageant our relationship with Shakia was 100% business, just like yourself we simply had a child in the pageant. As we all know, especially the parents of the contestants, how hard our kids worked, us as parents driving them back and forth, spending money out of our pocket, all of this was done out of LOVE not for bragging rights. REMEMBER this was about the experience, yes we all like to win especially if we are in a competition but its not ALL about that! And even if it is all about that in your world, know how to win and lose with DIGNITY and GRACE. Not defamation of character, because you disagree with the final judgement. Im not on here to argue or call anybody out but I know how much work my daughter put into this and it had nothing to do with anything you mentioned on this thread. I bet NONE of you would be saying this if it was your child that won...its so funny that the same production you bad mouth now is the same production you proudly put your child in...lets not forget the real lesson learned that this was supposed to be something fun, something the kids will remember, NOT for parents to argue and talk [censored] later...what kind of message does that send your child? That winning is everything and if you don't win raise all hell and make stuff up? So I ask after reading this really think about how you are acting right now and if you have a problem with anything that I wrote, I will be more than happy to clarify this on here or in person. SINCERELY, THE FATHER OF CONTESTANT # 5, LIL MISS NJ 2012

HeavenRock thank you for clarifying, yes my daughter was one of the beauty pageants running, this is not about whether she won or lost, this was a learning experience for her. Like I tell my children it doesn’t matter if you win or lose as long as you put you best efforts. I am athletic and competitive for both my physical and mental health, so I am no stranger when it comes to losing or winning, whether I came in 1, 2, 3 or 8 to me it indicates where I should polish on mistakes and push myself to try harder. My complaint is in reference to how the ENTIRE process was handled by the director and LP's. I am clear on how profitable or non-profit events work and do understand that practice can be held in different locations as long as we as parents are informed with at least a short notice; NOT when I am under the impression that practice is taking place at one location where I was patiently waiting on according to agenda then come to find out by another parent who is/was just as clueless as I was received a call indicating that it will be held elsewhere. My son is in a traveling soccer/football/basketball team so I am very familiar with the cost and time invested in these programs. All of my complaints were brought to the director and LP's attention in several occasions with exception of the main event; however, my previous experience with either the directors or LP's reaction was more of a offensive response. Whether you’re a professional or a Joe we need to listen first, then respond with the level of respect you expect for yourself. I have no problem taking it up with the director and more then willing to provide suggestions for future events. My intentions are not to criticize more like critiquing how it all went down. The world doesn’t stop spinning just because of this experience.

Heaven Rock...Can a non-profit pay workers, yes in fact I do and the State laws (which governs your nonprofit incorporation) and the IRS (which governs your tax-exempt status) allow a nonprofit to pay reasonable salaries to officers, employees, or agents for services rendered to further the nonprofit corporation's tax-exempt purposes. Now if shes a non-profit she falls under this and next go around she can push for a grant at least securing it 6-8 months in advance and use it to pay staff and to secure buildings, equipment and etc., this is if shes a non-profit but if shes not she can look in to such sites as www.gofundme.com and place an ad that shes seeking to do these events, obtain her 501c (from www.legalzoom.com) and etc this way when parents come its a 1 track list of events, locations, times, fee's and etc. and far as the programs go if they was dark then that needs to be handled with the printing company for bad printing and taking her money! I have seen one or copies here so I can speak but I will side with the parents but again it falls on the printing company. Parents for the record and please keep this in mind WHEN YOUR CHILD IS UNDER 17 YRS OF AGE & NOT UNDER "SAG, BMI OR ASCAP" & YOUR BEING CHARGED FOR ANY SERVICE FOR YOUR CHILD YOU HAVE UP TO 30 DAYS TO ENTER IN TO A CONTRACT OR AGREEMENT AND YOU CAN ALSO WITHDRAW YOUR CHILD AND GET BACK 100% OF WHAT YOU PUT IN UNDER IS SHORTER THEN A 2 WEEK TIME...What this means is that when your in that time frame and your not HAPPY you can pull out and get all your funding back! In this matter a Judge may rule in default only because it may swing both ways and it may appear that these parents are from kids who didnt WIN! But my advice to everyone is to request a meeting with Ms. Kira and ask for a break down & etc of course of actions. Because if this is really about children then lets see how we can make it better for them but if this is about $$$$ then its going to fly right away! Lets work together and see how we can make this better! If needs be I will do one my self and the same ones can be in it totally free I will cover it all or they can attend my program 1 year free.

To CEO Hope, I see where your coming from, but remember when it comes to people and their organizations they can be very defensive and hostile. How do you know that the issues had not been brought to the table before. I'm quite sure the director wouldn't make it her business to put herself in anything the best light. Even though you may be open to suggestions from those in your community, you can't say the same for others. She also stated in her response that the children practice in the same location, but at least half the people here say that is not true. Which means she told a lie to save face. If she is lying about that, then what else could she not be saying. Also to answer the issue regarding the unpaid staff members. Non profits can pay members and why should they have to volunteer their services, when you have so many other organizations who pay. March of Dimes, St. Jude just to name a few and both are non profits and yet they all have paid staff as well as volunteers. Also if you made a agreement then you should honor it just because it's the right thing to do and it's good for company morale. I understand you are doing the honorable thing by trying to defend someone, who I will assume is a friend. Alot of the parents seem to feel she mistreated them. Since you have more experience maybe you should take her under your wing. Besides the issue at hand is the parents are concerned about how the money is being handled. A Philadelphia woman led those in her community to believe she had terminal cancer. She even started a non profit and this went on for 3.5 years. Whats my point, you say? Just because someone says their doing good, does not mean they actually are.

P.S. I notice how you managed to plug your own company in the mist of the madness, that was smooth.

CEO HOPE...I have read every last post ! And from what I'm reading is that there is many angry parents and guest! Now the 1st thing I would like to say, when you write on blog sites like this you really dont know if this is different people posting (neg or pos) or if it is 1 person posting but using different names to post neg comments. I would like to suggest that any parent that may have an issue to please contact the director or llmnj because I'm sure you have her number. When you was moved from place to place, this is not just happening to her in this city the drill teams, dance teams, social clubs and etc is also going through the same issues. And its no secret we all know this is going on with everyone. At them times if you felt it wasn't right you should have stepped up then and spoke about it. It was totally up & on the parents who paid their funding and not questioning it in full detail or again making it their business to reach out to the director concerning the matter. We are living in a town where we are at each other rather then trying to help each other out. Parents if your paying your $$$ then you have a say so or can lend a helping hand at any given time I'm sure she would have been open to listening and acting on it. This was for the kids & its only so much you can do with no funding nor help nor grants. People are comparing this pageant to one from B.way or LA but note we're not in them areas and the parents not paying that type of money and shes not being back by people who back them. There was people who enjoyed it and I'm sure it was others who may didnt! Especially if their child was in it and didnt win, which may be the reason this blog was started! Now on to you Director, I seen you working hard up to this event, we chatted many times about it, I know where your heart was with it, I know where you wanted to go with the back drop/show/lights & etc but you just couldnt pull it off that way because it was very costly! You have all the receipts for what you put out, so it may be a wise thing to just be honest and allow the parents to review it to show them how much you put out from being over jacked by studio city on down to art building and etc., building rental and etc. so then they will know you really didnt make a profit from this event its not a bad thing to allow them to see that. You also must know you cant please everyone! Far as the staff saying they wasnt paid & etc. i thought the staff was doing it per-volunteer basis? Someone posted above saying they was a Paralegal but they stated some 1/2 info that in court will not hold up! This is a non-profit matter and you do not have them under a 10w2 or under your Tax ID # so if would be illegal for you to pay them and the tax taking info is not registered! now if you made a verbal promise to give them something to help you out then KOOL! But my question to you is what was their task because I seen you that day doing a lot and leading up to it you was ruuuuuuuuuunnnnning CRAZY! My suggestion to you is start putting workers under a Non-Dis-closer agreement between everyone on your staff team. But my question to them is why would they not help out as being a volunteer for something to give these lil ladies a great time! You must realize that in this world you can not and will not please everyone! I have the art of pissing people off but guess what! I keep it moving because of my paper work & etc is open record for people to look at! You can not allow this post/report to get to you! hell look at what the papers just did to me weeks back and reported all that false ish but did not report the next day it was wrong info. & the reported was fired or the fact that I got a major lawsuit vs them for making false stories...PARENTS, FRIENDS, FAMILY, POSTERS & ETC. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THAT YOU CONTACT HER DIRECTLY! LETS HELP HER OUT & NOT KNOCK HER DOWN! IF YOU SEEN SOMETHING WRONG OR YOU THINK COULD OF WENT ANOTHER WAY LETS HELP HER OUT! LETS WORK TOGETHER AND MAKE IT BETTER!...ALSO ANY PARENT WHO HAD A CHILD IN THIS PAGEANT HERE'S WHAT I OFFER TO YOU TO SHOW YOU SHE WAS IN GREAT FAITH: WHAT EVER TALENT (SING, RAP, DANCE, MODEL, ACT, FASHION OR ETC) I'M WILL TO GIVE THEM 1 YEAR FREE IN MY ARTS PROGRAM WHICH NORMALLY COST WELL OVER $500 AND WE INVEST WELL OVER $5000 IN TO THEM...EXAMPLE: LETS SAY YOUR DAUGHTER LIKES TO SING...WE TEACH HER VOCAL CORDS, VOCAL LESSONS, STAGE PERFORMANCE, PORTFOLIO & SHE WILL PRODUCE A 10 TRACK CD WITH AT LEST 3 VIDEOS, POSTERS & 250 CD'S (THEY SELL CDS AND KEEP THE PROFITS)...OR IF SHE LIKES TO MODEL WE WILL GET HER 100% PLACEMENT IN A BOOK, MAGAZINE, POSTER OR SOMETHING IN PRINT OR ON A TV SHOW OR A MOVIE, ON-GOING TRAINING AND ETC...WE ARE LOCATED AT 145 BRUNSWICK AVE. TRENTON, NJ! SO PARENTS IF YOUR REALLY IN SUPPORT OF YOUR DAUGHTER TAKING HER LOVE/PASSION TO THE REAL BIG STAGE OF STARDOM THEN CONTACT MS. SHAKIA AND SHE WILL GET YOU A MEETING SET UP WITH ME & MY TALENT SCOUTS & COME THIS SEP. YOUR CHILD CAN START AND WE WILL NOT REQUEST NOT 1 PENNY FROM YOU AT ALL!...TRENTON HOUSE OF HOPE 145 BRUNSWICK AVE, TRENTON, NJ

To the apprentice director of lil miss what a mess pageant, attending the event myself and experiencing such an unorganized elementary school event I was very disappointed in what I experienced from the beginning this circus act took place. Although I brushed it off and was not intending on taking it further, I just closed the door that day and kept it moving without the thought of looking back once. This complaint blog was brought to my attention and as I read the first comment my intentions were yet to let it go; however, as I read your response it brought back my thoughts and feelings about the entire process. I will say you should really think twice before you respond to any situation because you don’t want it to bite you in the long run. As I continued to read your response to the matter it made me even more irate, it reminded me of how you treated us parents from the beginning. Yes “us” I am the stepfather of contestant #8, and I just want to clear a few things up I do agree with what other parents have said in reference to how you reacted towards parents, contestants, and staff. Your method of handling situations is just as poor as how this program was produced. I will say that most of the things written are facts. Here are some of my complaints that will piggy back what was written on this blog. First as a parent I did have to unexpectedly drive around the city of Trenton during practice at times without any formal notice. It was also brought to your attention regarding older children bullying my daughter where at times she didn’t want to proceed with practice. To my understanding in beauty pageants, contestant goes up against children close in age, you can’t compare an 8 year old with one who’s 12. The first fundraiser was also managed poorly, because some parents didn’t hand in the moneys by the date indicated on the fundraiser form it delayed the orders for an additional week of which put us parents’ credibility up against the ropes as we had to figure out and reason with co-workers, friends, and family who were supporting the cause where their orders as they were under the impression that the order will be received prior to the independence day weekend. The Photo shoot was a joke there was conflict in schedules for the shoot; plus, you dared to charge parents up to $65 dollars for a cd in which the majority of the photos looked as if they were taken by my 8 y/o with the same entry level camera we own…I could have just take the photo shoot into my own hands and could have produced photos good enough for the programs and judges. I can go on and on but I will just skip to the main event. As a director your inexperience was exposed within minutes of entering the memorial bldg. we received our photocopied version of the program right before you appeared and kicked us out of the building as if you were directing a herd into their pens. We are people Shakia, not animals; moreover, people who are educated, have morals, and hold a career. While waiting outside for an hour and a half under the hot sun it gave us plenty of time to review the program. You claim that 2 of 15 contestants paid for ads. Well, you must be really generous because coincidently the top five all had full page ads and it appeared that you failed to run spell check before printing them; additionally, you failed to follow directions as we didn’t get what we paid for. Once allowed back into the bldg. the program was delayed another 30 minutes. Once seated I’ve glanced at the runway noticing some section were merely being held by towing straps; if a city inspector would have seen those conditions I am sure you would have had to do another fundraiser just to cover the citations. I do agree with another blogger that this entire event was fixed, as the dance performances continued I realized that the top five contenders are with the same dance organization. The first dance was entertaining after that how many times did I have to listen to Rhianna’s “Where have you been” On your schedule you indicated the talent acts were not to take up more than 2 minutes. I’m sorry to inform you that some of the acts were in favor over others as one act was almost 6 minutes long, while another child barely got there 2 minutes in. You say your program empowers our youth to express their beauty and talent? How do you think contestant number 13 felt when she was called as one of the top five then a minute later was told that it was a mistake. Did you see the expression on her after that? Could you imagine what she was thinking? Did you even apologize to her and her family? a mistake like that could have caused her family weeks of counseling. It seems that FirstMentor read my mind I can’t wait to hear what the Trentonian would say about this poorly executed program which has cost parents more than the grand prize award. Shame on you Miss Little

Just to let you know if you kick on the name of the person that did the comment some of this people is been doing this for some time it have the date they started to be a member so t can be all false...

@ The Parents...good for you. Its important that the parents stick together, because the parents are the ones who bring the children to these kind of things and without their support, you the director have nothing. This kind of thing happens all the time. Pageants make on average between $5000.00 to $10000.00 dollars and thats the smaller, more local ones. Between the sponsors, what parents pay, the vendors and ticket sales, it can be very profitable. Since this particular one is a non profit, that means their recieving tax exemptions, discounts and probably have recreational centers available free of charge to utilize. A luxury the more expensive pageants dont have. Unfortunately not all who come in the name of children are genuine. I have been, but a distant spectator of this particular group. Its true the young lady over the pageant is not the most charming and feeds into the stereotypes that those in the urban community try to erase. I have worked for the state council for the arts for many years, so I know a thing or two about non profits. If the director is not filing her yearly report, paying employees, fundraising and not accounting for it, the IRS will eventually catch up with her. Personally I dont think this group contributes to the community of Trenton what so ever and maybe the director should consider taking a few grammar courses. Im no Albert Einstein, but the idea that you talk the way you do and your supposely a teacher of some sought is beyond me. I personally think that this falls but on deaf ears, because she seem to think very highly of the work she does. Good luck to the parents and maybe you should try your local news, if you really want to bring attention to the matter.

@ The Parents...good for you. It's important that the parents stick together, because the parents are the ones who bring the children to these kind of things and without their support, you the director have nothing. This kind of thing happens all the time. Pageants make on average between $5000.00 to $10000.00 dollars and thats the smaller, more local ones. Between the sponsors, what parents pay, the vendors and ticket sales, it can be very profitable. Since this particular one is a non profit, that means their recieving tax exemptions, discounts and probably have recreational centers available free of charge to utilize. A luxury the more expensive pageants don't have. Unfortunately not all who come in the name of children are genuine. I have been, but a distant spectator of this particular group. It's true the young lady over the pageant is not the most charming and feeds into the stereotypes that those in the urban community try to erase. I have worked for the state council for the arts for many years, so I know a thing or two about non profits. If the director is not filing her yearly report, paying employees, fundraising and not accounting for it, the IRS will eventually catch up with her. Personally I don't think this group contributes to the community of Trenton what so ever and maybe the director should consider taking a few grammar courses. I'm no Albert Einstein, but the idea that you talk the way you do and your supposely a teacher of some sought is beyond me. I personally think that this falls but on deaf ears, because she seem to think very highly of the work she does. Good luck to the parents and maybe you should try your local news, if you really want to bring attention to the matter.

Hi Im a mother of one of the pageant girls I didnt write before because I didnt know how to put my comments. But my friend help me Im very upset about the things they are saying that the director had a family member in the pageant, that the winner of the pageant her mother was an LP last year. Also the programs were dark that is true you cant make up there faces...Also is true that some of the ads were suppost to be a page and I unly gat my daughter pic and her name and for that I pay $165.00 and her pic was not clear Im sorry MIss Shakia but the more I read the more things that they are writing are making me Angry specially for my daughter who work so hard and she is only 8 the youngest girl in the group..Also is true we did move place to place from the school auditorium to Boys and Girls club then the studio we even gat kick out of some places some of the things that they are saying is TRUE my daughter was in other pageant before in it was nothing like this... and Im not going to be afraid if any mothers wants to contact me to talk e-mail me your phone number and name... Sorry Miss Skakia but Im very angry at this Im not ofending you or talking bad about you but just the truth. Must of the comments are true...lindavillegas74@yahoo.com This situation is very unfurtuned Im not hiting but like one of the comments said (IF YOUR ANGRY DO SOMETHING ABOUT) If you thing we can e-mail me your name phone # and if you AGREE or DISAGREE>>> Mother of contestant # 4... In case you dont remember me.. Thank you... My daughter was very sad after the pageant and some of the other girls too... I saw them.. not good for lil girls bad expirience...Hope all the moms are looking at this and answer

Social networking is a b---- and word travels fast.
http://www.voy.com/165705/

The pageant was a hot messes a double hot mess and the director is even a bigger hot mess.
The wins mother is not only a friend of the director, but an former employer of the pageant . The winners mother was also a vendor and suppler of the background for the show.
IT WAS FIXED!

@2012director not dirctor(check your spelling)
"these facts that are written is FALSE FALSE FALSE"
Hahahaha, the definition of the word FACT.
1. something that actually exists; reality; truth: Your fears have no basis in fact.
2. something known to exist or to have happened: Space travel is now a fact.
3. a truth known by actual experience or observation; something known to be true: Scientists gather facts about plant growth.
So may question to you is how can a fact be false? You should really stop talking Ms. Little your making it worse. lmao

You were in the George Washington room which is $1, 000 for non profits for half a day. The show and set up was not 12 hours long.
http://www.state.nj.us/state/memorial/dos_wm_rates.html

Furthermore Ms. Little for someone who claims that these statements are lies, you are wasting an awful lot of time addressing them.(raising my eyebrow)

ShakiaLittle who is the Director of this pageant system lacks a sense of professionalism and responsibility. She makes excuses after excuses, she has blamed the parents, her staff, anyone but the one who she should be blaming which is herself. At the end of the day this is your pageant and your namesake. Your are the one responsible, not anyone else. I think once you realize that you may begin to grow. You were so rude to the parents, children, performers, guest and your staff during the show. I don't care how stressed out you are, you must maintain a sense of professionalism at all time. As far as feedback, the only people who seemed happy were your family members and friends, because the audience didn't seem to pleased. You were the talk of the office the next day at work, but there was nothing good said. Unfortunately the things being said aren't lies they are true. I happen to know that is was more then two parents who paid for your ads and you also had businesses who purchased ads. There was no excuse for the condition of the agenda it looked like a homemade project my little nephew would make. You have staff members you have yet to finacially compensate for their work even though it was agreed upon that your would. I am paralegal, if the parents and businesses took you to court regarding the paid ads and the judge saw the condition of the program, they would win the case. Any unpaid staff members can take you to court too. So Ms. Little you may want to be careful about threatening people who technically have you by the balls.

Any intentional false communication, either written or spoken, that harms a person's reputation; decreases the respect, regard, or confidence in which a person is held; or induces disparaging, hostile, or disagreeable opinions or feelings against a person.

Defamation may be a criminal or civil charge. It encompasses both written statements, known as libel, and spoken statements, called slander.

Jennifer Clayborn mejenlovetw@yahoo.com I DONT EVEN KNOW WHO YOU ARE YOU WASNT A PARENT OF MINE... GOT YOUR INFO THO!

PLus a family member that was in top 5 are you serious so not true smh these girls work so hard for 2 months and this is the feed back from only 2 people 1 is a parent but cant let herself be known just crazy... Yes i can say their was an error with one of the girls place into top 5 but we had to make sure the right contestant gets into her spot regaurdless... HOW WOULD YOU FELL WOODS IF YOUR DAUGHTER WASNT CALL AND SHE WAS SUPPOSE TO BE IN THE TOP 5 THAT SOUNDS UNREAL! GETTO REALLY SMH SO DONE..

WOW hearing this from parents on a blog instead of presenting the matter at hand, this is my 5th annual and of course you will not please everyone but these facts that are written is FALSE FALSE FALSE parents was aware of getting a color program not for the guess but yes the parents only.. No parent really paid for an add 2 out of 15 but i work with the parents something that a pageant wont do plus it wasnt an add it was suppose to be from a sponsor ! Practice is not allow for a pageant but again this is for the youth im not out to get anyones money that was never my attention! My building alone was 2000 and that was paid for before the pageant i really dont need to go into details with parents on a blog you know my # it havent change if you felt someway about what was going on you should have spoken to me about it! This is really crazy that i have to take you to court for this matter when it could have been resolve this doesnt make any sense to me" and im so shock that someone would say its a fraud! The pageant was a great pageant and all the contestants are winners but this just shows that the parent is the loser for doing something like this! I also work with the top 5 after the pageant for a year its not just all about the winner thats something pageants dont do, practices was located at the same location up til the pageant and thats not something pageants do... I paid for 6 Parents daughters pictuers out of my own money and thats something a director wont do! I work with these contestant for 2 days a week on what to do and thats something a director wont do... You can feel like my pageant wasnt perfesional thats your opinion, i got alot of great feed back from soo many people about how great the show was sorry i couldnt please you but i will find out who 75 is trust and ill see you in court! ENOUGH SAID THANKS AGAIN...

I AGREE WITH THE COMPLAINT NOT SO MUCH FOR THE MONEY PART BUT FOR THE QUALITY OF THE PAGEANT IT WAS SUPPOSE TO BE A BEAUTY PAGEANT AND DIDNT HAVE NONE OF THAT.. ALSO THE DIRECTOR HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER THAT WAS IN THE TOP 5 GIRLS THATS A NO NO IN PAGEANTS...ALSO YOU HAD GIRLS 8, 9 YEARS OF AGE WITH GIRLS 11 AND 12 NOT THE SAME CATEGORY... ALSO THOSE PAGEANTS THAT COST $100 TO $1000 THE ARE PROFESIONAL AND THEY DONT HAVE NO PRACTICE OF COURSE THEY HAVE TRAINERS FOR THE KIDS... TO BE TRAINED.. THEY ARE CALL PAGEANT GIRLS... RESEARCHED SOME MORE...

By the way I'm a lady not a male like this thing is saying. :(

I was informed by someone regarding this complaint on the internet. Heres my thing why is that anything that is focused on the black community has to be so ghetto. I attended the show and it was very unorganized, it wasn't really a pageant at all. It wasn't about the girls, and I didn't see how this program empowers them. If anything it objectifies them. Furthermore, the pageants that charge large sums of money are way more put together and the programs are of high quality. Unlike this pageant, I would have been pissed if I paid that kind of money for what I saw. Maybe the parent who complained should upload pictures. It's no point for any of you to complain if non of you are going to do anything about it. As far as the one who disagreed, I'm sure it's the Director of the pageant. I remember how the host called one contestant name and then after a few mins later told her that it was a mistake and she wasn't really in the top 5. How incredibly careless and how devestating and embarrassing for that little girl. Oh by the way the host were terrible and the one was trying to sing and I'm like oh come on I thought this was about the girls. So many people have such negative things to say about the lil miss new jersey pageant, yes lil, not little. This is why the public has such a negative opinion of pageants and the black community.

As a pagent parent myself I TOTALLY disagree with the above post. This is not a scam and before someone goes to this length to complain they should do their homework. The fee charged was more than reasonable. If they researched other pageant submission fees. They will see that registeration cost range from $100 to $1000 sometimes. Not to mention that they are normally NO practice. You pay and you show up for the pageant.