A 6-year-old beauty pageant queen and reality TV star is raising eyebrows following a controversial performance at an event loosely associated with New York Fashion Week.
Eden Wood, who has appeared on the reality TV series "Toddlers & Tiaras," was among a group of 6-year-old girls who took the stage at an event on Thursday.
Video of "The Cowgirl Riders Debutante Fashion Show" showed Eden removing her denim jacket, twirling it above her head and throwing it toward the crowd. She then turned away from the audience and, clad in small shorts and a halter top, slapped her behind.
Critics say that her performance was over-sexualized.
"I think this is child abuse," said Dr. Wendy Walsh, a psychotherapist. "I think its absolute emotional child abuse."
Eden also sang and danced to her song "Cutie Patootie" at Thursday's event, which contains lyrics such as "shakin' her booty."
The performance wasn't the first time Eden drew headlines at New York Fashion Week. Days earlier she threw a temper tantrum after being told she was too young to have her teeth whitened, according to a report in The New York Post.
Eden has won 300 beauty pageants but retired from that circuit this summer. She now represents a line of children's boots from Cicciabella and has reportedly hired a publicist and an agent.
The show she is known for appearing in, "Toddlers & Tiaras," drew criticism in August when the mother of a 4-year-old gave her daughter padding for her chest and backside.
Controversy hit the show again last week, when it featured a young girl in a costume inspired by Julia Roberts' character in "Pretty Woman," who is a prostitute.
The girl's mother defended the costume by arguing that viewers were supposed to "see the comedy behind it."
