There is an elite group of individuals who go on to become pageant queens and kings. However, they all must start somewhere. Many times, the desire to hold these titles begins with a nudge from one or both parents during the school-aged years. Participation includes effort of appearance in addition to positive personality traits and a high financial cost. If the parents are divorced, changes may occur to child supportarrangements.

The Cost

For someone who is unfamiliar with the pageant world, it may be surprising to discover the costs that such a hobby entails. From makeup to personal trainers, the show world really can amount to a small fortune. Sample price tags include:

• Custom dress: Up to $10,000;
• Pageant coach: $100 per hour;
• Hair and makeup: $250 per hour,
• Spray tan: $75;
• Wig or extensions: $200; and
• Pageant entry fees: $300 – $1,000.

What You May Be Responsible for Paying

As a divorced parent making child support payments, it may be difficult to determine what you are individually responsible for in such a fast-paced lifestyle. You may be relieved to know that you may not be entirely responsible. However, the primary goal is to maintain a similar standard of living for the child as before the divorce. Therefore, if the child was participating in pageants during the marriage, there is a good chance that funds will need to continue, particularly if you were the primary earner. If you were the person with the disposable income for the hobby before, so long has nothing has changed, you could be required to help provide the necessary funding. Judges and mediators consider the following factors during child support calculations in Illinois:

• Number of children requiring support;
• Net income of the paying parent,
• Amount of court-ordered payments from other marriages;
• Health insurance premiums;
• Medical needs and the cost of care;
• The cost of childcare; and
• Expenses related to extracurricular activities such as sports, clubs, and pageants.

If you are in the midst of a divorce, and you are the parent of a pageant child or if the child became a show participant after finalization of the divorce, you may be curious about how to calculate your support requirements. Maybe financial statuses have changed requiring modification of support. Each case is different and various factors should be considered. If you are interested in discussing your situation with an experienced Orland Park family law attorney, call Kezy & Associates at 708-518-8200 to schedule your free initial consultation.

Sources:

http://www.ibtimes.com/high-cost-beauty-pageants-1595724

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?DocName=075000050HPt%2E+V&ActID=2086&ChapterID=0&SeqStart=6100000&SeqEnd=8350000