Patsy and her sister Pam had a mini-"dynasty" going in the Miss West Virginia contest. Both had won the title, so it was quite a big deal in their family.
Pam even talked about it on TV yesterday, how fabulous it was to go to the Miss America pageant and take part in all the activities in Atlantic City.
When you know it's possible, maybe even probable, to work up to that, I guess that makes it imperative to participate, in a way.
I'm totally indifferent to that part of the story - except I didn't like JonBenet's "glamour shots" that made her look like in her 20s. She was very pretty, but that was over-the-top. I'm sure Patsy was glad afterwards that she had them, though.
Personally I think judging anyone for how they want to parent or do things IMO is wrong. If Patsey liked the pageant world and wanted her daughter to enjoy it like she did than that was her deal. I can't stand it when people pass judgment one other's people's way of life just because it is different than theirs.