Look out! Things are about to get intense on TLC's "Toddlers & Tiaras."
OK, sure, tot-filled beauty pageants might not seem like serious stuff, but according to one pageant mom, the competitions are all-important, perfection-worthy events.
Meet Mia's mom, Marina, who reveals why she's so driven when it comes to her daughter's pageant performance in a clip provided exclusively to TODAY.com.
"I'm very competitive because I'm Russian," Marina explained. "I have this in my blood."
Which is why she feels the need to remind her 5-year-old that, "If you want to win, you get ready for this. You need to practice really hard."
Practice, in this case, appears to mean following mom's clipped commands to "balance!" and "sparkle!"
"Everything should be perfect for me," Marina insisted.
Because, after all, the kiddy contest is all about mom.
To see if strict Marina's pageant-perfect prep pays off, watch "Toddlers & Tiaras" Wednesday night at 10 p.m. ET on TLC.
What do you think of Marina's method? Should a 5-year-old really have to try so hard to please a pageant-happy parent? Share your thoughts on our Facebook page.
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