Role model parent

I'm a bit neutral on Libby Lu. On the one hand, girls like play dress up and Libby Lu allows girls that opportunity. It's over the top, but from what I've seen, harmless fun. I'm sure there are those girls with parents who "go too far" with the make up and attire, but I think the majority of parents see it and do it as a fun thing. For me, it's just over priced. But I wouldn't not allow my daughter to go to a party held there.

I do understand those who are concerned with image that Libby Lu is trying to create. Make up and little skirts on little girls? I've read some parents comments calling what they do "pedophile bait". I think that's a bit harsh. As for the image thing, this is one of those areas of responsibility held by the parents.

Recently, Libby Lu sponsored an essay contest for a chance to win a make over and Miley Cyrus (Hannah Montana) tickets. A 6 year old from North Texas won the contest with an essay about her father dying in Iraq. It was obviously a moving essay as she beat out about 1,000 other entries to win. One problem, the story was a lie.

GARLAND, Texas - A North Texas mother made up a tragic story about a father dying in Iraq for an essay contest to win a Hannah Montana prize package.

But the company decided not to award Priscilla Ceballos' daughter with the contest's grand prize, Club Libby Lu CEO Mary Drolet said Saturday in a written statement.

"After awarding the grand prize, we unfortunately learned that the statements made in the essay were untrue," she said in the statement. "Club Libby Lu greatly values honestly and integrity. In order to uphold these values, we have decided to withdraw the award initially given to the Ceballos family."

On Friday, Ceballos told NBC 5 by telephone that it was a big misunderstanding. She said she made up the story to win the contest. No one asked her if the story was true, she said.

Her daughter had beat out more than 1,000 other Hannah Montana fans with the essay she wrote for the Club Libby Lu "Hannah Montana Rock Your Holidays Essay Contest."

"My daddy died this year in Iraq," the little girl wrote in the essay. "I am going to give mommy the Angel pendant that daddy put on mommy when she was having me. I had it in my jewelry box since that day. I love my mommy."

Ceballos told contest organizers her husband was killed April 17, 2007, while serving in Iraq.

Research done by NBC 5 revealed that only one U.S. soldier died on April 17 of this year, and it was not Jonathan Menjivar. Neighbors said the girl's father, a carpet cleaner, is alive and is not a soldier.

The mother's sister said the story was intended to be a Christmas story.

"It was supposed to be told like a Christmas story, a good Christmas story, basically," she said. "And that's what she wrote, a Christmas story. But she didn't know it had to be true or anything."

Good for Libby Lu. There's a couple of issues at play here. One, the winning at whatever the cost attitude. Second, what she lied about. I could understand enhancing a story to make it more interesting or more emotional. But to completely lie . . . and about a father dying in Iraq . . . that's deplorable. It's disrespectful, pathetic, and reprehensible. What a great message to send to your child. To use that issue to win a contest when there does exist children who have lost their fathers in Irag is about as low as one can get. There's a word for this kind of behavior . . .

Whore.