‘Not cool’: PR guru Jacenko SLAMMED over kid’s nails

How young is too young for a manicure or set of acrylic nails?

It’s a debate sparked by PR queen Roxy Jacenko after her 10-year-old daughter shared images of her newly treated nails on social media.

Jacenko was hit with a barrage of criticism after her daughter Pixie posted pictures of her summer-inspired nail art to her Instagram page. But she quickly came under fire with many labelling it inappropriate for a child so young to be allowed the beauty treatment.

“Simply awful. Disgraceful parenting and totally inappropriate,” one person commented.

Another wrote: “Very wrong for a 10-year-old, there is no need to rush children to grow up.”

Edith Cowan University academic and former Perth school psychologist Mandie Shean said there was no harm in parents applying nail polish to their young daughters as an experience or bit of fun.

But Dr Shean said the use of acrylic nails on a 10-year-old was “touch and go” — warning their self-worth and image can be distorted by regular use of cosmetic products.

“I’ve worked at a school where girls all did that regularly and it was sort of necessary for their identity,” Dr Shean said.

“The idea that they would need to look a certain way to be accepted, their self-worth became dependent on having their hair done and having that salon-type of experience. Competition between the girls became an issue, with who had what done.”

Despite the backlash, Jacenko, who appeared on the first season of Seven’s SAS Australia, isn’t letting the negative attention get her down.

“While some media outlets and Instagram critics are in a flap over Pixie’s holiday nails — we will just carry on doing our thing,” she said.

It comes after Jacenko declared her young daughter would be able to retire by 15 because of the success of her accessory line Pixie’s Bows and toy range Pixie’s Fidgets. Her two businesses are estimated to earn $21 million in the next decade.

“You know, what is the most exciting for me is the entrepreneurial spirit that she has at such a young age,” she said

“When I was 14, I got a job at McDonald’s because that’s what you did back in my day. So, I guess to me the biggest thing is her drive as an entrepreneur. Yes, I’ve enabled it, but she’s still got it, which is for me the most rewarding part.”