I wonder what would happen, would we be having this conversation, if no one knew the age of the contestants? Everyone is weeded out during the prejudging. So if a 18 year old still had the body of a 13 year old (one of my nieces was a very late bloomer and didn't have her period until she was 17) she'd wouldn't make it on stage. If a 50 year old had the body of top shape 25 year old she'd move on to the evening show and she wouldn't get to milk the fact that she's older and try to get special consideration.
Trying to put personal bias and upbringing aside, if I saw that girl, the winner, and didn't know how old she was there's no way I would have put her at 14. I doubt that anybody else here would as well.
We had a summer intern working for us, a Black dude about 6 ft and a bit and on the skinny side. I knew he was in high school and I figure he was going on his senior year. Not only because of how he looked, kind of a boyish face but had more whiskers than I did, but how he carried himself. Very mature, spoke well, above average intelligence for someone his age, and we had a lot of interesting conversation of various issues of life (religion, science, drugs and other social issues). I was very impressed by him. He also had an impressive voice. I said he'd sound good over the radio. He certainly seemed more mature than some of the college age kids we have around here.
It turned out he was 14 and had just completed the 8th grade. He got to work for us under some special program and the fact his uncle was a big shot in the company didn't hurt either.
I asked myself if I would have treated him differently if I knew he was only 14?
Having said that I wouldn't want my 14 yr old daughter, no matter how mature she looked, do any kind of these shows or any type of modeling thing. I just don't like that whole business for both men and women. I wouldn't want her so focus on getting ahead base on her looks. She'll get enough of that anyway. But I wouldn't have a problem if their parents felt differently. Just like I wouldn't want my daughter working at Hooters but I guess I'm glad other parents don't care.