The bill seeking to outlaw the competitions has passed in the French Senate by 196 to 146 votes.
If the bill is passed by the National Assembly it will officially become law and pageant organisers may face a jail term of up to two years and a fine of 30,000 euros (£25,000).
It is a common fantasy among young girls - to dress like their mother
The measure was prompted by a row over a photo shoot in Vogue magazine.
The photos, published in December 2010, showed a 10 year-old girl with two others in heavy make-up and wearing tight dresses, high heels and expensive jewellery.
Vogue defended the pictures, saying they merely portrayed a common fantasy among young girls - to dress like their mother.
Conseqently, a report entitled ‘Against Hyper-Sexualisation: A New Fight For Equality,’ was presented in parliament in France.
Let us not make our girls believe from a very young age that their worth is only judged by their appearance
The report called for the ban on beauty competitions for under-16s and also recommended other measures, not included in the bill, including a ban on child-size adult clothing such as padded bras and high-heeled shoes.
‘Let us not make our girls believe from a very young age that their worth is only judged by their appearance,’ said the author of the report, former Sports Minister Chantal Jouanno.
Child beauty pageants are beauty contests which see girls as young as ? walk a runway in different themed outfits such as ‘swimwear’ and compete in categories including a talent round and an interview.
The phenomenon started in America but has gained popularity in other countries, and most recently, US reality TV show ‘Here comes Honey Boo Boo’ featuring the family of child beauty pageant contestant Alana “Honey Boo Boo" Thompson has won over audiences in the UK.
Celebrities have been criticized in the past for dressing their children in grown-up outfits.
Kourtney Kardashian hit headlines earlier this year when she dressed her one year-old daughter Penelope in a leopard print bikini.
Similarly, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes’ daughter Suri is frequently pictured wearing high-heels, carrying handbags and wearing makeup.