NEW YORK - Pamela Anderson left child rights activists fuming after she recruited a shy, 9-year-old girl to hold up her risque dress at the Hollywood Style Awards night.

The ‘Baywatch’ babe turned up in a barely-there, pink Vivienne Westwood dress on Sunday, while the child, named Adelaide Gault was holding her long train.

Her weird antics drew criticism from child advocacy groups who say little Adelaide is too young to be used as a fashion accessory.

“People were genuinely shocked,” The New York Post quoted a guest as saying.

“She didn’t even have her own seat and had to sit at Pamela’s feet, where people nearly stepped on her to get to the stage. The girl looked uncomfortable and kept tugging on her dress to get her attention, but Pamela waved her away.

“Pamela was telling people it was her daughter,” the attendee said. “And, after she presented David LaChapelle with an award onstage, she shouted ‘daughter’ in front of the whole auditorium, and slapped her leg like she was calling a puppy. The girl rushed up to grab her train,” added the guest.

Adelaide is the daughter of makeup artist to the stars Sharon Gault, who was believed to be at the event.

But Adelaide looked nervous as she was forced to carry Anderson’s dress up the red carpet, then backstage, and when the star made a dramatic exit two hours later.

Other guests who attended the bash at the Hammer Museum included Kim Kardashian, Lauren Conrad, Hayden Panettiere, Kelly Osbourne and Selena Gomez.

A spokesman for the Child Labor Coalition said: “I would want to speak to the child to ask her if it is something she willingly did. Nine is very young, and an awards ceremony is a long time for a child to be out holding a dress.” (ANI)