“From Glitz to Grit: The Untold Struggles of Honey Boo Boo Post ‘Toddlers & Tiaras'”
From the glitzy baby tiara to the neon lights of reality TV, Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Thompson has had quite the spectacle of a life. Who would’ve thought that the pint-sized pageant queen from TLC’s Toddlers & Tiaras would navigate through such a roller coaster of fame, family upheaval, and personal triumphs by the tender age of 19? Let’s be real, showbiz can be a crazy place, especially when you’re crowned with fame before mastering the art of tying shoelaces!
Alana’s journey began when she was all about that pageant life, complete with a side of sass and a pinch of “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo”. But with fame comes the spotlight… and sometimes, that light casts deep shadows. Her life story, now morphing into the Lifetime biopic I Was Honey Boo Boo, promises to peel back the layers of glitter, revealing the heart, hurdles, and hilarity of Alana’s experience in child stardom.
But let’s stop for a moment and ask, isn’t it just wild how the stars of our screens can captivate us so thoroughly? From learning the ropes in front of the camera to dealing with family drama that frankly sounds like it could be its own TV show, Alana has had her share of the limelight’s good, bad, and outright bonkers moments. Now, as she steps into her own power, narrating her story, we’re all left wondering: What’s next for this former child star turned college student?
Intrigued or just plain shocked by the twists and turns? You’re not alone. Let’s dive in to see just how much Alana Thompson has changed and how she’s moving forward. LEARN MORE
Here comes Honey Boo Boo: she’s 19, a college student, and getting ready to share her story in a biopic about her family’s struggles and life as a child beauty queen.
Alana Thompson rose to fame at age six after appearing on the TLC child beauty pageant show Toddlers & Tiaras.
The dynamic with her mother, “Mama June” Shannon, captivated viewers so much that the network created a spinoff series dedicated to the family. It premiered in 2012 and featured Thompson’s sisters: Anna “Chickadee” Cardwell, who passed away from cancer in 2023, Jessica “Chubbs” Shannon, and Lauryn “Pumpkin” Efird.
Share icon Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Thompson became famous at age 6 on the TLC reality show Toddlers & Tiaras
Image credits: honeybooboo
But the spinoff was short-lived. Here Comes Honey Boo Boo was canceled after two seasons following allegations that Shannon was involved with Mark McDaniel, who had been arrested in 2004 and convicted of aggravated child molestation.
In a statement to People magazine, TLC said: “Supporting the health and welfare of these remarkable children is our only priority. TLC is faithfully committed to the children’s ongoing comfort and well being.”
Shannon denied the allegations in a Facebook post.
“It isn’t true i promise my kids r #1 priority over anything else and I would never put them in danger period over this or anything else they r my life this is my past I left him 10 yrs ago for it and I wouldn’t go back.”
Image credits: Noel Vasquez/Getty Images
After cancellation, the series was rebranded as Mama June: From Not to Hot on We TV, and later as Mama June: Road to Redemption and Mama June: Family Crisis.
In addition to appearing in the spinoffs, Thompson competed on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars: Juniors in 2018.
The following year, the family faced a serious crisis when Shannon lost custody of her daughter after being arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance and dr*g paraphernalia.
The 45-year-old was allegedly found carrying coc*ine and a pipe.
The spinoff, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, featured her family, including sisters Anna, Jessica, and Lauryn, and “Mama June” Shannon
Image credits: TLC
Her then-boyfriend, Eugene “Geno” Edward Doak, was charged with third-degree domestic violence, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of dr*g paraphernalia.
Shannon was sentenced to 100 hours of community service, court supervision, in addition to other conditions, including random dr*g screenings, E! News reported.
Thompson was ultimately placed in the care of her older sister, Lauryn Efird, who gained sole legal custody of her in 2022.
Image credits: Max
Shannon was reportedly allowed to contact Thompson by phone every day, but could not visit her unless allowed by Efird.
Additionally, she was ordered to pay Efird $800 per month in child support for the next two years until Thompson turned 18.
In 2019, Shannon was arrested for possession of illegal substances and lost custody of her daughter
Image credits: Max
In an episode of her mother’s reality show, Efrid said the family has “tried to send her to rehab” and that the network “gave her the opportunity” to do so, but she checked out after less than a day.
Thompson and Shannon appeared to have strengthened their relationship in the years since the arrest.
In 2021, they appeared on The Masked Singer, which Shannon said marked their first project together since she got sober.
