Entertainment

Honey Boo Boo Now & Then: Her Transformation From Tiaras to Teenager

EntertainmentPublished Jul 20, 2018
By Becky Bracken
Alana Honey Boo Boo ThompsonSplash News

The world first fell in love with Alana "Honey Boo Boo" Thompson as a sass-spewing little beauty queen on TLC's Toddlers and Tiaras, a show focused on the world of baby beauty pageants. Honey Boo Boo, then just 6 years old but wise well beyond her years, was the series's breakout star -- all personality, makeup, and curls, and ready for her closeup with her mother, Mama June. Audiences were so obsessed with the little girl from McIntyre, Georgia, that she and her family got a spin-off show of their very own. Honey Boo Boo has grown up in front of our eyes over the years, and the transformation from tiaras to becoming a teenager has been nothing short of unforgettable (and entertaining).

Here Comes Honey Boo Boo showed the antics of this rising star away from the pageant glitz with the result being unapologetic fun mixed with a few moments of horror. Fans also got to see the rest of her clan, including dad Mike "Sugar Bear" Thompson, Anna "Chickadee," Jessica "Chubs," and Lauryn "Pumpkin" Shannon, who altogether provided a hilarious and all-too-real look at a day in the life of Honey Boo Boo.

After four seasons, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo was canceled amidst allegations Mama June was having an affair with a child molester, something she and the family denied. Since then, the family has remained in the reality TV spotlight, most recently through Mama June's return to the small screen with Mama June: From Not to Hot, a show chronicling June's dramatic weight loss.

No matter her ups and downs, it's undeniable Honey Boo Boo is part of American culture -- and for better or worse, we just can't quit this plucky, controversial little smart-mouth with golden curls.

Here's a look at Honey Boo Boo over the years in the public eye, and her transformation from a tiara-wearing beauty pageant princess to teenager.

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Toddler In a Tiara: Meet Honey Boo Boo Child-placeholder
Toddler In a Tiara: Meet Honey Boo Boo Child
Toddlers & Tiaras/Facebook

Toddler In a Tiara: Meet Honey Boo Boo Child

Honey Boo Boo burst onto the scene in 2012 on TLC's Toddlers & Tiaras. A 6-year-old at the time, there was no denying this future reality star's "wow" factor that would eventually catapult her to fame.

2/17
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Golden Curls, Sassy Mouth
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Golden Curls, Sassy Mouth

Alana quickly proved to be more than just a pretty face. This little 6-year-old had attitude.

3/17
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TV Princess
Splash News

TV Princess

Honey Boo Boo quickly became the clear breakout star of Toddlers & Tiaras. Here she is in full pageant dress making an appearance on Extra in January 2012.

4/17
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Little Miss Extra
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Little Miss Extra

Alana, along with Mama June, made the rounds promoting Toddlers & Tiaras. Here, Honey Boo Boo received the well-deserved "Little Miss Extra" title in October 2012, wearing a pink T-shirt and tiara, as one does.

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NYC Gal
Splash News

NYC Gal

Here, the then 7-year-old sported a polished glam look with straightened hair and wedge heels on the streets of Uptown New York City back in April 2013.

6/17
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Girl Scout Hustle
Splash News

Girl Scout Hustle

There's no stopping this girl's hustle! Photogs snapped Honey Boo Boo selling Girl Scout cookies in her front yard in 2013. The young starlet also took time to greet fans and snap photos.

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From Reality Star to Author
Kris Connor/Getty Images

From Reality Star to Author

Honey Boo Boo became a multimedia money-making machine. Here she is in 2013 promoting her book, How to Honey Boo Boo: The Complete Guide in a killer pair of cowboy boots.

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Honey Boo Boo Hits The Big Time
: Douglas Gorenstein/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

Honey Boo Boo Hits The Big Time

By summer 2014, just before she turned 9, Honey Boo Boo was a bona fide star -- making appearances on iconic shows, like The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Honey Boo Boo appeared alongside Mama June and dressed in a swingy leopard print skirt with a matching shirt and sandals.

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Red Carpet Ready
Splash News

Red Carpet Ready

By the time she turned 10, Honey Boo Boo was a titan in the reality TV world. Here she is in November 2015 walking the red carpet like a pageant pro in a pair of heels.

10/17
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Tween Stardom
FameFlynet.uk.com/Splash News

Tween Stardom

Off the red carpet, Honey Boo Boo continued to keep it comfy -- with a full face of makeup -- walking around LA in January 2016. At 11, there's no denying how much Honey Boo Boo has grown up right before our eyes.

11/17
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Still "Extra"
Splash News

Still "Extra"

At 12, Honey Boo Boo was a long way from the toddler pageants but still drawing a crowd. In 2017, she made her way back to Extra for another appearance.

12/17
All in the Family-placeholder
All in the Family
D Dipasupil/Getty Images for Extra

All in the Family

Just a few months later, the tween returned to Extra with a very blonde and very thin Mama June to promote Mama June: From Not to Hot.

13/17
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Insta Boo Boo
honeybooboo/Instagram

Insta Boo Boo

No one should be surprised to hear Honey Boo Boo is shaking up social media with plenty of pics and controversy. Here, the 12-year-old captioned a pic of her wearing hipster glasses with advice she's always lived by: "Just do you."

14/17
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Health Intervention
The Doctors/YouTube

Health Intervention

There's always been questions (and criticism) about Honey Boo Boo's weight -- with many critics body-shaming the young star in the worst of ways. This past April, Honey Boo Boo paid a visit to The Doctors to discuss her "climbing weight" and health.

15/17
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Hip Hop Boo Boo
Paras Griffin/Getty Images for WEtv

Hip Hop Boo Boo

Earlier this year, Honey Boo Boo strutted the red carpet rocking a burgundy track suit to celebrate the series Growing Up Hip Hop.

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Potty Mouth
theshaderoom/Instagram

Potty Mouth

In February, Honey Boo Boo turned heads with a profanity-laced video in response to critics who slammed her for trying to "act black." Needless to say, her vocabulary has grown since she was a child.

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Keeping It Real-placeholder
Keeping It Real
honeybooboo/Instagra,

Keeping It Real

But despite all the ups and downs, fans can't help but keep rooting for the toddler they fell in love with all those years ago and the teen she's become. Alana "Honey Boo Boo" is someone we just can't stop watching. Why? Perhaps Honey Boo Boo understands something simple others don't. As she wrote on this picture she posted to Instagram a few months ago, "I may not be perfect but at least I'm not fake."

She's got a point.

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