Lifetime Greenlights the New Biopic, “I Was Honey Boo Boo” with Alana Thompson Revealing Her Story of Rising to Fame and the Secrets Behind the Cameras, Premiering May 17

Rising to fame at just six-years old on the show Toddlers & Tiaras, Alana Thompson, famously known as “Honey Boo Boo,” returns to television with the new Lifetime biopic, I Was Honey Boo Boo. Premiering on Saturday, May 17 @ 8PM/7c, Alana narrates the movie, offering a glimpse into what happened behind the scenes from her perspective. She reveals how her on-screen confidence concealed the harsh reality of constant criticism and family struggles, particularly with her mother, Mama June.

While on the kids’ pageant circuit, Alana (Vale Cooper, Happy Face) became known as “Honey Boo Boo,” as the world discovered her and her colorful family, led by her mother, Mama June (Chelsea Larkin, The Second City). Alana’s dynamic persona captivated audiences and caught the attention of producers, catapulting her and her family to meteoric stardom as reality TV stars. But behind closed doors were forced smiles, silent tears, and the lingering sense of uncertainty for what the future held for Alana and her family. After a series of scandals and legal troubles, Alana’s world was turned upside down, and she was ultimately placed in the care of her older sister, Pumpkin (Georgia Small, A Christmas Number One). Now in college, Alana is determined to shake off the labels that have followed her, shed light on the darker side of child stardom, and forge a path to overcome generational trauma and challenges.

Isabelle Ayres stars as “Alana,” when she is older, while Mia Turley stars as the “Young Pumpkin,” and Neil Chinneck stars as “Sugar Bear.”

I Was Honey Boo Boo is the newest movie in Lifetime’s “I Am/I Was” biopic franchise that reveals a deeper look into some of pop culture’s most fascinating people including I Am Elizabeth Smart, I Am Victoria Gotti, I Was Lorena Bobbit and I Was Octomom.

I Was Honey Boo Boo is produced by Cineflix Productions and ITV America’s Thinkfactory Media in association with GroupM Motion Entertainment. Executive Producers include Jeff Vanderwal, Sherri Rufh, and J.C. Mills of Cineflix; Adam Reed and Tim Cohen-Laurie of Thinkfactory; and Richard Foster and Chet Fenster of GroupM Motion Entertainment. Katie Boland directs from a script by Emily Silver.