A new six-year-old celebrity has risen in America. Alana Thompson, more commonly known as Honey Boo Boo Child, has taken both the pageant and television world by storm.  With her memorable personality and unique performances, Honey Boo Boo Child is lighting up both TV screens and pageant stages all over the country.
Though her fame first came as a result of her role on the popular TLC show Toddlers and Tiaras, Honey Boo Boo Child has gained a huge influx of followers from her new show, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo.  The show follows the lives of Alana and her family as they prepare for pageants and battle the obstacles of daily life, including looking after Anna, Alana’s 17-year-old sister who gives birth to a baby girl in the season finale.  At Convent of the Sacred Heart, even students who do not watch the show have an opinion on it.
“I haven’t seen the show, but I’ve heard so much about it,” junior Colleen O’Neil said.  “It’s notorious for being stupid.  I can’t believe that family allows all of that to be taped.  It’s kind of an embarrassment to American culture.”
In addition to being a so-called “embarrassment,” the show has stirred up controversy about Alana’s signature drink, “Go Go juice,” a concoction invented by her mother, June Shannon.  This juice, a mixture of Red Bull and Mountain Dew, is consumed by Honey Boo Boo to help her maintain energy for her shows.  While June claims the drink is harmless, many viewers expressed concerns about the caffeine intake of such a young child.  Naïve to these complaints, Honey Boo Boo has only positive things to say about the drink.
“My special juice is going to help me win,” Alana said in the opening episode.
Controversy has also risen about the lifestyle of the Thompson family.  The fame claimed by a family with two uneducated parents and a daughter pregnant at 17 has Sacred Heart students questioning the desperation of viewers.
“I hate it,” senior Frances Mclaughlin said.  “It disgusts me because I think that the youth of this generation is our future, and if this is the kind of thing they find funny, it just shows that they are desperate for any kind of entertainment they can get.”
However, amidst the forceful complaints against the show, there still remains a plethora of dedicated followers.  Some proudly watch the guilty pleasure, relishing the many moments of sweetness found in the Thompson family.  Unlike many other shows focused on being “perfect,” Here Comes Honey Boo Boo highlights the many quirks and imperfections that give character to an average American family.
“I personally love Honey Boo Boo Child,” junior Marissa Licursi said.  “She is a funny, spunky little girl that provides laughs for everyone.  I love the show and think everyone should give it a chance.”
Whether America likes it or not, Honey Boo Boo Child is here to stay.  The show is set to please, shock, and anger viewers for yet another drama- filled season.  Stocked up on Go Go juice and fresh off the stage, Alana Thompson is ready to continue her reign as the pageant diva of TLC.
 
– Devon Hoffman, Opinions Editor