Honey Boo Boo Doesn't Have Time for Pageants

30 July 2013

June Shannon

June Shannon is relieved Alana 'Honey Boo Boo' Thompson has quit pageants.

The 'Here Comes Honey Boo Boo' matriarch claims her seven-year-old daughter has given up on the glitz and glamour of pageants and put her dream of becoming the future Miss America on hold in order to focus on less time-consuming activities - like cheerleading.

Honey Boo Boo no time for pageants

June exclusively told BANG Showbiz: "She's not fully quit pageants, but right now we're just taking a break. I'm not sure if she will be returning right now. She's exploring other activities; we really don't have time for pageants.

"You will see her trying other things throughout the [second] season. She loves to do cheer!"

Honey Boo Boo and family

The 34-year-old star is relieved Alana is taking a break from her expensive hobby because it was taking it's toll on the whole family - June's partner Mike 'Sugar Bear' Thompson, Anna 'Chickadee' Shannon, Jessica 'Chubbs' Shannon and Lauryn 'Pumpkin' Shannon.

She revealed: "Alana's very competitive, she's seven, so she doesn't understand the win or lose thing. For us, I can't afford for her to do everything.

"It's just stressful when you're trying to get ready for a competition and trying to do other things. It used to be a lot in one day."

The larger than life family have attracted criticism for their unhealthy eating habits, vulgar manners and redneck lifestyle, prompting Adam Levine to memorably launch into an X-rated Twitter rant, calling the laugh-out-loud reality show the "worst thing that's ever happened" and branding June and Sugar Bear bad parents.

However, June insists she isn't affected by negative comments and has no hard feelings towards critics like Adam because the family are just being themselves.

She insisted: "I don't even criticise anyone or anything. Some people are made for TV and some people aren't. Right now that's where we're at in our lives and were enjoying it.

"When it becomes not fun anymore we can move back out of the spotlight and still be ourselves. Everybody has their opinions people are gonna love us or hate us in normal everyday life anyway."

'Here Comes Honey Boo Boo' airs on Tuesdays at 9pm only on TLC.