Toddlers & Tiaras both revolted and delighted viewers with its depiction of pint-sized beauty queens vying for crowns when it premiered 15 years ago — and many of its stars are still making headlines.
The TLC reality series debuted on January 27, 2009, and gave a behind-the-scenes look at the cutthroat world of child beauty pageants, documenting the lives of the contestants and their families.
The controversial show faced accusations of sexualizing children with its depictions of girls strutting the stage in flouncing costumes, teased hair, and faces full of makeup.
But fans couldn’t get enough of the diva-like contestants and their often overbearing mothers who would do almost anything to have their kids take home the top prize on competition day.
The TLC reality series Toddlers & Tiaras is celebrating its 15th anniversary this month after premiering on January 27, 2009
Alana ‘Honey Boo Boo’ Thompson (L) and Eden Wood (R) were launched to fame on the show and earned their own spin-off series
Isabella ‘Bella’ Barrett became a self-made millionaire after her mother wisely parlayed her fame into various businesses
Toddlers & Tiaras was canceled in 2016 after seven seasons, but it launched a whole new generation of reality television stars.
Alana ‘Honey Boo Boo’ Thompson, arguably the show’s most famous cast member, thrust her family into the spotlight with her TLC spinoff, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo.
She spent years on reality television, but in the wake of her family’s highly-publicized scandals, she has traded fame for a quiet life as a college student in Denver, Colorado.
Eden Wood, another fan favorite, proved that she has brains and beauty after being named valedictorian when she graduated high school last year.
Meanwhile, Isabella ‘Bella’ Barrett became a self-made millionaire after her mother wisely parlayed her fame into various businesses.
However, the pressure to compete in beauty pageants had a negative effect on some of the show’s stars.
Kailia Posey tragically died by suicide at the age of 16 in 2022.
As Toddlers & Tiaras celebrates the 15th anniversary of its premiere, FEMAIL looks back at the show’s most notable stars and where they are now.
Alana ‘Honey Boo Boo’ Thompson
Alana ‘Honey Boo Boo’ Thompson launched to fame after appearing on Toddlers & Tiaras in 2012 when she was just six years old (L). She is now studying to be a neonatal nurse (R)
Alana earned herself the nickname ‘Honey Boo Boo’ on the pageant circuit and quickly became a fan favorite thanks to her cheeky catchphrases
After Alana’s appearance on Toddlers & Tiaras, she and her family were given their own TLC reality series, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, which was canceled after four seasons in 2014
Alana, 18, was born and raised in McIntyre, Georgia, the daughter of ‘Mama June’ Shannon and her former partner Mike ‘Sugar Bear’ Thompson.
She grew up with three older half-sisters — Jessica ‘Chubbs’ Shannon, Lauryn ‘Pumpkin’ Efrid, and Anna ‘Chickadee’ Cardwell — who have different fathers.
The boisterous beauty queen started competing in pageants at an early age and appeared on the fifth season of Toddlers & Tiaras in 2012 when she was just six years old.
Alana, who earned herself the nickname ‘Honey Boo Boo,’ quickly became a fan favorite thanks to her cheeky catchphrases.
That same year, she launched her family to fame with the premiere of their own TLC reality series, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo.
In 2014, the show was canceled after four seasons in response to Mama June’s relationship with convicted child molester Mark Anthony McDaniel, who allegedly sexually abused her daughter Anna when she was eight years old.
Alana later made appearances on her mother’s WEtv reality series, Mama June: From Not to Hot, and competed on Dancing with the Stars: Juniors.
She moved in with her sister Lauryn in 2017 after her mother and former boyfriend Geno Doak were arrested on drug charges.
Alana’s (pictured) half-sister Lauryn ‘Pumpkin’ Efrid was given permanent custody of her in 2019 after their mother, ‘Mama June’ Shannon, was arrested on drug charges
Alana graduated from Wilkinson County High School in McIntyre in May 2023
The former reality star moved to Denver, Colorado, with her boyfriend, Dralin Carswell, 22, to attend Regis University
The former stage mom hit rock bottom and sold her home at a loss to get some fast cash. When the money was gone, the beauty pageant veteran claimed she lived in her car before she entered rehab.
Lauryn was later awarded permanent custody of Alana.
In a 2021 interview with Teen Vogue, the reality star opened up about her life as a high school student and why she no longer wanted to be called Honey Boo Boo.
‘My mama did not name me Honey Boo Boo. My name is Alana,’ she said.
The teen also shared that she was working to get straight As at school because she dreamed of going to college and becoming a neonatal nurse.
Alana graduated from Wilkinson County High School in McIntyre in May 2023 and moved to Denver, Colorado, with her boyfriend, Dralin Carswell, 22, to attend Regis University.
In December 2023, her older sister Anna died at the age of 29 after revealing she was battling adrenal cancer that had progressed to stage 4.
Kailia Posey
Kailia Posey was five years old when she appeared on Toddlers & Tiaras (L). She competed in beauty pageants from the age of three until she died by suicide at the age of 16 (R)
The beauty queen became widely known after a clip of her grinning from ear to ear on the show went viral and became a popular meme
Kailia was born in Las Vegas, Nevada, and competed in beauty pageants from the age of three until she died by suicide at the age of 16.
She was five years old when she appeared on Toddlers & Tiaras in 2012.
The beauty queen became widely known after a clip of her grinning from ear to ear on the show went viral and became a popular meme.
Kailia kept up with the pageant circuit throughout childhood and adolescence and competed for the Miss Washington Teen USA title in February 2022.
Although she was not crowned winner of the competition, she had earned the title of Miss Lynden Teen USA the year before.
The teen performed contortion with Cirque du Soleil and was seemingly passionate about the art form, having launched a specific Instagram account dedicated to it.
She also played the role of Agnes in the 2018 Netflix film Eli.
Kailia attended Lynden High School in Washington, where she was named to the Dean’s List for the 2020-2021 school year, according to her Miss Washington Teen biography.
The teen performed contortion with Cirque du Soleil and also played the role of Agnes in the 2018 Netflix film Eli while she continued to compete in pageants
Kailia attended Lynden High School in Washington, where she was named to the Dean’s List for the 2020-2021 school year
Kailia had just celebrated her 16th birthday and attended her high school prom when she took her own life in May 2022. She died from asphyxia due to ligature strangulation in her car
She had earned a spot on the high school’s football cheerleading team right before her death. She planned on studying aviation and becoming a commercial pilot after high school.
Kailia died from asphyxia due to ligature strangulation in her car at Birch Bay State Park on May 2, 2022, Page Six reported.
‘Although she was an accomplished teenager with a bright future ahead of her, unfortunately in one impetuous moment, she made the rash decision to end her earthly life,’ her family shared in a statement.
Kailia had just celebrated her 16th birthday on April 19 and attended her high school prom over the weekend, shocking family and friends when she decided to end her life.
‘I don’t have words or any thoughts. A beautiful baby girl is gone,’ her mother, Marcy Posey Gatterman, posted on Facebook, confirming her daughter’s death.
Kailia’s family set up the Kailia Posey Teen Crisis Intervention Fund with the goal of getting ‘much needed resources to students in crisis’ in her memory.
Eden Wood
Eden Wood, 18, claimed more than 300 titles during her time as a child beauty queen (L). She is now a sorority girl at the University of Central Arkansas (R)
In 2011, Eden’s mother, Mickie Wood, announced that she was retiring from pageants at the age of six to focus on forging a career in Hollywood
Eden, 18, was born in Arkansas and claimed more than 300 titles during her time as a child beauty queen.
She was first thrust into the spotlight at just six months old before becoming one of the stars of Toddlers & Tiaras, which she appeared on from 2009 to 2011.
Eden’s mother, Mickie Wood, admitted on the show that she spent an estimated $65,000 to $70,000 on preparing her only child for the stage, including spray tans, outfits, and makeup.
The revelation caused a stir among viewers, who criticized the mother for her indulgent spending.
In 2011, Mickie announced that Eden was retiring from pageants at the age of six to focus on forging a career in Hollywood.
‘Why not see if we can’t have a Hollywood contract, a reality show, a spot on a Disney program? It’s the American dream. It’s her destiny,’ she told ABC News at the time.
The teen graduated high school as valedictorian in May 2023 and shared her plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism
Eden also hinted at her return to the pageant circuit, saying she hopes to represent Arkansas in the Miss America competition one day
The college freshman recently shared on Instagram that she joined the Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority at the University of Central Arkansas
Eden went on to star in her own reality series, Eden’s World, which premiered on Logo TV in 2012 and lasted one season.
She later earned a small selection of TV and film credits and also made appearances as a runway model.
The teen graduated high school as valedictorian in May 2023 and shared her plans to attend college in her home state of Arkansas while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism.
‘I want to do something that I love. I don’t want to be stuck doing a job that’s boring,’ she told Today.com. ‘I’ve been in front of a camera my whole life, so this feels like the perfect fit.’
Eden also hinted at her return to the pageant circuit, saying she hopes to represent Arkansas in the Miss America competition one day.
The college freshman recently shared on Instagram that she joined the Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority at the University of Central Arkansas.
Isabella ‘Bella’ Barrett
Isabella ‘Bella’ Barrett was competing in a beauty pageant when she caught the eye of Toddlers & Tiaras’ producers (L). The teen is now a self-made millionaire (R)
Isabella parlayed her reality TV fame into a lucrative business when she and her mother, Susanna Barrett, launched their jewelry line, Glitzy Girl
Isabella, 17, was a child beauty queen and competing in a pageant when she caught the eye of Toddlers & Tiaras’ producers.
The Rhode Island native explained on an episode of the Truly series Bling Life that she was a natural fit for the show because she ‘loves attention’ and ‘being on camera.’
She parlayed her reality TV fame into a lucrative business when she and her mother, Susanna Barrett, launched their jewelry line, Glitzy Girl.
‘At the age of six years old, I became named one of the youngest self-made millionaires in the US,’ she said.
Isabella went on to create her first clothing line, Bound by the Crown Couture, before launching House of Barretti, a collection of suits for teens that cost anywhere from $210 to $599.
‘I created House of Barretti because there was a gap in the market for teen suits,’ she explained. ‘I really saw no one making them.’
Barrett now runs her own fashion label, House of Barretti, a line of sportswear and sophisticated two-piece suits for teens and young adults
Isabella recently branched out into music and recorded the song Best Friend with Alex Freeman in 2023
After stepping away from the pageant circuit, she spent her tween years modeling for brands such as Toys ‘R’ Us, Bergdorf Goodman, and American Girl.
Isabella now runs her own fashion label, House of Barretti, a line of sportswear and sophisticated two-piece suits for teens and young adults.
Her net worth is currently estimated to be $2 million.
‘What I love about being a millionaire is that I’m able to get up and travel anywhere I want in the world — and [the] friends I get to meet,’ she revealed on another episode of Bling Life. ‘It’s opened many opportunities for me.’
Isabella recently branched out into music and recorded the song Best Friend with Alex Freeman in 2023.
‘Working with Alex has been an absolute blast,’ she said. ‘We wanted to create a track to make people dance and embrace their friendships. It’s all about positive vibes and having a great time.’
Madison ‘Tootie’ Berg
Madison ‘Tootie’ Berg was 10 (L) when she caught the eye of Toddlers & Tiaras’ producers and joined the show. She is now a kindergarten teacher (R)
The former beauty queen (pictured with her mother) said she was bullied after starring in the TLC reality series, but she didn’t quit pageants until years later
Madison, 25, was born in Mississippi and was entered in her first beauty pageant when she was just five months old.
In a 2018 interview with The Sun, she recalled how strutting on stage in frilly outfits and heels ‘felt like a fun dress-up game.’
She enjoyed when her mother, Stacy Berg, told her she was ‘like a living doll,’ but she admitted it sometimes ‘felt like a chore’ to get her hair and makeup done before competitions.
Madison was 10 when she caught the eye of Toddlers & Tiaras’ producers and joined the show, a choice her mother let her make for herself.
She gave herself the stage name ‘Tootie’ and had fun filming the reality series until the episodes were released in 2010.
Madison said she was portrayed ‘as a diva’ in the ‘carefully edited clips,’ which led to online trolls taking to Facebook and calling her a ‘spoiled brat.’
Madison went to therapy because she was having negative thoughts about her appearance after years in the pageant circuit
The teacher often shares photos of herself in her classroom on her Instagram page
‘Going back to school that September was really hard,’ she explained. ‘People pulled faces at me, mocked my fake tan, and made fun of my stage name. I felt so exposed, especially when strangers began to call me ugly in the street.’
Madison quit the show but not pageants, and the bullying continued into her teenage years. She said she couldn’t do ‘normal teen stuff’ like drinking beer at parties because she had to follow a strict diet to keep in shape.
In 2017, she was named Miss Mississippi Teen USA and went on to represent her home state in the Miss Teen USA competition.
She said she ‘felt so sick’ from the pressure to win, and after her lackluster performance, she confessed to her mom that she wanted to quit pageants for good.
Madison told The Sun she went to therapy but continued to struggle with negative thoughts about her appearance.
After leaving the pageant circuit behind, she graduated from high school and attended Belhaven University, a private Christian school in Jackson, Mississippi, where she studied education.
Madison went on to pursue a Master of Education degree in reading literacy and now works as a kindergarten teacher, according to her Instagram bio.
Liana Pirraglia
Liana Pirraglia, 22, from Long Island, New York, appeared on Toddlers & Tiaras in the third grade (L). She is now an aspiring actress and a Hooters girl (R)
The former reality star admitted in a 2021 interview with People that it was ‘cringey to be portrayed as the underdog of the pageant’ on the show
Liana has starred in a Hooters campaign and was featured in the 2022 International Hooters Calendar since she started working for the chain restaurant
Liana, 22, from Long Island, New York, knew she wanted to be a star when she was given the opportunity to appear on Toddlers & Tiaras in the third grade.
However, she admitted in a 2021 interview with People that it was ‘cringey to be portrayed as the underdog of the pageant’ on the reality show.
‘I am always a winner in my own way,’ she said.
The aspiring actress and musician later attended the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in Manhattan and acted in some short films.
Liana made her feature debut in the 2021 film Lock Down Love, and she continues to book acting and modeling gigs while working at Hooters.
‘When you’re hired it is considered an acting and entertaining position, so I love that aspect of it,’ she told the Daily Star. ‘I was also really interested in the modeling aspect.’
The former beauty queen had only been working at the Hooters in Farmingdale, New York, for a few months when higher-ups saw one of her Instagram posts and asked her to model in the restaurant’s New Beginnings campaign.
Liana was also featured in the 2022 International Hooters Calendar.
‘Tiara Twins’ Alycesaundra and Giavanna Lyerly
Fraternal twins Alycesaundra and Giavanna Lyerly were dubbed the ‘Tiara Twins’ when they shot to fame on Toddlers & Tiaras. They are now 16 years old
Giavanna (L) continues to enjoy doing pageants, while Alycesaundra (R) is focused on fashion design after launching her eponymous clothing label
Fraternal twins Alycesaundra and Giavanna Lyerly, both 16, were a package deal when they competed in their first pageant as infants.
The sisters were later dubbed the ‘Tiara Twins’ when they shot to fame on Toddlers & Tiaras. With their custom tour bus, bodyguard, and stage mom, they seemed to be destined for reality television stardom.
In a 2021 interview with People, the twins said they were still fans of pageant life, but they had developed other interests, including wielding knives and crossbows.
‘I have definitely got my screaming fits under control,’ Giavanna joked. ‘I’m still very outgoing and enjoy doing pageants and walking runways. We also live on a farm and have chickens and cows.’
She was crowned 2021 Today’s International World Teen, while her sister became a fashion designer and launched her eponymous brand, Alycesaundra.
‘I began designing clothes a few years ago and have shown at NYFW for the past eight seasons,’ Alycesaundra told People. ‘I am growing in my craft and working hard to be successful.’
Danielle Kirby
Danielle Kirby, 22, was known for her ego when she appeared on Toddlers & Tiaras in 2011 (L). She is now a mental health advocate after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder (R)
Daniel founded the mental health awareness organization Be Bigger Organization to help the bipolar community
Danielle, 22, was known for her ego and diva-like antics when she appeared on Toddlers & Tiaras in 2011.
She was filmed hitting her younger brother after he tried to pull the rhinestones off her pageant dress and crying that a baby won the grand supreme title at a pageant.
However, she explained in the 2021 TLC special Toddlers & Tiaras: Where Are They Now? that she was edited to come off brattier than she really was.
‘Back when I was younger, I was full of myself,’ she told People that year. ‘Confidence is great! But I was definitely arrogant. I will say, though, I was a beautiful child, but I shouldn’t have expressed it the way I did.
‘Now I am a strong, independent, incredible woman. I know that may sound a little conceited, but it’s true!’
Danielle was diagnosed with bipolar disorder as a teen and opened up about her mental health on the Spirituality and Self-Love in the Modern World podcast, according to Nicki Swift.
She said she first experienced symptoms when she started high school and was going through puberty.
Danielle’s father also has bipolar disorder, and she went on to found the mental health awareness organization Be Bigger Organization.
‘I have done a lot for my community with my Be Bigger Organization, helping my bipolar community with my blog and apparel line,’ she told People. ‘I love the woman I am today and I owe it all to the pageants!’
Danielle competed for the title of Miss Nevada USA 2021, but she didn’t take home the crown.
Inspired by her mental health struggles, the former reality star also studied psychology at Post University with the goal of becoming a therapist.
Ava Perez
Ava Perez, 23, was just two years old when she appeared on Toddlers & Tiaras (L). She went on to study business administration in college (R)
Ava earned her Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in December 2023
Ava, 23, was just two years old when she appeared on Toddlers & Tiaras, but it was her over-the-top stage father, David Perez, who made an impression on viewers.
The doting dad famously introduced himself on the show as his daughter’s ‘coach, makeup artist, costume designer, and her biggest cheerleader.’
‘To some people, I probably seemed a bit over the top. But to my dad, I was his princess,’ she told People in 2021.
Ava added that being a beauty queen taught her ‘confidence from a young age,’ although she later left the pageant circuit to pursue other interests.
After high school, she graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in marketing.
In December 2023, she earned her Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, according to her Instagram.