In Defence of Honey Boo Boo

The show Here Comes Honey Boo Boo is finally hitting UK screens after a long reign on American screens. The show centres on a family from McIntyre, Georgia. 'Honey Boo Boo' is in reference to the precocious child, Alana Thompson, pageant star and overall happy kid. The child starlet and her family have received mixed responses from criticism to celebration. Though many may be apprehensive, ever ready to throw their comments, it's good to try to find positive points in things. It takes more heart and more energy to build something up than to tear it down so rather than launch accusations, here are 5 good things about 'Here Comes Honey Boo Boo'

• Alana Thompson spends more time outside than most UK children do. The family will often go to outdoor events or relax in their front garden rather than spend all their time inside. This is something I'm sure not all families can say of themselves.

• This is a family who are comfortable in their own skin. They dress how they want to, style themselves how they want to, and try not to let contemporary views of beauty or body image bother them. I know people who, at the age of the daughters on the show, were suffering from eating disorders. It's so rare to see young girls who don't let contemporary notions of what is meant to be beautiful bother them.

• As a family their frugal ways are to be admired. They are thrifty and skilled in the art of couponing and family matriarch, June Shannon, will feed her family on very little. With current socio-economic conditions a lot can be learned from their sparing expenditure. Furthermore the family do not complain about their lower income. In fact they are involved with charities to help those who are less fortunate. They even are shown in their show holding big events and collection drives on their property to raise awareness and gain food and toy donations for those less fortunate in their area. Apparently the majority of the money the family earns from the show is going into a college fund for her daughters.

• The family spend a good deal of quality time together as a group. We live in an age where 'quality family time' seems to be a dying affair. This family will do various activities and events together so that they spend time together whilst enjoying new experiences. The family support each other. There are moments in the show where they are together as the eldest daughter goes into labour or the family accompany little Alana to her pageants for support. Also who doesn't love their affectionate nicknames for each other? I have to say I think Sugar Bear is the best.

• With hot catchphrases like "y'all better redneck-ognize!" they are an extremely memorable and marketable family. Because of this I feel, and hope, that Mama June and her brood won't be leaving our screens any time soon.