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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Joel Moore

Curse of Toddlers and Tiaras - from £2,000-a-day drug habit to tragic suicide

One of reality television's most controversial shows, Toddlers and Tiaras was famous for showcasing children with thick makeup, glittery dresses and six-inch heels.

The TLC programme, which began in 2009, followed young aspiring beauty queens and their overbearing parents.

It captured fierce pageant rivalries and huge tantrums until it was cancelled in 2016.

Even after it stopped airing, the US show's stars such as Mama June and Honey Boo Boo continued to attract headlines.

However, this week the show was in the news for a devastating reason. It emerged that Kailia Posey, a former star, sadly took her own life at the age of 16.

Kailia Posey sadly died earlier this month (Instagram)

Kailia's mum shared the tragic news saying: "I don't have words or any thoughts. A beautiful baby girl is gone. Please give us privacy as we mourn the loss Kailia. My baby forever."

Toddlers and Tiaras, which at one stage pulled in two million viewers an episode, often faced criticism over the treatment of the girls and encouraging the inappropriate behaviour of their parents.

Here we take a look at some of the other members of the cast

Pretty Woman controversy

Paisley Dickley dresses as Pretty Woman. (TLC)

Three-year-old Paisley Dickey caused more than a few eyebrows raises when she appeared on the show dressed like Julia Robert's sex worker character from Pretty Woman.

Her mum Wendy put her in a blonde wig, thigh-high boots and a cut-out, skin-tight dress, attracting widespread criticism.

Despite claims for 'sexualising' her daughter, Wendy said the appearance put her name out there, as she said: "Paisley has competed in over 60 pageants but it was definitely the Pretty Woman costume that put Paisley’s name out there."

Paisley, now a teenager, has left the world of beauty and is concentrating on acting. She has appeared in films such as Beacon Point and Exeter, as well as the drama Red Bank Society, according to IMDB.

Custody battle

Maddy Jackson wearing fake breasts and bottom implants (MIRROR SCREEN GRAB)

The parents of Maddy Jackson became embroiled in a bitter custody battle after their daughter's appearance on the show.

Mum Lindsay dressed her four-year-old up to look like Dolly Parton in a skin-tight pink dress and pads to give her curves in 2011.

Lindsay later told Today: ""When she wears the fake boobs and the fake butt, it's just like an added extra bonus and it's really funny when she comes out on stage and everybody thinks it's hysterical."

Maddy's father, Bill Verst took the mum to court in an attempt to get full custody, accusing her of exploiting their child - but he lost.

They were however banned from entering further pageants and the family now stays out of the public eye.

£2,000 a day drug habit

Alana, nicknamed 'Honey Boo Boo' (TLC/George Lange)
Mama June was a controversial figure on the reality show (Bigshots Photos / Splash News)

Alana, nicknamed Honey Boo Boo, was undoubtedly the main star of Toddlers in Tiaras, even landing her own spin off-show Here Comes Honey Boo Boo between 2012 and 2014.

TLC cancelled the Here Comes Honey Boo Boo after four seasons after June, 42, was spotted with a man called Mark Anthony McDaniel.

Mark had previously served ten years in prison after being convicted of aggravated child molestation and is a registered sex offender.

After briefly getting her own show after ditching McDaniel, June abandoned her family and spiralled into drug addiction, splashing £2,000-a-day on crack cocaine.

She admitted she sold her house to fund her lifestyle, before eventually getting clean. Meanwhile, Alana moved in with her sister Pumpkin and is now training to be a nurse.

She also opened up about her mother's drug use during her interview with Teen Vogue.

"A lot of folks in this world do not realize how many people are actually really affected by drug and alcohol [use]..." she explained.

"It's very, very hard. It's something I'd wish on nobody, for real. When my mama got real bad with her [drug use], I didn't know where I was going to end up. I'm proud of myself for how far I've come."

June is now appearing in a new show - Mama June: Road to Redemption - after the last season ended with her arrest for possession of a controlled substance.

The trailer begins with a shot of Mama June stating, 'There's a lot that happened behind closed doors that a lot of people don't know.'

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