June Shannon's life has been riddled with sad circumstances.
From fat shaming to drug abuse, the road to fame and fortune has been plagued with adversity
for this reality TV star.
Here's a closer look at Mama June's tragic real-life story.
Starting a family in her teens
Born in Georgia in 1979, June reportedly got pregnant with her oldest child, Anna "Chickadee"
Cardwell when she was 14.
She then dropped out of high school, and later earned her GED, according to Cosmo.
In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Shannon revealed that she also dated significantly
older men at a young age, claiming,
"I was dating men who were in their 20s, their 30s.
My mom knew about it."
She added,
"I was just honestly looking for the attention I wasn't getting at home."
Little did June know that attention would arrive in spades when reality TV came calling.
Reality TV sensation
"Attention parents what you are about to see if not suitable for kids.
Shoot, it's not even suitable for some grownups."
It's easy to understand why viewers tuned in to watch Mama June and her family on TV.
Her extreme couponing, one-of-a-kind dinner concoctions, and her so-called "forklift foot"
were hard to ignore.
"Nobody will ever love Alana like I do… personally though, that's how we came to get
our show."
When Shannon's new-found fame took a bad turn when TLC cancelled the show in 2014, she managed
to stay in the spotlight — though not necessarily for the best reasons.
Vivid Entertainment offered her $1 million for a Sugar Bear/Mama June adult video, but
Shannon reportedly nixed that idea, per TMZ, saying,
"I have more respect for myself and my kids and my family.
It ain't happening, not even for a zillion dollars."
But it was that type of tabloid fodder that led to more showbiz opportunities … and
more tragic consequences.
Mama June and Sugar Bear appeared on WEtv's Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars in 2015,
where he revealed that he'd cheated on her.
It seemed a happy ending was just not in the cards.
Relentless body-shaming
June Shannon returned to reality TV full force in 2017 with WEtv's Mama June: From Not to
Hot.
According to E! News, she transformed her appearance after undergoing about $75,000
worth of procedures, including gastric sleeve surgery, a tummy tuck, and a breast lift.
Even so, some critics accused her of "cheating" her way to a size 4.
She told InTouch,
"People think that I'm going to gain the weight back.
I don't ever want to go back."
Season 2 of the show depicted Shannon struggling to stay off junk food.
She told UsWeekly in early 2018,
"I'm beating myself up.
[…] I've gained, like, seven pounds.
It won't come off."
"I'm constantly kind of like beating myself up, as soon as I've gained like, and I know
it's wrong, 4 or 5 ounces."
But her public admission didn't stop the haters from piling on, with outlets like Radar Online
reporting,
"Her big belly and turkey neck refuse to be conquered."
Losing her vision
Shannon says part of the reason she has struggled to maintain her weight loss is because she's
increasingly limited by vision problems.
According to People magazine, Mama June is already blind in her right eye and has undergone
multiple surgeries to correct the vision in her left eye.
She said,
"It's been physically and emotionally draining.
Losing my independence and having to rely on other people for everything has been crazy."
"I'm ok, like I deal with it every day, I'll never be able to see out of the right eye,
but the left eye, I mean, I'm seeing what I can see right now."
Struggling with addiction
The Season 3 finale of Not to Hot featured an incredibly intense intervention from loved
ones who believed Shannon needed professional help to combat substance abuse.
Shannon finally agreed to go to rehab, but checked herself out just 12 hours later, according
to the Daily Mail.
And it all went downhill from there.
Shannon's boyfriend, Geno Doak, reportedly picked her up from rehab, and two days later,
they were both arrested on drug charges at an Alabama gas station.
According to the Macon County Sheriff's Office, Mama June was charged with felony possession
of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia — and Doak was charged with domestic violence
and harassment, as well as possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia.
Getting the 'old' Mama June back
During the Season 3 finale of Mama June: From Not to Hot, Shannon's family shared concerns
about the reality star's tragic state.
Her sister Doe Doe claimed, quote, "I just wish we had the old June back," and family
friend "Big Mike" said,
"I hate that she's ruining her life.
[…] Everybody makes mistakes but you gotta bounce back."
At the end of the episode, viewers saw June's daughters, Alana and Pumpkin, play at a park
with Pumpkin's daughter.
When Alana asked if their mother will ever get herself together, Pumpkin replied,
"I hope so.
You know she is a grown woman.
If she wants to get herself together, she'll get it together.
If not, then I guess she'll never learn."
Time will tell, but we're certainly hoping Mama June's story takes a happier turn.
"Everything that I've ever done has always fell in my lap, I've never went out and looked
for it, so whatever this amazing rollercoaster happens, then I'm gonna take it."
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