Alana ‘Honey Boo Boo’ Thompson Reflects on the ‘Darker Side of Child Stardom’ in New Lifetime Film Based on Her Life (Exclusive)

‘I Was Honey Boo Boo’ premieres May 17 at 8 p.m. ET on Lifetime and will feature Thompson as the narrator of the biopic

Alana Thompson, a.k.a Honey Boo Boo, is giving an inside look into her life.

PEOPLE can exclusively announce that the reality star, 19, will take a look back at her days of child stardom in Lifetime’s new biopic, I Was Honey Boo Boo.

Thompson will narrate the movie and offer a glimpse into what went on behind the scenes, revealing how her on-stage persona “concealed the harsh reality of constant criticism and family struggles, particularly with her mother, Mama June [Shannon].”

According to the film’s official synopsis, Alana (Vale Cooper) became known to the world as Honey Boo Boo on the kids’ pageant circuit. She and her “colorful family, led by her mother, Mama June (Chelsea Larkin),” captivated audiences and were catapulted into reality TV stardom when she caught the eye of producers.

“But behind closed doors were forced smiles, silent tears and the lingering sense of uncertainty for what the future held for Alana and her family,” the synposis continues. “After a series of scandals and legal troubles, Alana’s world was turned upside down and she was ultimately placed in the care of her older sister, Lauryn “Pumpkin” Efird (Georgia Small).”

“Now in college, Alana is determined to shake off the labels that have followed her, shed light on the darker side of child stardom and forge a path to overcome generational trauma and challenges,” it concludes.

In addition to Cooper, Larkin and Small, Isabelle Ayres will star as older Alana, Mia Turley as Young Pumpkin and Neil Chinneck, as her father, Sugar Bear.

Over the years, Thompson and her family members have continued to navigate their complicated relationships with one another and let fans into their lives with their WE tv show, Mama June: Family Crisis.

Last season, viewers saw Thompson and her mother go head-to-head after Shannon revealed she had taken money from her Coogan account — a trust where parents of child stars are legally required to deposit a percentage of their earnings — while discussing her plans to use the funds to pay for college in Colorado.

In a confessional interview, Efrid claimed that Shannon had intentionally deposited “the bare minimum” she was “legally” required to deposit into the account “then pocketed the rest.”

Thompson then broke down in tears, realizing she didn’t know how she’s going to pay for her education. At the time, she told Shannon, “You don’t really give a f— that you took our money, that’s the real problem here. That’s the problem.”