BARBARA WALTERS has revealed that HONEY BOO BOO made her list of the year's "Most Fascinating People" . . . even though she knows you may not approve.

--She says, quote, "A lot of people will say, 'For heaven's sake, this is ridiculous, this is a child at five or six years old entering beauty contests. 

--"But the relationship between Alana and her mother . . . that's the story, the two of them.  It's very touching . . . It's a love story.  It's a very sweet, loving story.

--"Honey Boo Boo is not an obnoxious little girl.  She's sweet and loving with her mother and loving with her sisters. And now Anna has a new baby, and the baby has [three] thumbs, but so what?  It'll make you smile."

(--By the way, Barbara didn't reveal what she was smoking just before saying all this . . . but whatever it was, ADAM LEVINE is not partaking in it.)

(--Barbara and the other ladies on "The View" addressed Adam's STRONG HATRED of "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo" on yesterday's show.)

(--Barbara's "Most Fascinating People" special airs on ABC next Wednesday.  She'll have 10 selections, and she previously announced seven of the others.)

(--They are:  One Direction, Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, "Fifty Shades of Grey" author E.L. James, "Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane, Ben Affleck and Hillary Clinton.)

(--Her MOST "fascinating" person won't be announced until the special airs . . . but that still leaves one remaining selection, which will probably be revealed in the coming days so she can drum up more publicity for the show.)