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." 

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.