The 'Little Women' Show Isn't What You Think

We know what you're thinking: "Is there really any premise about a group of women that hasn't been done yet on reality TV?" You've got your Real Housewives, your Mob Wives, your Dance Moms. Can there possibly be anything new for the reality TV gods to throw at us? Look no further than Little Women: LA , which is not a modern retelling of Louisa May Alcott's coming of age classic about the March sisters set in the City of Angels but a new docuseries following the trials and tribulations of a group of girlfriends who happen to all have dwarfism.

It is of course not easy living in a world where most things aren't tailored for your body type, and this new series, which premieres on Lifetime Tuesday night, makes no bones about that. But the six women on the show — Briana Manson, Christy McGinity, Elena Gant, Terra Jole, Tonya Banks, and Traci Harrison — don't want your sympathy. In fact, from the early previews of Little Women: LA, it seems like it will focus more on how successful, smart, beautiful, and kick-ass these women are regardless of the hardships they may face as little people.

So before you get too deep in all the friendship, fights, jealousy, competition, and love Little Women: LA has to offer, take a minute to get to know how cool these ladies really are.

Briana Manson

Briana Manson is a recently-divorced stay-at-home mom of her 4-and-a-half-year-old daughter Leiana. Like all of the Little Women: LA cast members, Manson is involved in show biz, singing, dancing, and performing as herself and impersonating celebrities, such as Marilyn Monroe. She's also had a few TV appearances, on programs such as on Tosh.0 and the game show Who's Still Standing? It seems like Manson is looking to make some changes in her life, and nothing says "fresh start" like starring on a reality show.

Christy McGinity

After years as an actress, appearing in movies such as Death to Smoochy and standing in for child actors, Christy McGinity is now a financial adviser. McGinity has two teenaged children from a previous relationship, Autumn and Trenton, and she is currently dating Todd Gibel, a fellow little person whom she met online. From the the footage we've seen so far, we can expect lots of love but also a decent amount of drama from McGinity.

Elena Gant

Originally from Russia, Elena Gant is the youngest Little Women: LA cast member. She's currently pursuing a career in graphic design while also working as a full-time actress and celebrity impersonator who has performed as Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, and Britney Spears. Little Women: LA will supposedly feature some of Gant's performances but not without controversy as Jeff Beacher of the Beacher's Madhouse show in Las Vegas reportedly sent a cease and desist letter to the producers of Little Women: LA to stop them from showing Gant's act as "Little Britney Spears," which he says he owns the rights to. There's been no word on how the producers responded to this legal action, so we're just going to have to watch to find out.

Terra Jole

Terra Jole is perhaps the most well known out of this group of women for her impersonations of Lady Gaga and Britney Spears. Jole has been able to make a serious name for herself in the world of entertainment, touring with Miley Cyrus, appearing in movies such as The Hungover Games, Austin Powers in Goldmember, and Jackass: 3D, and headlining the Las Vegas show Little Legends. You may also fondly remember her as featured on True Life: I'm a Little Person on MTV way back when. Jole also serves as one of the executive producers of the show, so she's pretty much a boss.

Tonya Banks

Tonya Banks has had a long career in show biz as a stuntwoman, celebrity impersonator, and actress who has appeared in films like Death to Smoochy and Bad Santa. She has performed the song "Telephone" with Jole as a Mini-Beyonce to her Mini-Gaga. When her 22-year-old daughter Angelique isn't home from college on the weekends, Banks will be single and ready to mingle on Little Women: LA.

Traci Harrison

Traci Harrison has acted for TV shows and movies for the past 13 years, in addition to standing in for child actors, such as Abigail Breslin for Little Miss Sunshine and Kiernan Shipka for The Angriest Man in Suburbia. Harrison is also pursuing her bachelor's degree in liberal studies with a concentration in theatre arts from Cal State San Bernardino and hopes to become a studio teacher for child actors on set. She's also a self-described Christian living a semi-conservative lifestyle, which is always interesting to see played out on reality TV.

Image: Lifetime (7)