The title role was written with Aaliyah in mind and she had actually accepted the role but died in August 2001 before she had begun filming. However, it was proven false and that the role was written with Beyoncé in mind. Beyoncé skipped the project due to touring.
Romeo Miller (Benny) grew two inches and his voice deepened before shooting completed. In the scene where Benny and Raymond go to class and Honey says that she has to go to a video shoot, Romeo had to stand with his legs far apart in order to appear shorter, because he was as tall as Jessica Alba.
The film is inspired by the life of choreographer Laurieann Gibson, she also appears in the film as the main character's rival, Katrina, and worked as the film's choreographer. She would reprise her role in the sequel Honey 2 (2011) although she is credited as Rebecca for some reason.
To prepare for her role as a dancer, Jessica Alba took ballet, jazz, and hip-hop classes six hours a day for more than three months.