5 Shocking Ways Alana "Honey Boo Boo" Thompson Is Living Her Life Today At 20
The transformation of Alana Thompson, famously known as "Honey Boo Boo," is complete. The former child pageant queen and reality television star has officially traded in the tiaras and catchphrases for college textbooks and a serious career path. As of December 2025, Thompson is 20 years old and is actively reshaping her public narrative, moving far beyond the chaotic world of her family’s reality shows to pursue a quiet, purposeful life in higher education.
Her journey from the brightly lit stages of Toddlers & Tiaras to a university campus is one of the most dramatic celebrity pivots in recent memory. The young woman who once dominated TLC is now an adult focused on her future, her long-term relationship, and her personal health, revealing a maturity and perspective that is surprising many fans and critics alike.
Alana "Honey Boo Boo" Thompson: Biography and Profile
Alana Thompson’s life has been anything but private, with her formative years documented for millions. Her profile today reflects a young woman determined to define herself outside of her childhood persona.
- Full Name: Alana Frances Thompson
- Nickname: Honey Boo Boo
- Date of Birth: August 28, 2005
- Current Age (December 2025): 20 years old
- Birthplace: McIntyre, Georgia, USA
- Parents: June "Mama June" Shannon and Mike "Sugar Bear" Thompson
- Siblings (Half-Sisters): Anna "Chickadee" Cardwell (deceased), Jessica "Chubbs" Shannon, and Lauryn "Pumpkin" Efird (who served as her legal guardian)
- Education: Graduate of high school (May 2023); Currently attending Regis University in Denver, Colorado
- Current Career Focus: Neonatal Nursing Student
- Known For: Toddlers & Tiaras, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, Mama June: From Not to Hot, and the Lifetime biopic, I Was Honey Boo Boo.
The College Life: Trading Hollywood for Hospital Wards
The most significant and surprising update on Alana Thompson’s current life is her commitment to higher education. After graduating high school in May 2023, she made a decisive move away from her Georgia roots to attend college in Colorado.
Thompson is currently enrolled at Regis University in Denver, pursuing a degree in neonatal nursing. This career choice reveals a deep-seated desire to help others, a stark contrast to the glitz of reality television. She has expressed a passion for working with newborns, a challenging and vital field that requires immense focus and dedication.
This move has been a crucial step in her journey toward independence. She is living away from her family, experiencing the normal life of a college student, and prioritizing her studies over her reality TV career. While she still makes occasional appearances on her mother’s WEtv show, Mama June: From Not to Hot (now Mama June: Family Crisis), her focus is clearly on achieving her professional and academic goals.
A Long-Term, Committed Relationship with Dralin Carswell
Alana Thompson has been in a serious, long-term relationship with her boyfriend, Dralin Carswell, since 2021. Despite the public scrutiny and a significant age difference—Thompson is 20, and Carswell is in his mid-20s—the couple has remained committed.
The relationship has been a consistent part of her adult life, and recent updates from May 2025 confirm that the couple is still together and going strong. Carswell has been a steady presence in her life, supporting her through her high school graduation and her move to Colorado for university.
Their relationship has been a frequent topic of tabloid interest, particularly due to the age gap and Carswell's occasional legal issues. However, Thompson has consistently defended their bond, emphasizing that he is a supportive partner who encourages her to pursue her dreams. This stability contrasts sharply with the often tumultuous relationships seen on her family’s reality shows.
Health and Wellness: A Major Transformation
Alana has also made significant strides in her personal health journey. The former child star has undergone a dramatic physical and mental transformation, prioritizing her well-being. Reports indicate she has lost an impressive amount of weight, ranging from 60 to 70 pounds, through a combination of sustainable lifestyle changes.
The discussion around her health became public when she considered undergoing an Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG) procedure. While the decision was a personal one that generated much debate, her overall commitment to a healthier lifestyle is undeniable. This transformation is not just about physical appearance; it represents a deeper commitment to self-care and a healthier future, moving away from the unhealthy habits that plagued her family.
Narrating Her Own Story: The Lifetime Biopic
In a powerful move to reclaim her narrative, Alana Thompson served as the narrator for the Lifetime documentary film, I Was Honey Boo Boo. The film, which premiered in May 2025, offered a raw and unfiltered look at her life as a child star, told entirely from her perspective.
This project was a major turning point, allowing Thompson to speak openly about the struggles of growing up in the spotlight. In the special, she made a shocking revelation about her relationship with her mother, Mama June Shannon, stating that she felt her mother’s love was often "transactional."
The documentary covers her early days on Toddlers & Tiaras, the success of Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, and the complicated family dynamics that followed, including her sister Anna Cardwell's cancer journey and her half-sister Lauryn "Pumpkin" Efird becoming her legal guardian. By narrating her own story, Alana has cemented her transition from a child star being filmed to an adult controlling her own public image.
The New Normal: Focus on Privacy and a Future in Medicine
Alana Thompson's life today is a testament to her desire for a "new normal." She has significantly reduced her presence in the reality television sphere to focus on her education and personal life. Her decision to pursue neonatal nursing is not a casual one; it is a serious pivot toward a demanding and respected profession.
Her maturity in handling public scrutiny, her commitment to her relationship with Dralin Carswell, and her dedication to her health journey all paint a picture of a young woman who is determined to build a stable, meaningful future away from the drama that defined her childhood. The entity of "Honey Boo Boo" may always be a part of her past, but Alana Thompson is clearly focused on her future in medicine and a life defined by her own choices.
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