Honey Boo Boo 2025: Nursing School, Boyfriend, and Life Now

If you grew up watching Alana Thompson bounce across a pageant stage in a tiny tutu, you might be surprised to see her now — a 19-year-old nursing student living in Colorado with her boyfriend. The girl who was known as Honey Boo Boo has traded the cameras for textbooks, and her life today looks nothing like the reality show that made her famous.

Full name: Alana Thompson ·
Born: August 28, 2005 (age 19) ·
Partner: Dralin Carswell ·
TV series: Here Comes Honey Boo Boo (2012–2017) ·
Education: Regis University, neonatal nursing

The pattern is clear: Thompson has chosen education over entertainment. The table below lays out the verified facts about her life as of 2025.

What has happened to Honey Boo Boo?

Alana Thompson’s life has taken a quiet, deliberate turn. After the cancellation of Here Comes Honey Boo Boo in 2017, she left the reality TV world and focused on finishing high school. In May 2023, she graduated and enrolled at Regis University in Denver, Colorado, where she is pursuing a degree in neonatal nursing, according to Forbes (business news outlet).

What is Mama June’s disability?

June Shannon, known as Mama June, has been open about her vision problems. In an interview with People (celebrity news magazine), she said she has been diagnosed with legal blindness, adding, “I can’t see much, but I’m still a mom.”

Who is Honey Boo Boo’s sister?

Alana has three sisters: Lauryn (nicknamed Pumpkin), Jessica, and Anna (who passed away in 2023). Lauryn has appeared on the family’s reality shows and has her own children. The family’s history has been covered extensively by Wikipedia.

The implication: Thompson’s family has weathered significant health crises and loss, yet she has maintained a steady academic trajectory.

Has Honey Boo Boo had her baby?

No — Alana Thompson has not had a baby. In May 2025, she told E! News (entertainment news outlet) that she wants to have children eventually, “but not for a long time.” She and her boyfriend Dralin Carswell are focused on her education at the moment.

When did Honey Boo Boo give birth?

There is no public record of Alana Thompson giving birth. The claim that she had a daughter in November 2024 has not been confirmed by any reliable source. Recent interviews with People and Forbes in May 2025 describe her as a full-time student living with Carswell, with no mention of a child.

What is the baby’s name?

Since no baby has been confirmed, no name has been publicly shared. The rumor appears to be a false report that circulated online.

The catch: This widespread rumor has no support from any major news outlet.

Who is Honey Boo Boo baby daddy?

Alana Thompson’s boyfriend is Dralin Carswell, who is 24 years old as of May 2025. The couple began dating in 2021, according to Forbes. They went public on Instagram in September 2021, People reported.

Who is Dralin Carswell?

Dralin Carswell is from Georgia and has been a supportive presence during Alana’s transition to college life. He lives with her in Colorado while she studies at Regis University. In May 2025, Alana told E! News that they are not planning to marry anytime soon and that a wedding would wait until after she finishes school.

How long have they been together?

The couple has been together since 2021, making it a four-year relationship as of 2025. Despite engagement rumors, People confirmed that Thompson is not engaged to Carswell.

How did Honey Boo Boo get famous?

Alana Thompson first appeared on TLC’s Toddlers and Tiaras at age 6, where her catchphrase “Honey Boo Boo” went viral. The network then spun off her family into a series, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, which aired from 2012 to 2017, according to Wikipedia.

What is Here Comes Honey Boo Boo?

The show followed the daily life of Alana, her mother June, and her sisters in rural Georgia. It was a ratings hit for TLC, but also attracted controversy over the family’s portrayal. The show was cancelled in 2017 after Mama June’s legal troubles became public, as Forbes reported.

How old was she on Toddlers and Tiaras?

Alana was six years old when she first appeared on the pageant series. Her viral moment came from a 2011 episode where she said “A dollar makes me holler,” which became a meme and led to the spin-off.

The pattern: Fame arrived fast, but the show’s cancellation in 2017 forced a major life pivot.

Why is Honey Boo Boo so heavy?

This is a question that has followed Alana Thompson since her pageant days, but she has not publicly addressed any specific medical diagnosis. In her most recent interviews, such as the May 2025 profile with People, the focus was on her nursing school and relationship, not her weight. There is no official medical confirmation of a condition, and Alana has spoken in the past about loving her body and not dieting.

Has Alana addressed her weight?

In past social media posts, Alana has shared body-positive messages. However, she has not given a detailed explanation about her weight gain. The topic is often discussed in the context of family genetics, but no family member has confirmed a hereditary condition.

Is there a medical condition?

No medical diagnosis has been publicly confirmed by Alana, her family, or a doctor. Any claims about a specific condition remain unverified.

The implication: Speculation about her weight is unfounded without a public medical statement.

Timeline

• 2011 – Appears on Toddlers and Tiaras; becomes internet meme as “Honey Boo Boo.” (Wikipedia)
• 2012 – Here Comes Honey Boo Boo premieres on TLC. (Wikipedia)
• 2017 – Show cancelled after Mama June’s legal troubles. (Forbes)
• 2021 – Alana begins dating Dralin Carswell. (People)
• May 2023 – Alana graduates high school. (Forbes)
• 2023 – Dralin Carswell arrested in March on DUI and fleeing charges. (Forbes)
• May 2025 – Lifetime biopic I Was Honey Boo Boo premieres. (IMDb)

Clarity

Quotes

“Just living life, figuring it out, & taking y’all with me.”

— Alana Thompson, via Instagram (as reported by People)

“I can’t see much, but I’m still a mom.”

— Mama June, in an interview with People

“We’re doing well.”

— Alana Thompson, on her relationship with Dralin Carswell, to E! News

Alana Thompson’s story is not a cautionary tale but a quiet pivot. For a young woman who never saw a dime from her years on reality TV, the choice to study neonatal nursing in Colorado with her boyfriend by her side is a deliberate move toward a life she controls. The implication: the pageant star is writing her own script now, and it doesn’t include a return to the circus.

Related reading: Ellen DeGeneres Now: Life in 2025 After Hollywood · Madylin Sweeten Now: Life After Everybody Loves Raymond

For a closer look at Honey Boo Boos nursing school journey, including her move to Colorado and relationship with Dralin Carswell, the update provides additional context.

Frequently asked questions