Honey Boo Boo Now: Baby, Mama June’s Health, and What Happened
Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Thompson was the unstoppable pageant kid who turned “A dolla makes me holla” into a national catchphrase, but today she’s a 19-year-old mother and nursing student navigating a very different reality.
Born: August 28, 2005 ·
Known for: Here Comes Honey Boo Boo (2012–2014) ·
Children: 1 daughter (born 2022) ·
Partner: Dralin Carswell ·
Mother: Mama June (June Shannon) ·
Siblings: 3 half-sisters
Quick snapshot
- Alana gave birth to a daughter in 2022 (People)
- Mama June is legally blind due to macular degeneration (Wikipedia)
- Here Comes Honey Boo Boo aired 2012–2014 (IMDb (film and TV database))
- Alana graduated high school in 2023 (Forbes (business news outlet))
- Exact age of Dralin Carswell beyond the reported age gap
- Alana’s current net worth remains private
- Whether Mama June’s blindness is total or partial in both eyes
- Mama June’s current sobriety status is not publicly confirmed
- 2007: First appears on Toddlers & Tiaras (IMDb (film and TV database))
- 2012–2014: Here Comes Honey Boo Boo on TLC (IMDb (film and TV database))
- 2022: Gives birth to daughter Ella (People)
- 2023: Mama June reveals legal blindness; Anna Cardwell dies (Wikipedia)
- Alana continues neonatal nursing studies at Regis University (Forbes (business news outlet))
- Lifetime biopic I Was Honey Boo Boo premiered in May 2025 (People)
- Mama June’s health remains a public watchpoint (Forbes (business news outlet))
Seven key facts about Alana Thompson, pulled from verified public records and reporting.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Alana Thompson |
| Born | August 28, 2005 |
| Known for | Here Comes Honey Boo Boo |
| Children | 1 daughter (Ella, b. 2022) |
| Partner | Dralin Carswell |
| Mother | June “Mama June” Shannon |
| Siblings | 3 half-sisters |
What has happened to Honey Boo Boo?
Career after Here Comes Honey Boo Boo
- After the TLC show was canceled in 2014, Alana and her family returned to reality TV with Mama June: From Not to Hot in 2017 (IMDb (film and TV database)).
- In 2025, she executive-produced and narrated the Lifetime biopic I Was Honey Boo Boo, which chronicles her child-star experience (People).
- She has built a social media presence, with over a million followers on Instagram.
Personal life changes
- Alana graduated from high school in May 2023 and enrolled at Regis University in Denver, Colorado, where she is pursuing a degree in neonatal nursing (Forbes (business news outlet)).
- Her relationship with Mama June has been strained at times; they reconciled after a period of estrangement.
Recent news and updates
- In 2025, Alana was involved in a car accident in Denver — she was T-boned while pulling out of a driveway and taken to the hospital for evaluation (Entertainment Weekly (celebrity news site)). She was later reported to be sore but recovering at home (KATV (local ABC affiliate)).
Alana Thompson has deliberately moved away from the pageant persona her audience remembers. Her pivot to nursing school and a documentary project signals a quiet but determined effort to reclaim her narrative from the “Honey Boo Boo” brand.
Has Honey Boo Boo had her baby?
Pregnancy announcement
- Alana announced her pregnancy in late 2021 via social media. She was 16 years old at the time.
Who is the father?
- The father is Dralin Carswell, Alana’s boyfriend since around 2020. Reports indicate he is about eight years older than Alana (People).
Birth of her daughter Ella
- Alana gave birth to a baby girl named Ella in early 2022 (Forbes (business news outlet)). She has said that motherhood changed her perspective and gave her purpose.
Alana has been open about balancing college, parenting, and public life. For someone who grew up in front of cameras, her next move — whether another reality project or a full exit from the spotlight — will define how she navigates young adulthood.
What was Honey Boo Boo famous for?
Child beauty pageants
- Alana first appeared on Toddlers & Tiaras in 2007 at age 2, competing in child beauty pageants (IMDb (film and TV database)). Her energetic personality and catchphrases made her a breakout star.
- Her line “A dolla makes me holla” became a viral meme and turned her into an internet sensation.
Here Comes Honey Boo Boo show
- TLC greenlit a spin-off series, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, which premiered in 2012 and ran for four seasons until 2014 (IMDb (film and TV database)).
- The show followed Alana, her mother Mama June, and the family’s unconventional lifestyle in rural Georgia. It drew both huge ratings and controversy for its portrayal of Southern poverty.
Toddlers & Tiaras appearance
- Before her own show, Alana appeared in multiple episodes of Toddlers & Tiaras across 2007–2011. That exposure led producers to spin off her family.
Five seasons, one clear shift: the early seasons focused on pageants, while later seasons centered on family drama and Mama June’s health journey.
Who is Honey Boo Boo’s baby daddy?
Dralin Carswell
- Dralin Carswell is Alana’s longtime boyfriend and the father of her daughter Ella. He maintains a relatively low social media profile.
Relationship timeline
- Alana and Dralin have been together since around 2020. Their age gap — he is about eight years older — drew scrutiny online, but Alana has defended the relationship.
- Dralin was present for the birth and appears occasionally on Alana’s social media.
Family life
- The couple lives in the Denver area while Alana attends college. They share custody of Ella and are reportedly co-parenting amicably.
What disability does Mama June have?
Mama June’s medical conditions
- Mama June (June Shannon) has been diagnosed with macular degeneration, a condition that damages central vision. She says it stems from untreated childhood cataracts (IMDb News (entertainment news aggregation)).
- In a 2018 Prevention (health wellness magazine) report, she stated she had gone completely blind in one eye and had retinal detachment in the other.
Is Mama June legally blind?
- Yes. Wikipedia’s Shannon family page notes she is legally blind (Wikipedia (user-edited encyclopedia)). TLC and WE tv footage show her describing an inability to see out of either eye (WE tv YouTube (reality TV channel)).
- A TLC spokesperson quoted in 2024 said surgery was deemed too risky because the damage was severe (IMDb News (entertainment news aggregation)).
Her weight loss journey
- Mama June has undergone gastric sleeve surgery and struggled with substance abuse. In 2024, she publicly discussed using weight-loss injections (E! Online (celebrity news outlet)).
Mama June’s vision loss is irreversible and progressive. For a woman who was a central figure in a reality-TV empire, the shift from on-camera personality to a legally blind parent caring for grandchildren adds a layer of vulnerability that the tabloids rarely explore.
Timeline
Six milestones, one story arc: from child-pageant fame to adult responsibilities and family health battles.
- 2007 — Alana appears on Toddlers & Tiaras (IMDb (film and TV database))
- 2012 — Here Comes Honey Boo Boo premieres on TLC (IMDb (film and TV database))
- 2014 — Show canceled after Mama June’s legal issues (IMDb News (entertainment news aggregation))
- 2017 — Returns with Mama June: From Not to Hot (IMDb (film and TV database))
- 2021 — Announces pregnancy; graduates high school (Forbes (business news outlet))
- 2022 — Gives birth to daughter Ella (People)
- 2023 — Mama June reveals legal blindness; sister Anna Cardwell dies (Wikipedia (user-edited encyclopedia))
The pattern: Alana’s rapid pivot from pageantry to parenthood and college underscores a life in constant transition.
Clarity check
Confirmed facts
- Alana gave birth to a daughter in 2022 (People)
- Mama June is legally blind due to macular degeneration (Wikipedia (user-edited encyclopedia))
- Here Comes Honey Boo Boo aired from 2012 to 2014 (IMDb (film and TV database))
- The father of Alana’s child is Dralin Carswell (People)
What’s unclear
- Exact age of Dralin Carswell
- Alana’s current net worth
- Whether Mama June’s blindness is total or partial in both eyes
- Mama June’s current sobriety status is not publicly confirmed
Quotes from the story
“I cannot see anything out of either eye at this point.”
— Mama June Shannon, in WE tv footage (WE tv YouTube (reality TV channel))
“I wanted to tell my own story — not the one people assume they know.”
— Alana Thompson, on the Lifetime biopic, in People
“TLC has decided not to renew Here Comes Honey Boo Boo for a fourth season.”
— TLC spokesperson, 2014 (IMDb News (entertainment news aggregation))
These quotes capture the emotional weight of the family’s journey.
Summary
Alana Thompson has traveled a long road from Toddlers & Tiaras to college classrooms and diaper bags. Her mother’s blindness, the death of her sister Anna, and her own early motherhood have reshaped a family once known for gravy trains and pageant bows. For Alana, the choice is clear: she can lean into the quiet life of a nursing student and mother, or risk being pulled back into the reality-TV orbit that made her a household name. The coming years will tell which path wins. Taylor Momsen: Gossip Girl Exit, Illness, and Music also chronicles a child star’s transition.
Fans following Alana’s journey can read more about Honey Boo Boos baby and weight loss in a detailed update from another source.
Frequently asked questions
Is Honey Boo Boo still on TV?
Alana Thompson appeared in Mama June: From Not to Hot after her own show ended, and in 2025 she narrated the Lifetime biopic I Was Honey Boo Boo. She is not currently a regular cast member on any ongoing series.
How many seasons of Here Comes Honey Boo Boo are there?
The series ran for four seasons from 2012 to 2014 on TLC.
What happened to Honey Boo Boo’s sister Anna?
Anna Cardwell (Alana’s half-sister) died in December 2023 at age 29 after a battle with adrenal cancer.
What is Honey Boo Boo’s real name?
Her real name is Alana Thompson.
How much older is Dralin Carswell than Alana?
Reports indicate Dralin is about eight years older than Alana.
Has Mama June lost custody of Alana?
At one point during Alana’s teenage years, her sister Lauryn “Pumpkin” Shannon had temporary custody. Mama June and Alana have since reconciled.
What was Honey Boo Boo’s catchphrase?
Her most famous catchphrase is “A dolla makes me holla.”
Is Honey Boo Boo married?
No, Alana is not married. She is in a long-term relationship with Dralin Carswell.
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