From Pageant Princess To Nursing Student: 5 Shocking Updates On Honey Boo Boo Now (2025)

Alana "Honey Boo Boo" Thompson has officially shed her child-star persona and is embarking on a new, surprisingly normal chapter of her life as of December 13, 2025. The former beauty pageant queen, who first captivated audiences with her boisterous personality on *Toddlers & Tiaras*, is now a 19-year-old college student pursuing a demanding career in healthcare, a dramatic pivot from the chaotic reality TV world she grew up in. The journey hasn't been without its signature family drama and personal challenges, including major relationship controversy and a cross-country move away from her Georgia roots. This article dives into the most current and fresh details of Alana Thompson's life, revealing her major milestones, her new identity, and the legal cloud hanging over her long-time boyfriend, Dralin Carswell.

Alana "Honey Boo Boo" Thompson: A Complete Biographical Profile

Alana Thompson, known universally by her reality TV nickname, has spent over a decade in the public eye. Her life has been documented across multiple television series, from her initial debut to her current attempts at a private, educated life.

• Full Name: Alana Frances Thompson
• Nickname: Honey Boo Boo
• Date of Birth: August 28, 2005
• Birthplace: McIntyre, Georgia, U.S.A.
• Age (as of Dec 2025): 20
• Parents: June "Mama June" Shannon and Mike "Sugar Bear" Thompson
• Paternal Custodian: Lauryn "Pumpkin" Efird (gained full custody in June 2022)
• Siblings (Half-Sisters): Anna "Chickadee" Cardwell (deceased), Jessica "Chubbs" Shannon, and Lauryn "Pumpkin" Efird
• Initial Fame: *Toddlers & Tiaras* (2012)
• Spinoff Series: *Here Comes Honey Boo Boo* (2012–2014)
• Current Status: College Student, Reality TV Personality

The College Life: Nursing School, Colorado, and a New Identity

In the most significant update to her life, Alana Thompson has traded the Georgia spotlight for the quiet focus of a college campus in Colorado. She is currently a rising junior at Regis University, where she is pursuing a degree in nursing. This educational path marks a clear attempt to forge a life and career independent of her reality TV fame.

The move to Denver, Colorado, was a massive step, representing a physical and emotional distance from the ongoing drama surrounding her mother, Mama June Shannon. Alana has been vocal about her desire to be taken seriously beyond the "Honey Boo Boo" title, a sentiment that is the focus of her new Lifetime special, *I Was Honey Boo Boo*, set to premiere in May 2025.

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Focusing on her studies has been Alana's primary goal throughout 2024 and 2025. She has been praised by fans for her dedication to education and for choosing a path that prioritizes her future over further reality TV exploits. She now lives in a modest Denver rental home, a humble setting far removed from the lavish, public life often associated with celebrity.

The Controversy Surrounding Boyfriend Dralin Carswell

While Alana's academic life is on track, her personal relationship with long-time boyfriend Dralin Carswell continues to be a major source of public scrutiny and family concern. Alana and Dralin, who is 24, moved in together in Colorado to support Alana's college experience.

However, Dralin Carswell is currently facing serious legal issues back in Georgia. In a highly publicized incident, Carswell was arrested after a three-mile car chase with deputies, an event in which Alana Thompson was a passenger.

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Dralin was later indicted on four counts, including:

• Fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer
• Driving under the influence (controlled substance)
• Speeding
• Failure to maintain his lane

The legal situation has been a heavy cloud over Alana's new life. Carswell was also banned from Monroe County for a year as part of his sentencing. Despite the ongoing criminal record and the documented relationship problems shown on the new season of *Mama June: Family Crisis*, Alana has stood by her boyfriend, creating tension within the Shannon family.

The Evolving Dynamics of the Shannon-Thompson Family

The familial bonds that first brought the family to fame on *Here Comes Honey Boo Boo* remain complex and are still central to the ongoing reality series *Mama June: Family Crisis*.

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Lauryn "Pumpkin" Efird's New Chapter

Alana's sister, Lauryn "Pumpkin" Efird, who was granted full custody of Alana in 2022, is also navigating major life changes. Pumpkin recently went through a divorce from her ex-husband, Josh Efird. The separation has been a focus of the reality show, with Pumpkin describing the adjustment to single motherhood as challenging. In a surprising twist, Pumpkin is now dating Darrin Kitchens, who is reportedly a cousin of her ex-husband, Josh Efird, a development that keeps the family's life in the public eye.

Mama June Shannon's Continued Presence

Mama June Shannon continues to be a key figure in the family's narrative, though her relationship with Alana is still complicated. Alana has moved on from the financial and emotional instability of her past, which included Mama June's past struggles with addiction and legal troubles. The new season of the reality show continues to document the family's attempts to reconcile and deal with their past traumas, including the recent loss of Alana's oldest sister, Anna "Chickadee" Cardwell.

Alana’s move to Colorado signifies a genuine commitment to building a stable, educated future. While she is still tied to the reality TV machine through her family and her new special, her focus on becoming a registered nurse demonstrates a profound shift from the "Honey Boo Boo" persona she is determined to leave behind.