“Honey Boo Boo” Thompson Just Flipped the Script on the Dysfunctional ‘Mama June: Family Crisis’ Curse — but It’s Not Over Yet

Alana Thompson has come a long way from her days on the TLC series Toddlers in Tiaras, when she was known for her sassy pageant alter ego “Honey Boo Boo.” Like many children thrown into the public eye at an early age, Alana has struggled with the transition from childhood fame into mature adulthood. Alana was also saddled with the additional strain of her mother’s downward spiral after the family’s rise to notoriety.

Mama June Thompson has made for a controversial role model amid family fame, and Alana has been remarkable for setting herself apart from what was modeled for her as a child. The series Mama June: From Not to Hot began as a documentary about June’s weight-loss journey, but when she and her partner were arrested for drug possession and other charges in March 2019, the series rebranded under the subtitle “Family Crisis.” With her recent success and resilient attitude, Alana is proving that when it comes to family curses, she has no interest in repeating them.

Reality TV Captured the Troubles Alana Grew Up With

Alana and her mother’s relationship was always slightly controversial, wherever they appeared on reality TV. Whether it was Toddlers and Tiaras, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, or Mama June: Family Crisis, the relationship between young Alana and her mother was filled with often outrageous moments that generated continued interest in their dynamic. Whether it was Alana’s sassy quips or her mother’s occasionally questionable choices as a stage mom, viewers were obsessed with following the exploits of the family.

For over a decade, the family documented their time together on reality TV, the good and the bad. Alana and her three older sisters shared their lives with their mother and Alana’s father, Mike “Sugar Bear” Thompson. What started out as a look into the folksy “red neck” antics of the Southern family took several sorrowful turns, as Mama began to spiral into a series of bad relationships and drug addiction. The family also faced tragedy in 2023 as Alana’s 29-year-old sister, Anna “Chickadee” Cardwell, passed away from cancer.

Alana Is Set on Breaking Family Curses

Now, Alana has returned to the public eye to talk about her childhood experiences as a reality star. In an exclusive interview with People, the former child star opened up about where she is in her life now, and reveals the truth about the time she and her sisters were dealing with the repercussions of their mother’s addiction. Alana speaks about her upcoming Lifetime biopic I Was Honey Boo Boo, where she admits that she is honest about what she experienced living with her mom, although she states she did not intend to treat her as a punching bag either.

These days, Alana is a nursing student, living with her long-term boyfriend, Dralin Carswell. She graduated from high school in 2023, after her older sister, Lauryn “Pumpkin” Efird, gained custody of her in 2022 following her mother’s arrest in 2019. When reflecting on her motivation to attend college, the former reality star commented that she had always told herself “you want to do something better with your life and bigger with your life than just being on TV.” The mantra motivated her to finish school, and aspire to become a nurse.

Alana still films with her mother in Mama June: Family Crisis. She acknowledges that June will likely be displeased with the way she is portrayed in Alana’s upcoming biopic, but shrugs this off by proclaiming she had only told the truth. The former reality star admits she has struggled financially, since she hasn’t seen payment for any of her time on Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, and her mother allegedly took the $35,000 she was paid for Dancing With the Stars.

The amount was returned recently, and apparently the money will be a topic of conversation in a future season of June’s series. The pair seem to be working on mending their relationship, as June admits to having spent the last five years working on herself. When she graduates, Alana will be the first member of her family to have earned a degree, showing her commitment to breaking past curses and moving forward with her new life.