Alana ‘Honey Boo Boo’ Thompson Sends Fans Important Message

Toddlers & Tiaras introduced TV viewers to the world of stage moms encouraging their tiny tots topped with tiaras. And among those toddlers, Honey Boo Boo (real name: Alana Thompson) became a star.

Her popularity led to her own reality TV show, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo. But now, as a teenager, Alana wants her fans to understand that she has outgrown that child pageant outfit with her Honey Boo Boo persona.

Find out what the Toddlers & Tiaras alum shared about her life today. And discover what her sister shared about raising Alana after their mother relinquished custody. Get all the details below.

Alana ‘Honey Boo Boo’ Thompson Complains About Fans

At 17, Toddlers & Tiaras alum Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Thompson wishes that fans would recognize her growth. But her fans tend to still view her as the little girl on TLC’s Toddlers & Tiaras and Here Comes Honey Boo Boo.

The shows aired prior to WE TV debuting Mama June: From Not to Hot. And Thompson, who will celebrate her 18th birthday in August, told People that fans think of her as a child.

“I get a lot of comments like that,” revealed the Here Comes Honey Boo Boo alum. “And I feel like since I’ve been on TV for such a long time, since I was younger, a lot of people still picture me as a little kid.” However, Alana recently graduated high school. And she has begun preparing for college after her final year at Wilkinson County High School in McIntyre, Georgia.

Since 2021, Thompson has enjoyed dating her 21-year-old boyfriend, Dralin Carswell, since 2021. But she complained that fans “still think like, ‘Oh, you’re not supposed to be this.’ And ‘You got a boyfriend? Oh no, you’re not supposed to have a boyfriend,'” she added. “And it’s like, I’m almost going to be 18. I’ve already graduated high school. I’m basically already grown. So I just don’t understand it.”

https://twitter.com/MamaJune_WEtv/status/1681009784617672705

Lauryn ‘Pumpkin’ Shannon Talks Raising Alana

Because Alana’s parents gave up custody, her sister Lauryn “Pumpkin” Shannon and husband Joshua Efird raised her. But Lauryn admits that bringing up her sister with her own children meant overcoming challenges. And she confessed that it became “tough to navigate. Because, of course, me and Josh have four kids of our own,” pointed out the 23-year-old. “And we’re also trying to send Alana now off to college and stuff.”

As a result, Lauryn struggled with a complex situation. “And even before then, it was like we were trying to get Alana to graduate and we were trying to learn how to manage five kids under five and also a high school graduate. So that was always very, very complicated for me and Josh to figure out. But some way and somehow, we always seem to manage all five of the kids,” added Alana’s sister.

However, the Here Comes Honey Boo Boo alum believes that she feels “ready” for college. And while she admits she faces “a different journey,” Alana has prepared herself. “But I think I’m ready for it,” she added. “I don’t know if the cameras will be following me just yet. Y’all are just going to really have to wait and see what happens.”

Tell us what you think. Do you understand Alana Thompson’s message to fans? And after you share your views, check back on our site for more reality TV news.