You probably remember the tiaras. The "Go-Go Juice" (that terrifying mix of Mountain Dew and Red Bull). The catchphrases like "A dolla make me holla" that turned a seven-year-old from McIntyre, Georgia, into a global phenomenon overnight. It’s been well over a decade since Toddlers & Tiaras introduced us to Alana Thompson, better known as Honey Boo Boo. Looking at Honey Boo Boo now and then, the distance between that hyperactive pageant kid and the woman she’s become is honestly staggering.
She isn't that kid anymore. Not even close.
Today, Alana is a college student navigating the complex, often messy reality of a family that has lived its entire existence under the harsh glow of a camera crew. Most child stars burn out. They disappear into obscurity or, worse, become cautionary tales. Alana? She’s still here. But the "Honey Boo Boo" persona is something she carries like an old, slightly itchy coat she can’t quite throw away because it paid for her tuition.
The McIntyre Years: Where It All Started
In 2012, TLC took a gamble on a spin-off called Here Comes Honey Boo Boo. It was a massive hit. It was also polarizing. Critics called it "poverty porn," while fans saw a family that, despite their chaotic habits and unconventional diet (sketti, anyone?), genuinely seemed to love each other.
The contrast between Honey Boo Boo now and then starts with the environment. Back then, it was all about the "Redneck Riviera." We saw a family clipping coupons, playing in mud pits, and navigating the pageant circuit. Alana was the star because she had no filter. She was charismatic in a way that felt raw, unlike the polished Disney kids of the same era.
But fame at that level is a heavy weight for a child.
The show was abruptly canceled in 2014 following reports involving Alana's mother, June "Mama June" Shannon, and a controversial figure from her past. Suddenly, the cameras stopped. The checks stopped. But the public’s gaze? That never goes away.
The Turbulence of the Middle Years
To understand the shift in Alana’s life, you have to look at the period between 2017 and 2021. This was a dark time. The family returned to television with Mama June: From Not to Hot, but the focus shifted. It wasn't about Alana's pageants anymore; it was about June's weight loss and, eventually, her harrowing spiral into substance abuse.
This is where the "then" version of Alana had to grow up—fast.
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While most teenagers are worried about prom or chemistry tests, Alana was dealing with the legal fallout of her mother’s arrest. She ended up moving in with her older sister, Lauryn "Pumpkin" Efird. This wasn't just for show. Lauryn became her legal guardian.
Honestly, it’s one of the few times a reality TV story arc felt desperately, painfully real. You could see the heartbreak on Alana's face during the sit-down interventions. She went from the "funny kid" to a young woman protecting her peace.
Honey Boo Boo Now: High School, College, and a New Identity
Fast forward to today. If you look at Alana's social media, the transformation is evident. She graduated from Wilkinson County High School in 2023. Think about that for a second. The girl we saw in pigtails and makeup walked across a stage with a 3.0 GPA.
She didn't just stop at high school.
Alana moved to Colorado to attend Regis University. She’s studying nursing. It’s a choice that surprises people who still associate her with "Go-Go Juice." Nursing requires discipline, empathy, and a grueling academic load. It’s about as far from a reality TV set as you can get.
Why the Public is Still Obsessed
Why do we keep searching for Honey Boo Boo now and then?
- Relatability: Her family struggles are extreme versions of what many people face—addiction, financial instability, and sibling dynamics.
- The Survival Factor: We want to see if she makes it. There is a collective hope that she beats the "child star curse."
- Physical Evolution: Like any kid growing up in the public eye, her physical change—from a small child to a young woman—is a visual time capsule for an entire generation of viewers.
She has also been vocal about body positivity. Alana has faced relentless bullying about her weight since she was six years old. Today, she speaks with a level of confidence that feels earned. She isn’t trying to fit the "Hollywood" mold, and that’s arguably more rebellious than anything she did on her original show.
The Complicated Relationship with Fame
Don’t get it twisted—she hasn't left TV entirely. She still appears on Mama June: Family Crisis. There is a practical reason for this. Reality TV is how the family survives.
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But there’s a difference in how she handles it now. In her earlier years, she was a participant in the chaos. Now, she often feels like an observer or a victim of it, trying to set boundaries with a mother who is still working through her own recovery and public image issues.
Alana has mentioned in interviews that people often expect her to be "on" all the time. They want the seven-year-old Alana. They want the catchphrases. When they meet a quiet, somewhat reserved college student instead, there’s a disconnect.
"I'm not that little girl anymore," she has told reporters. And she shouldn't have to be.
Analyzing the Financial Reality
There’s been a lot of talk about the money. Where did all that TLC cash go?
In recent episodes of their show, it was revealed that much of Alana’s earnings from her younger years were... gone. This is a common tragedy in the industry. While Coogan Laws (which protect child performers' earnings) exist in states like California, Georgia’s laws were much looser during her peak years.
This financial hit makes her pursuit of a nursing degree even more impressive. She’s not sitting on a mountain of pageant gold. She’s working for a future that doesn't depend on a camera crew following her into a grocery store.
The Shift in Family Dynamics
The "then" of the Thompson/Shannon family was a unit. They were "The Shannon Clan."
The "now" is fragmented.
- Lauryn (Pumpkin) is the matriarch now.
- Jessica and Anna (rest in peace) had their own struggles and triumphs away from the main spotlight.
- June is constantly trying to bridge the gap back to her daughters, with varying degrees of success.
The loss of Alana’s sister, Anna "Chickadee" Cardwell, to cancer in late 2023 was another massive blow. It showed a side of Alana that was mature and grieving, handling a public loss with more grace than many adults.
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What We Can Learn from Alana's Journey
The story of Alana Thompson is a case study in resilience. It’s easy to mock the "Honey Boo Boo" brand, but it’s much harder to survive it.
She has managed to maintain a long-term relationship, move across the country, and stay enrolled in a difficult degree program while her family life was essentially a tabloid fixture. That doesn't happen by accident. It happens through a conscious choice to be someone else.
If you’re looking for a takeaway from the saga of Honey Boo Boo now and then, it’s this: people are allowed to outgrow their beginnings. Your "then" does not have to dictate your "now."
Actionable Steps for Navigating Public Identity
Whether you're a micro-influencer or just someone with an embarrassing digital footprint from 2012, Alana's trajectory offers some real-world lessons on personal rebranding.
1. Define Your Boundaries Early
Alana started saying "no" to certain filming requests as she got older. If you find your personal life bleeding too much into your public persona, create "off-limit" zones. You don't owe the internet every part of your soul.
2. Invest in Tangible Skills
Fame is fickle. Algorithms change. Alana’s pivot to nursing is the ultimate hedge against the instability of entertainment. Always have a "boring" skill that the world actually needs.
3. Seek Therapy for "Public" Trauma
The family has been open about going to therapy. Processing the "then" is the only way to have a healthy "now." If you've dealt with public scrutiny or family dysfunction, professional help is non-negotiable for moving forward.
4. Control the Narrative
Alana uses her social media to show her life at college, her boyfriend, and her personal milestones on her own terms. Use your platforms to show who you are today, rather than letting old photos or stories define you.
The girl who shouted about "dollas" has grown into a woman looking for a stable career. It’s not the flashy ending Hollywood usually writes, but it’s a much healthier one. Alana Thompson is proving that you can be a "has-been" by age 10 and a "success" by age 20—you just have to be willing to leave the tiara behind.