If you’ve been scrolling through social media lately, you’ve probably seen some Mama June pictures now that look nothing like the "Honey Boo Boo" days of 2012. It’s wild. One minute she’s the face of extreme couponing and roadkill soup, and the next, she’s documenting a high-stakes health journey that has the internet completely divided.
But honestly? The photos only tell half the story.
In 2026, June Shannon isn’t just "the lady from that pageant show." She’s a 46-year-old woman navigating a messy, public, and often heartbreaking reality that includes grief, legal battles, and a very modern approach to weight management. If you’re looking at her latest Instagram posts or TikTok lives and wondering why she looks so different, it’s not just the lighting.
The Reality of the Scale: Where June Stands in 2026
Let’s get the numbers out of the way because that’s what everyone asks about first. Back in the From Not to Hot era (around 2017), June famously dropped from 460 pounds to a size 4. It was a massive, $75,000 transformation involving gastric sleeve surgery and enough skin removal to fill a suitcase.
But life happened. Stress happened.
By early 2024, June was open about the fact that she’d regained a significant amount of weight—roughly 130 pounds. She attributed a lot of this to the soul-crushing stress of losing her eldest daughter, Anna "Chickadee" Cardwell, to stage 4 adrenal carcinoma in December 2023. Grief does weird things to the body. You stop caring about the gym. You eat what’s easy.
The GLP-1 Pivot
Instead of going back under the knife for another major surgery, June joined the "Ozempic era." Well, specifically semaglutide.
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In 2026, the Mama June pictures now show a woman who has found a new "middle ground." She isn't at her thinnest (that 160-pound "Not to Hot" peak), but she’s visibly slimmer than she was during the height of her family crisis. She recently noted that she’s losing about four to five pounds a week—a much slower, more sustainable pace than the 160 pounds she lost in six weeks after her original gastric sleeve.
"I will be updating every week how things are going as I know I'm not the only person that has struggled since having a bariatric surgery," June told her followers.
She handles the injections on camera, often with her husband, Justin Stroud, helping her out. It’s raw. It’s a little uncomfortable to watch. But it’s definitely real.
A Family Portrait: Who’s Still in the Frame?
If you look at recent group photos, the dynamic has shifted. The Shannons are famously "dysfunctional," but 2026 has seen them circle the wagons in a way we haven't seen in years.
- Alana "Honey Boo Boo" Thompson: Now 20, Alana is carving out a life that is semi-independent of her mother. After the drama involving her college fund and June allegedly "spending" her money, the pictures of them together look... strained, but present. Alana survived a scary car accident in late 2025, which reportedly brought the family closer for a minute.
- Lauryn "Pumpkin" Efird: Pumpkin is still the glue. Even though she and her husband Josh have had their own "split" rumors and rough patches, she remains the protector of the family.
- Kaitlyn Cardwell: This is the big one. After Anna passed, a massive custody battle ensued. As of late 2025 and moving into 2026, Mama June has legal custody of Kaitlyn. Photos of June and her granddaughter are frequent now, showing June in a full-time "mom" role again, which is a massive pivot from her "Road to Redemption" days where she was barely in the picture.
Why She Looks "Different" (Beyond the Weight)
People in the comments sections are always pointing out June’s face. "Is it a filter?" "Did she get more work done?"
Actually, it’s likely a mix of things. When you lose weight rapidly—especially in your 40s—you get what people call "Ozempic face." The fat leaves the face first, which can make a person look older or more "gaunt" than they did at a higher weight. June has also experimented with her look, ditching the heavy, "caterpillar" eyelashes that fans used to roast her for.
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Honestly, she looks better without them.
She’s also been sober for a significant stretch now. That "glow" people talk about? It’s often just the absence of the puffiness that comes with substance abuse. The 2026 version of June is clear-eyed in her TikTok lives, even when she’s defending herself against the latest round of "bad mom" allegations.
The Justin Stroud Factor
You can’t talk about Mama June pictures now without mentioning the guy usually standing next to her. Justin Stroud has been a polarizing figure since they eloped in a Georgia courthouse in 2022.
Critics called him a "clout chaser." The family was "standoffish" at first.
But four years later, he’s still there. He was by her side through Anna’s hospice care and death. He’s there for the custody hearings for Kaitlyn. In the most recent photos, they look like a solid, if unconventional, unit. He seems to be a stabilizing force, which is something June has lacked since... well, basically forever.
What Most People Get Wrong About June's "Now"
The biggest misconception is that June is "fixed."
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Reality TV likes a clean arc: "She was messy, then she got skinny, then she got sober, and now she’s perfect." That’s not how the Shannons work. The 2026 pictures show a woman who is still grieving, still fighting with her kids over money, and still trying to figure out how to be a grandmother and a mother at the same time.
It's a work in progress.
Actionable Takeaways from June’s Journey
If you're following June's path or just curious about the lifestyle changes she's making, here's what the 2026 landscape looks like for her:
- GLP-1s aren't a "magic" fix: June has stated she still hits the gym three to four times a week. The medication is a tool, not a total replacement for effort.
- Grief is a physical weight: If you're struggling with health after a loss, June’s story is a reminder that it’s okay to acknowledge that stress impacts your body.
- Consistency over Perfection: She isn't trying to be a size 4 again. She’s aiming for a "healthy 170-180," which is a much more realistic goal for someone with her history.
Watch for the new season of Family Crisis to see the actual motion behind these photos. The still images show the "what," but the show is still the only place where you get the "why."
To stay updated on the legal side of things, keep an eye on the Georgia court filings regarding Kaitlyn’s permanent custody—that's where the real "now" is happening behind the scenes.