It feels like just yesterday we were all watching a tiny, high-energy girl from McIntyre, Georgia, shout about "go-go juice" and "dollas making her holla." But time is a weird thing. If you’re wondering how old is honey boo boo now, the answer might actually make you feel a little ancient.
As of right now, in early 2026, Alana Thompson is 20 years old.
She isn’t that kid in a pageant dress anymore. She’s a college student living halfway across the country, navigating some pretty heavy adult problems that most people her age never have to touch. Honestly, it’s been a wild ride watching her grow up under a microscope.
The Transition from Reality Tot to Twenty-Something
Alana’s birthday is August 28, 2005. That means she hit the big 2-0 last summer. It’s a milestone that feels especially significant for someone whose entire childhood was basically a public record.
Most of us remember her as the breakout star of Toddlers & Tiaras back in 2012. She was only six or seven then. When TLC gave the family their own show, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, she became a household name overnight. But 2026 Alana looks very different from the girl who used to hunt for roadkill with "Sugar Bear" and "Mama June."
She’s spent the last year or so focused on her education at Regis University in Denver, Colorado. She moved there to pursue a degree in nursing—specifically, she wants to be a neonatal nurse. It’s a pretty grueling career path, especially when you’re also filming a reality show and dealing with family drama that constantly makes the tabloids.
Life in Colorado and the "Grown Up" Struggles
Moving to Colorado wasn't just about school; it was about distance. For years, Alana lived under the care of her older sister, Lauryn "Pumpkin" Efird, after their mother’s well-documented struggles with substance abuse and legal issues.
By the time 2026 rolled around, Alana had firmly established her own life away from the Georgia chaos, though the chaos tends to follow her. She’s been living with her long-term boyfriend, Dralin Carswell. Their relationship has been a huge talking point for fans, mostly because of the age gap and Dralin’s legal headaches. In late 2025, there was a lot of tension surrounding his trial for a 2023 DUI arrest, which left Alana publicly admitting she was "scared" for their future.
It’s a lot for a 20-year-old to carry.
The Financial Fallout with Mama June
One of the biggest storylines that’s carried into 2026 is the battle over Alana's money. If you’ve been keeping up with Mama June: Family Crisis, you know it hasn't been pretty. Alana has been very vocal about the fact that she didn't see a huge chunk of the money she earned as a child star.
- She accused June of "stealing" or mismanaging funds from her Coogan account (the account meant to protect child actors).
- During her first year of college, she struggled to pay tuition because the money she thought was there... just wasn't.
- The tension reached a boiling point in her 2025 Lifetime biopic, I Was Honey Boo Boo, where she really laid out the "darker side" of her childhood.
Dealing with Grief and Family Shifts
You can't talk about Alana at 20 without mentioning the tragedy that hit the family recently. The death of her oldest sister, Anna "Chickadee" Cardwell, from stage 4 adrenal carcinoma in late 2023 changed everything.
In many ways, that loss forced Alana to grow up even faster. It brought the family back together in some ways—June and Alana are on speaking terms again—but the wounds are still there. Alana has mentioned in recent interviews that she’s using her experiences with her sister’s illness as motivation for her nursing career. She wants to help people in their toughest moments because she knows exactly what that looks like from the other side of the hospital bed.
What's Next for Alana Thompson?
So, she’s 20. She’s a nursing student. She’s a survivor of the "child star curse" that has claimed so many others. What actually comes next?
She seems determined to finish her degree, but she hasn't completely walked away from the camera. There’s a balance she’s trying to strike. She knows her name is her brand, but she also wants a "real" career. It’s a bit of a tightrope walk.
If you're following her journey, here are the best ways to keep up with the facts:
- Watch the 2025 Biopic: I Was Honey Boo Boo on Lifetime gives the most unfiltered look at her perspective on her fame.
- Follow her Official Socials: She’s very active on Instagram and TikTok, often sharing glimpses of her life in Colorado and updates on her school progress.
- Check the Credits: Keep an eye out for new seasons of Family Crisis, though she has hinted she wants to step back from full-time filming as her clinical rotations for nursing school get more intense.
Alana has spent two decades being what the public wanted her to be. At 20, it finally feels like she's deciding who she wants to be for herself. Whether she ends up in a hospital ward or stays on our TV screens, the "Honey Boo Boo" era is officially over—Alana Thompson is just getting started.
To stay truly informed, focus on her verified social media updates rather than tabloid rumors, as she frequently clarifies her relationship status and school standing directly to her fans.