Alana Thompson, once known as the precocious child pageant star Honey Boo Boo, is now 21 and pursuing a career in pediatric nursing. Her journey, and those of her family members, have unfolded dramatically in the years since the TLC reality show "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo" concluded.
Thompson, who gained fame on "Toddlers & Tiaras" before starring in her own spin-off, is currently studying nursing at Regis University in Denver and working as a Patient Care Technician in pediatrics. She has expressed a desire to build a life away from the constant scrutiny of the spotlight, telling Teen Vogue that she prefers her current self over her younger persona and has no plans to put her own future children on television.
Family's Varied Fortunes
The "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo" series, which debuted in 2012, documented Alana's life with her mother, June Shannon, known as "Mama June," and her sisters. The show ended abruptly in 2014 following allegations that Mama June was in a relationship with a convicted child sex offender.
Mama June's life has since been marked by significant struggles, including addiction to crack cocaine, which led to a rift with her children and legal troubles. Her story was chronicled in the series "Mama June: From Not to Hot," later rebranded as "Mama June: Family Crisis." She has since entered recovery, married Justin Stroud, whom she met in rehab, and has undergone a hysterectomy and other unspecified medical procedures. Her public weight loss journey has also been a significant part of her narrative.
Alana's older sister, Lauryn "Pumpkin" Shannon, and her husband Josh Efird were granted legal custody of Alana in 2022 amid Mama June's addiction issues. Lauryn has recently found financial success through an OnlyFans account, sharing that it has allowed her to pay off debt and save for the future. She has also been involved in creating adult content with her boyfriend, Darrin Kitchens.
Jessica "Chubbs" Shannon, another of Mama June's daughters, became the first in the family to graduate high school and had planned to study nursing. She married Shyann McCant in 2022, but the couple divorced shortly after due to infidelity. Jessica recently finalized her divorce and is reportedly in a new relationship.
Tragedy and Health Battles
The family also experienced profound loss. Anna "Chickadee" Cardwell, Mama June's eldest daughter, passed away in December 2023 at the age of 29 after a battle with stage four adrenal cancer. Cardwell was diagnosed in January 2022 and married her partner Eldridge Toney shortly thereafter. Her sister Alana was by her side during her final months, and after Anna's death, a legal dispute arose over the guardianship of her daughter Kaitlyn, with Mama June ultimately fighting to retain custody.
Mike "Sugar Bear" Thompson, Alana's father and Mama June's ex-partner, has publicly dealt with prescription drug abuse and struggles with anxiety and depression. While he and Mama June exchanged vows in a commitment ceremony in 2014, they separated later that year. Sugar Bear remarried in 2017, but is reportedly no longer with his second wife. He was the subject of a death hoax in 2025, which he refuted.
More than a decade after finding fame, the members of the Honey Boo Boo family have navigated vastly different life paths, marked by personal triumphs, public struggles, and significant loss.