Mama June Shannon is proud of her little girl growing up, and she trusts her judgment.
Alana Thompson, introduced to the world as Honey Boo Boo, is 16 years old now. Her life has played out in a series of reality shows, from Toddlers & Tiaras to Here Comes Honey Boo Boo to Mama June: From Not to Hot. Today, she shares scenes a little more on her own terms, with a social media presence that gives some balance to what people have seen on TV.
Longtime fans of the spirited teen who has grown up in difficult circumstances have been worried about her choice to date an older guy. Since early 2021, Alana has been dating 20-year-old Dralin Carswell. Fans have expressed discomfort and concern at seeing at 16- and 20-year-old together, but Mama June is defending Alana's decision.
Mama June stuck up for Alana in a recent interview with TooFab.
"Yes, I've met Dralin. They've been together for over a year," June said.
"People need to realize that she's going to be 17 in August and that [Alana's older sister] Pumpkin and Josh were the same age as they were."
"She is getting a lot of hate because she's in an interracial relationship, he is older, but at the end of the day, Alana's not that 6-7 year old child y'all fell in love with 11 years ago," June continued.
"Alana has grown up, she's graduating high school next year, guys!"
Mama June and Alana spoke about how people often perceive her as younger than she is an interview with People in November 2021.
"Alana was 4 when we started this adventure, and [it's] time people have to realize Alana is 16 now," June said.
"She's going to wear makeup. She's going to wear eyelashes. She's going to wear nails. She's going to dress a certain way because Alana's coming into herself. And I think a lot of people still look at Alana as that 6-, 7-, 8-year-old girl that never grew up."
"I feel like so many people still look at me as that little girl that very first came on TV," Alana noted.
"Even when the posts about me and my boyfriend coming out, I feel like there was so many people that were still treating me like I was 6 years old."
Though Alana doesn't regret any part of her journey, she noted that she does struggle with just how public her life is from time to time.
"There has been many times where I'm like, 'Oh my God, I just wish this could be private. This could be just us.' Because everything you do when you're famous gets out," she noted.
"Everything. No matter if it's two years from that date that you did it or two days from that date, it's going to get out. So I do wish some things could be private, but I love what I do, and it's my life so I have to get used to it, I guess."
Viewers will get more insight into what Alana's life is like when Mama June: Road to Redemption returns with a new season. This season will show June trying to regain custody of Alana. With a recent renewal, viewers will get to continue watching until Alana graduates high school in 2023.
