When the world was first introduced to Alana Thompson, who was referred to as Honey Boo Boo for most of her time in the spotlight, it was on TLC's series Toddlers and Tiaras. Alana Thompson, a young beauty queen, stole the show with her quirky antics and louder-than-life personality. From quotes like 'a dollar makes me holler Honey Boo Boo' to her 'special juice' before she took the stage; a lot of Alana's life was highlighted and criticized from the very beginning.
All of the positive, and even the negative, attention got the Thompson family their own series, Here Comes Honey Boo. The show aired on TLC for four seasons before it was canceled because of Thompson's mom, Mama June, and her relationship with a registered sex offender.
So what has Alana been up to since her experience as a child reality television star? What changes has she made as she's grown up, and how does she feel about that nickname and everything associated with it? Let's take a look!
9 Her Name Isn't 'Honey Boo Boo'
While the nickname has been associated with her for as long as she's been in the public eye, she wants people to know that it's not her name. She's called Honey Boo Boo often, but her name is Alana Thompson, and she wants to make sure people separate the two. In a recent interview with Teen Vogue, she said it in a very plain, but upfront, way.
“My mama did not name me Honey Boo Boo. My name is Alana.”
8 She's Got Big Dreams
Thompson is a high schooler now, and she's got big dreams for herself! In the same interview with Teen Vogue, she shared that among working to get straight A's, Thompson wants to become a neonatal nurse, and she's working to get her own car. Of course, things look a little different for Thompson than it does for many teens across the country -- she's been on reality television for almost her entire life, and she's had to deal with a lot of ups and downs in the process.
7 She's Still Making Television Appearances
While the series, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, ended years ago, she's still made appearances on reality television. From Mama June: From Not To Hot and Dancing With The Stars: Juniors, Thompson has still made a name for herself on tv. Thompson and her partner, Tristan Ianiero, placed 8th in the dance competition, and you could tell she had a blast while doing it.
6 She's Trying Her Best
No matter what obstacles Thompson faces, she puts her best foot forward. She is constantly trying her best and giving her all to whatever enters her path. From high school to dance and balancing friendships to making her dreams come true -- she knows that it takes hard work to find success.
“I want to be the best I can be, and I want to make my money, and I also want to make straight A's, so I just try my hardest.”
5 She's A Different Alana Now
Thompson is embracing every part of who she is, but she also knows that there's a distinction. Yes, Thompson was 'Honey Boo Boo' for a beat in time, but she's always been Alana, a girl who has a lot of layers. In her pageant years, she was always 'on', as she's growing up, she can take breaks and focus on what she enjoys outside of the public eye.
She's also more comfortable with who she is now than who she was then.
“They are completely two different people. I would say that I do like this Alana now, rather than the younger Alana.”
4 Yes -- She's Still 'Country'
While many viewers of Thompson's television series' were judgmental about her lifestyle, she still embraces it while focusing on being more than just one thing. Yes, Thompson is country, but she's not the epitome of a 'redneck' or many of the other things she's been called. She enjoys the facets of her life and all of the pieces that make her who she is.
3 Alana Thompson Can't Always Trust Everyone
One downside to the way Thompson's life has been in the spotlight is that she feels like she can't trust everyone. In the Teen Vogue interview, she said she feels like she doesn't really have friends, because sometimes those relationships feel like they're not genuine. It was a sad statement, but a true one. When you're in the public eye, it's not always easy to discern who is there for you and who just wants to be there to say that they know you.
2 She Likes To Make Herself Feel Comfortable
Thompson is the kind of person who wants to be comfortable in her own skin and does what she wants to on the road to make that happen. She likes wearing nails and fake lashes, she likes dressing up. While she knows that a lot of people still equate her to being a child, she's a teenager now, and she'll be a young adult transitioning into a new chapter of life soon. She wants to embrace that openly and she should!
1 Alana Thompson Is Proud Of Herself
Most importantly, Thompson is proud of herself. She's been through a lot in her life, as have the people around her, and it would have been very easy to get lost in that. Instead, she found the light and the path she wanted to take and followed it. Thompson is proud of who she is, what she's overcome, and who she hopes to be.