Alana "Honey Boo Boo" Thompson is all grown up and getting real about life after reality TV. Now a college nursing student, the 19-year-old opens up about the breaking point in her relationship with her mother, Mama June, and the lasting impact of early fame.
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00:00Honey Boo Boo literally come from, I was sitting in an interview one day, and I was like,
00:03Adala made me holla, Honey Boo Boo Child. I don't know why I said it. I literally just,
00:09off the top of my head. The other guys must be crazy if they think they're gonna be me,
00:13Honey Boo Boo Child. And the Honey Boo Boo's stuck, and she's been there forever.
00:22When I was a kid, I loved being in front of the camera. I loved doing anything to make people
00:26laugh. The pageants were right up my alley. I loved being on stage. I just love being the center of
00:32attention, if we're being honest.
00:37I wanna work again.
00:40I feel like ever since I've been on TV, I've always wanted to be authentic. I never wanted to be fake.
00:46I never wanted to get dressed up in the morning, to just be on camera. Girl, I'm in my PJs. I don't
00:52even care. So, I think, like, the whole time I was filming Honey Boo Boo, and even up till now,
00:57like, I've always been authentic. I've never tried to persuade to be somebody I'm not. Um, because I'm
01:03just not that person. So, I mean, I'm pretty authentic.
01:10I had seen, like, mommas change. Just, like, when we started to really get famous, and people started to,
01:15like, really come up to us, and, like, ask, like, hey, can I get a picture? Can I get a picture?
01:19She just thought, like, oh, like, we made it. Like, this is Alana now, and, like, we don't need to do
01:24anything else. Like, we're on TV now, and we've made it. And it's, like, I don't know. I don't feel
01:28like she should have that mindset, but it's whatever. That's my momma for you. It could have
01:33been jealousy. It could have just been, like, oh, now she's making all the money. Like, I don't know
01:37what it could have been, but there was probably some jealousy in there.
01:44What brought me the most joy before the cameras is just, like, how close we were as a
01:48family? We were really close. Um, my momma used to have, like, a policy of, like, an open-door
01:52policy. Like, we can come to her and tell her whatever. So, I feel like before the cameras,
01:56we were really close. And, I mean, even after the cameras, we still are really close, but I do feel
02:01like the cameras affected us a little bit. I feel like my dad leaving impacted me most, just because
02:06my dad is not any of my other sister's real dad. So, they didn't really care. Like, yeah, Shookboro's in
02:13their life or whatever, but they didn't really care. But when he left, it affected me, because we did have a very
02:18close relationship. And, like, he would come home from work, and we would just go out in the yard,
02:22or, like, just do whatever. So, at the time that he was living with us, we were pretty close. So,
02:26that hurt me pretty bad. For Anna, we wasn't really super close, because she lived all the way in
02:31Alabama, and, like, she didn't come home much, and we wasn't able to go there much, because we were just
02:35filming all the time and just always so busy. And then for Jessie, she was just, like, always out with
02:40her friends. She was in high school. Like, she didn't care to hang out with her little sister that's in
02:45third grade. Like, she didn't care about that. And Pumpkin, she just was doing her own thing. And,
02:50like, me and Pumpkin are the closest in age. So, I do feel like that's why we are so close. So,
02:55I mean, we all had a good relationship, but they just wasn't right by my side as much as Pumpkin has
03:02always been. I first realized that my mom was using... God, I'm like, I don't even remember,
03:11if I'm being honest. It was just... I just noticed something was off about her. Like,
03:16everybody around me kept also saying something about it. They're like, June's not acting right.
03:21June's being different. June's this. And then she started locking her door, and that really
03:26made me, like, oh, what is she doing? Because, like, girl, you ain't never locked your door.
03:30Then she started locking her bathroom door. So, like, you'd have to go through her locked door,
03:35and then you'd have to go through her locked bathroom door. And I'm like, no. Like,
03:38that's weird. That... That... When she locked the door, I was like... It was kind of like
03:43confirmation, if I'm being honest. We just was like, mama, what are... Like, what are you doing?
03:47And I'm not gonna lie. Like, when we confronted her about it, she didn't lie. She wasn't like,
03:51no, I'm not. She was like, I am. Like, I'm not gonna lie to you. But it didn't matter that she
03:57fessed up about it. Like, it's still the fact that you did it, and, like, you were still fessing up about
04:02it, and you still wanted to do it. You didn't fess up and was like, oh, well, I did it, but I'm gonna go get help.
04:06She never really said why. She was just... Her excuse for always doing drugs was like, oh,
04:12I did it when I was in high school, or like, oh, I did it when I was younger. So, like, yeah,
04:16I'm gonna revert to my old ways. Like, it was just kind of an excuse, if I'm being honest,
04:20more than, like, uh, I did it because of this.
04:23I feel like mama's physical transformation, it didn't take as much as a toll on my life as, like,
04:32now looking back as I realized, just because, like, I don't know. Like, I was, like I said,
04:37I was young, but now I'm looking back, and I'm like, that was crazy. Like, that was a dramatic
04:42change. And I, like, I didn't know how to even think of my mom. Like, my mom went from being 300 pounds
04:48to, like, 100 pounds, it looked like. And it was kind of scary. Like, if I'm being honest,
04:53it was like, how did she lose all of that weight so fast? And, like, she was so tiny,
04:57like, she almost looked sick. As a young girl, I think that, like, took a big toll on body image
05:04for me, just because my mama was a bigger girl, and, like, her having to get surgery and, like,
05:10shrink down to this one size, like, I thought in my head, like, oh, am I gonna have to do that one
05:14day? Because I'm a bigger girl. Like, am I gonna have to, like, be in this perfect picture
05:19and just get surgery? So I'm, like, this skinny little model. Like, it definitely did take a toll
05:24on my self-image for sure. If I'm being honest, I was dragged through a lot, and I think my breaking
05:29point of to, like, nope, I'm done with her is when she stole my money. Um, which is so crazy to say
05:35that, like, 18 years of going through that, and, like, that was my breaking point, but it was. It was,
05:41like, I was so done and over with her at that point. Like, I was fed up because, I don't know,
05:47I just feel like my mama has done a lot of , but, like, I thought she would have never,
05:51never took it that far, and for her to take it that far, just, like, ooh, that raised my bar.
05:58I have never, ever received the Here Comes Honey Me Baby money. I've never seen it. Never,
06:02ever, ever even heard of it, if I'm being completely honest. You don't really give a that you took my
06:07money. That's the real problem. It's gone. I used it in my drug addiction. Woo! She gave me my money
06:12back and was like, oh, here's your money. No, I don't think she ever was like, I'm sorry. I was so
06:17over just, like, poking and prodding at her for the money. Like, I was at the point of, like, you
06:21know what, I don't even freaking want the money anymore. Like, keep it. I got all my Masked Singer
06:25money. I was in Pumpkin's custody, like, when we did Masked Singer, so everything went into the right
06:31account down. And, you know, I do have a Coogan account in L.A. that Pumpkin set up for me for
06:37the Mama June show since she got me, but I've yet to even go and get that, if I'm being honest,
06:42because I'm in the mindset of, like, if I don't actually need it, like, I might as well just let
06:47it save up, and when I do actually need it, like, it'll be there for me. Even though we might be a
06:52dysfunctional family, our dysfunctionality works for our family. I do feel like right now my mama is in the
06:57best place she's been in a very long time. They're doing Sunday dinners now with Pumpkin and, like,
07:02all the kids and stuff, and then my mom, like, always has Pumpkin at her house, or, like, she's,
07:08like, no, I wouldn't say always, but she watches the kids for Pumpkin now, which is insane, because I
07:13would have never thought of the day that I would see Pumpkin dropping her kids off at my mama's house,
07:18so, like, for her to watch them for a little bit is insanity. My mom, she's been sober for, I think,
07:25almost three years, maybe a little bit more. I'm not sure if I'm being honest, but she will know. If you
07:31ask her, she will tell you, but, I mean, I'm happy for her, and she's doing really good right now.
07:36The cancer's growing back again. Yeah, I saw that. Yeah. I definitely 100% think Anna's passing brought
07:42us a lot closer. I think it opened our eyes to know that, like, life is very, very short, and it can
07:47leave at any moment, and anybody can leave at any moment, so I think, well, since Anna's passing, like,
07:54we've been really close, and, like, back home, like, Pumpkin and Mama, they do Sunday dinner
07:59now, which is so crazy, which is such a big improvement, so I think it's definitely brought
08:05us closer for the better. I would never in a million years think that I would lose my sister
08:10that young, but I've just tried to push through and just know that she's watching over me and
08:16just know that, like, she would want me to be a nurse in school, so that's what I'm going to
08:20be, and I'm going to try and make her as proud as possible, so I just try and tell myself
08:27that all the time. Alana's thriving in college. I am officially in my second year, but her
08:32relationship with Draylon is in trouble. I don't know if I could say much just because
08:36we're going to go into a new season, but, I mean, right now, we're just, like, we're pretty
08:42good right now. Like, everybody's just, like, laughing and kiki ha ha on instead, and there's
08:47no major drama right now, so I think, like, we're all getting along, and that's all that matters.
08:53I mean, it kind of does make me proud just to know that, like, we're still a family after
08:57everything that happened, but it's kind of, like, when you look back on it, it's kind of, like, dang,
09:02like, I really went through all that, like, with them, like, that's crazy, but we've been through a
09:07lot, and I feel like at times it makes us stronger, I guess, in ways.
09:12I'm gonna be on TV. Mama, they're following me everywhere.
09:17You'll get used to it.
09:18A lot of people really do think they know me, but I feel like there's a lot that goes on behind
09:22the scenes that people have never even seen, and they're gonna watch, well, I'm hoping
09:25they're gonna watch this movie and be, like, dang, like, wow, Alana, there was a lot going
09:30on, so I'm just hoping that it puts out the right message, and people aren't just, like,
09:35well, why didn't, like, I've already seen this on TV, like, who cares about it?
09:38The actors, I feel like, were pretty spot-on for me, but, like, I feel like they got our
09:43voices right, like, everybody's voice was, like, spot-on, like, if you wouldn't have knew
09:47any better, I feel like we would have done a voiceover, but we did not, like, they were
09:51so country, like, it was perfect.
09:54I am a little nervous, just because I don't know how people are gonna react, but I think
09:58that it's gonna be a very good movie for everybody, and I think they're gonna really be able to
10:03see, like, little Alana, and now little Alana has a voice, so I think it's gonna be great.
10:11I'm not gonna say I'm not thankful for the cameras, because I am thankful for the cameras.
10:15They've opened so many great opportunities for me, but there are times where I just wish
10:21that, like, you know, maybe that shouldn't have been on camera.
10:24Maybe that should have been, like, a little bit more private, or maybe, like, y'all should
10:29give us time to grieve or something about that, and then we put it on camera, not, like,
10:35having to grieve on camera, you know, so I do feel like, at times, the camera could have
10:40went away, but it is what it is, and it's on TV now.
10:45I really do like being able to be the person of, like, oh, well, her life is just like mine,
10:50like, honey, boo-boo's just like me, like, that's so crazy, and I like for people not to feel
10:55alone.
10:55Right now, I am, um, a nursing student in college, um, in Denver, I'm 19, um, I'm just
11:07living my best life, and, like, I'm just chilling, you know?
11:11I think right now is a good time for me, just because I'm growing up, I'm, like, actually
11:16maturing and becoming, like, a full-grown woman.
11:19I study a lot, I'm not gonna lie.
11:22I'm mainly at home, if I'm being honest, in my little room with my whiteboard just studying,
11:27or if I'm not at home, I'm on campus in the library or somewhere studying, like, literally
11:32my whole life is study, study, study.
11:34To be a college student means a lot to me.
11:37When I graduate college, I will be, like, the first one in our family to, like, have,
11:41like, an actual college degree, like, up on the wall.
11:44And I, like, I can't wait.
11:46I love that I was able to persevere and just get past all, like, what people thought I
11:57was.
11:57I'm glad that I'm able to, like, really push myself and to be in nursing school and, like,
12:02do what I really want to do, um, because a lot of people I know, they'll just be like,
12:06oh, like, I have a TV show, like, what do I need to be a nurse for?
12:08Like, what do I really need to go and do something with my life for?
12:11But I've always wanted to be a nurse, so I'm really excited to be able to take everybody
12:17along on that journey with me.
12:18When Jalen came into my life, I was at a pretty rough time.
12:21It was, like, kind of in the midst of my mama, like, spiraling out, and I was living with
12:25Pumpkin and them, and I kind of just started back high school, so it was pretty tough for
12:30me.
12:30I was in kind of an awkward spot in life, but Jalen come in, and he supported me through
12:35it, and he's been a very big support system since, since he walked in.
12:39He's seen how much my mom has done to me, but never once has talked bad on her around
12:45me.
12:45I don't know if he does it, like, if he's like, ah, like, God, why does she treat Lana like
12:48that?
12:49But around me, he never talks bad about her, and he's just, like, the support system for
12:54me is just, like, a 10 out of 10, because he just supports me so much.
12:59Like, he literally packed up his whole life in Georgia just to come to Colorado.
13:02I love being an auntie.
13:06Like, an auntie is, like, literally put it at my very top of the list, because I love
13:12it.
13:12It's the best thing ever.
13:13Being able to be, like, the cool person and, like, them, I don't know, it's, like, so
13:18cool for them to see me as the cool person.
13:20I'm like, oh, yeah, like, that's me.
13:22And Ella, she loves me.
13:24Bentley loves me.
13:25Bentley's like, I want to talk to Lana.
13:26I want to talk to Lana.
13:27Or he's like, I want to go to Lana's house in Colorado.
13:29And I'm like, you're going to come.
13:31Just give it a second.
13:32So I love being an aunt.
13:33And it's, like, there's nothing better than being an aunt.
13:37Like, people are, like, being a mom, there's nothing better.
13:39No, there's nothing better than being an aunt.
13:41I see myself as a mom eventually, just not right now.
13:45I do feel like I'll be a mother that my mother never was.
13:48And that's, it sounds pretty bad, but, like, that's honestly my goal is to be a mom that
13:53my mother never was, just because I never got the loving, nurturing mom that everybody
13:58else gets.
13:58And I'm like, but it's okay.
14:04I feel like everybody has regrets in their life and things they wish they could have done
14:08a little different.
14:10But for the most part, like, I mean, it was my story.
14:13It's what I actually lived.
14:14And I'm glad that it was, like, I don't want to say I'm glad it was on TV, but I am glad
14:18it was on TV.
14:19So for the people that are watching it that have struggled with addiction or whether they're,
14:23like, have an addict in their family, it's like, you don't feel so alone.
14:26Like, when you're watching this, like, you watch Kim Kardashian and you're like, oh, she
14:30has this glamorous, glitzy life.
14:31And it's like, no, like, I want y'all to see the real part of me.
14:34I want y'all to see that I don't have this beautiful, glitz and glamour life that you
14:38think I have just because I'm on TV.
14:40Like, just being on TV does not make you, like, invincible to things.
14:44It's fun.
14:45I love it.
14:46And I love being able to share my story and my journey with everybody.