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Mama June’s daughter Honey Boo Boo, 16, is secretly dating college student Dralin Carswell, 20- and her sisters approve
MAMA June's youngest daughter, Alana ‘Honey Boo Boo’ Thompson, has been secretly dating an older college student- and despite the age difference, her sisters approve of the romance.
The Sun can exclusively reveal that the reality star, 16, has been in a relationship with college student Dralin Carswell, 20, for about six months.
A source confirmed Dralin attended a Nashville technical school before the pandemic hit, but now resides in Georgia near Alana and her sister Lauryn 'Pumpkin' Shannon, 21, who is also her legal guardian.
The insider exclusively told The Sun: “Dralin and Alana are attached at the hip and hang out together all the time.”
Alana’s sisters, including Pumpkin, Jessica, 24, and Anna, 27, also approve of Dralin, too.
The insider continued: “He was quiet at first, but he’s like one of the family now. He's just as fun and crazy as the rest of them.”
Dralin, a car fanatic, shared his love with the reality star teen.
“He has a Camaro, that’s like his baby, and he lets her drive it sometimes.
"Right now she is saving up for her own car though- she wants a Jeep.”
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The pair quietly made their relationship Facebook official in March, when Dralin updated his status to “In a Relationship.”
On the same day, Alana posted a photo of the pair together on her private account.
In the comments on that photo, Dralin called her his “bae” and dropped in a heart emoji.
Though the rest of Alana's family is friends with him on social media, her mother, Mama June Shannon, is not connected to Dralin on Facebook.
The newly minted 16-year-old touched on her new relationship in her interview with Teen Vogue.
In her interview, she said her boyfriend is probably her only real friend, since she has found it hard connecting with peers due to her fame.
According to the publication, her boyfriend joined her on set at the end of their shoot.
The legal age for a consensual sexual relationship in Georgia, where Alana and Dralin reside, is 16 years old- but there is no indication that their romance violated any laws.
OVERCOMING OBSTACLES
Alana has overcome a lot over the past several years, and was able to open up to Teen Vogue in her interview which reaffirmed she is no longer the little girl who first graced TV screens on Toddlers and Tiaras.
In the interview with the high schooler, Teen Vogue discussed her breakout role on the series which brought her career into motion at just 6 years old, and the success she's endured since.
“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," she told the publication.
However, the TV star admitted that she's struggled keeping up with the lifestyle that fame brought her.
The interview continues with Alana claiming that she has moved on from her Honey Boo Boo character and embraced her true identity as Alana.
“They are completely two different people," she told Teen Vogue.
“I would say that I do like this Alana now, rather than the younger Alana.”
BROKEN FAMILY
Back in 2019, Alana's mom June was arrested on drug charges, including possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia charges in Alabama.
She was arrested with her boyfriend Geno Doak, who was charged with third-degree domestic violence, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
It is estimated that June spent a staggering $900,000 in a year on drugs.
The couple eventually went to rehab, while June’s daughter Pumpkin had to take in Alana.
Alana told Teen Vogue: “A lot of folks in this world do not realize how many people are actually really affected by drug and alcohol [use].
“It's very, very hard. It's something I'd wish on nobody, for real."
PROUD OF HERSELF
While Alana revealed that she is currently working on her relationship with her mother, she said she is proud of herself for how far she has come.
“When my mama got real bad with her [drug use], I didn't know where I was going to end up. I'm proud of myself for how far I've come.”
She also explained how she prioritizes herself and doesn't let the notorious social media trolls tear her down.
She continued: “There are so many folks on my Instagram that do not like my nails or my eyelashes. But I do not care. As long as I like myself, I'm good.
“I don't ever look at people and I'm like, ‘Oh, I wish I was like her.’ Because I don't ever wish to be like nobody. I am my own person.”
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“I don't understand why people think this way. Just because I got a little bit of extra meat on my bones, you want to hate me? I'll never get body shaming."
“Like, I know I'm beautiful, and I know I got a banging body, so...I don't care."