Who Is Honey Boo Boo's Boyfriend? All About Dralin Carswell

Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Thompson moved to Colorado in 2023 with her boyfriend

Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Thompson has been linked to her boyfriend, Dralin Carswell, since 2021.

The pair initially made their romance public on social media where they were met with concern over their age gap. Carswell was around 20 years old when 16-year-old Alana revealed the status of their relationship on Instagram.

During a 2022 interview with TooFab, Alana's mom, Mama June Shannon, shared that she was a fan of Carswell, and seemingly approved of their relationship.

"Yes, I've met Dralin. They've been together for over a year," she said at the time. "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." Mama June added, “Alana's not that 6-, 7-year-old child y'all fell in love with 11 years ago.”

Related: 'Toddlers & Tiaras' Cast: Where Are They Now?

Similarly, Alana defended her relationship.

"I don't care because, like, at the end of the day, my sister approves, his mom approves, and we're happy, so what fans got to say or what haters got to say I don't really care,” the Toddlers & Tiaras alum told Entertainment Tonight in 2022. The following year, Carswell relocated to Denver, Colorado, to live with Alana as she studies to become a nurse.

The former reality star has opened up about why she enjoys her partnership with Carswell.

"I like how it’s never quiet when we're around each other, we're always talking about something -- it’s never like an awkward moment, silence or none of that," Alana told ET. "We're always just talking about something."

So who is Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Thompson's boyfriend? Here's everything to know about Dralin Carswell and his relationship with the reality star.

He grew up in Georgia and attended technical school

According to his Facebook profile, Carswell attended Wilkinson County High School in McIntyre, Georgia. While Alana starred in Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, her family was located in the same town.

After high school, Carswell attended Lincoln Tech, an automotive-focused technical school, in Nashville, Tennessee.

He and Alana went Instagram official in September 2021

The pair first went public with their relationship on Instagram in September 2021; however, Alana later deleted her post due to criticism in the comments, according to Page Six. In the since-deleted picture, Alana and Carswell were sitting hand-in-hand at a pumpkin patch. She accentuated the photo with a sticker that read, “Bae.”

Alana first alluded to their relationship during her Teen Vogue feature story earlier that year. On the topic of friendship, she noted that because of the nature of the reality TV business, her only true friend is her boyfriend, whose identity wasn’t disclosed yet.

“To be honest, I do not have many friends. At all,” Alana said, apart from Carswell, who was on set for support. “Because I feel like folks are so much like, 'Oh, my God, I'm friends with Honey Boo Boo.’ ”

Their relationship has been met with concern and criticism

Since going public, Carswell and Alana have faced a lot of backlash.

"In our relationship, the two most things that everybody is always talking about is our age gap and definitely because he's Black and I'm white and we're an interracial couple," Alana told Entertainment Tonight in 2022.

Speaking to PEOPLE about Alana's relationship, Mama June said she’s witnessed the hate first-hand, too.

"They've been together over two and two a half years now. A lot of people don't like that," she said in 2023. "She gets a lot of backlash. But I tell people this, and I've always just said, that there's a lot of chocolate vanilla swirl in our family. There's been chocolate vanilla swirl in our family for multiple years."

Mama June reiterated that her daughter "should not get hate for that."

Related: Mama June Shannon's 4 Daughters: Everything to Know

He sparked engagement rumors with Alana

Despite Alana donning a sparkly ring on that finger, the couple are not engaged. Fans first spotted the ring when Alana's sister Lauryn “Pumpkin” Shannon shared a family photo featuring Alana and her bling. Not long after, the Masked Singer alum uploaded a set of photos on Instagram of her and Carswell on a park date. The lovebirds wore matching shirts in the post with the ring in question also visible.

Despite speculation, Alana's rep confirmed to Page Six that the piece of jewelry was “just a ring.”

Speaking exclusively to PEOPLE, Mama June also confirmed that her youngest daughter wasn’t engaged. In fact, the diamond ring had been in Alana's jewelry box for a long time, she clarified.

"She's had that ring for years, so that's what I don't understand," Mama June stated. "I'm like, she wasn't engaged for years."

Before they take the next step in their relationship, Alana shared that she and Carswell have some differences they may need to work out.

“I don't want kids and he does,” Alana told Entertainment Tonight, adding, “I'd like to stay in Colorado long enough to work in nursing after school.” As for whether Carswell is “the one,” Alana answered: “I can't say that because I don't know what life holds, but I hope.”

He has gotten into trouble with the law

On Feb. 28, 2023, Carswell was arrested for DUI, fleeing police and outstanding warrants following a three-mile car chase in Monroe County, Georgia, as first reported by the local media outlet The Reporter.

Police confirmed the details to PEOPLE a few days later, including that Alana was a passenger at the time of the chase and wasn’t charged. Carswell was also given a speeding citation.

He lives in Colorado, where Thomspon is attending college

The duo live together in Denver, Colorado, while Alana studies nursing at the local Regis University.

“I’ll be moving off campus for security reasons and because Dralin is coming with me," Alana told ET in 2023. Though the move marked an exciting new chapter for the Mama June: From Not to Hot star, Alana said Carswell was also looking forward to living in Colorado.

“I think he's more excited to move there than me,” she said. “He's ready to move out of our small town and experience something new, too.”

The change of scenery would be a welcome change for the couple, Alana added.

“I think it'll be good for us honestly and I mean, I think it will be fun. Even though I'm moving halfway across the country, it'll be good for me," she said.

He has the support of Alana's family

Amidst public criticism, Carswell has won over the hearts of Alana's relatives, including Mama June's husband, Justin Stroud. In a joint interview with Mama June, Stroud told PEOPLE that “the family definitely supports” Alana and Carswell's relationship.

"They're just young. They're going to make mistakes, he's going to make mistakes, she's going to make mistakes. But he does love her, so give him credit there," he explained. "He does love her. They're just young."

Related: Who Is Mama June Shannon's Husband? All About Justin Stroud

Mama June has also publicly voiced her approval of Carswell — albeit, adding that if Alana "chooses to be with him for the rest of her life, then that's fine. If not, then hey, it was her teenage fling."

Meanwhile, Pumpkin and her husband, Joshua Efird, also spoke fondly of Carswell and how he treats Alana and their family.

"Me and my husband love Darlin [sic]. He’s very respectful and treats Alana with the utmost respect. He is around us and our kids a bunch also and we love him for Alana,” she told The Sun in 2022.

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