Alana Thompson, who you in all probability know higher by her toddler-era nickname Honey Boo Boo, is lastly fulfilling her goals, and it has nothing to do with actuality TV.

Thompson rose to fame along with her look on Toddlers and Tiaras, launching her spinoff present Right here Comes Honey Boo Boo and later, Mama June: Street to Redemption. In 2021, simply earlier than her sixteenth birthday, Thompson reintroduced herself to the world in a Teen Vogue profile, underscoring that she’s shed the larger-than-life persona and related nickname. Now, 19 and a rising junior in school, Thompson spoke to People forward of her new Lifetime biopic, I Was Honey Boo Boo, by which she’ll “shake off the labels which have adopted her” and talk about the “darker facet” of being a toddler star.

In her Teen Vogue profile, Thompson mentioned she had loftier goals than being on TV, indicating that she deliberate to go to school and turn into a nurse. Now, she advised Individuals that she’s attending Regis College in Colorado, the place she’s fulfilling these objectives.

“I simply all the time advised myself you recognize that you simply need to do one thing higher together with your life and greater together with your life than simply being on TV, so you have to rise up and go, you have to graduate so you can also make it to school and be the nurse that you simply need to be,” she mentioned in keeping with Individuals.

However in keeping with Individuals, affording school was a battle for Thompson, regardless of her years of labor on tv. There have been disputes concerning the cash Thompson constituted of being on tv, and the way a lot she ought to have versus what was deposited into her accounts. Thompson had publicly accused her mom, Mama June Shannon, of taking tens of 1000’s of {dollars} from her, which Shannon has addressed. Thompson and Shannon have had a troubled relationship, notably when Shannon was utilizing drugs — she had a battle with substance use dysfunction that deeply impacted her household, however has been sober for greater than 5 years, in keeping with Individuals.

That is within the rearview for now, Thompson mentioned, as she pursues her future profession.

“We’re going fairly good,” Thompson advised Individuals. “Hopefully it lasts. I simply not have any expectations for her.”

In her 2021 Teen Vogue profile, Alana Thompson was planning, dreaming up who she would possibly turn into. “I do not know what future Alana’s like,” she mentioned on the time. “I have never met her but.”

Now, that future image is beginning to turn into extra clear, and Thompson is happy with who she is.

“I like that I’ve persevered,” she advised Individuals, “previous who folks thought I used to be.”