From Disney to Nickelodeon: here's where the stars started out
Zendaya, Ariana Grande, Selena Gomez, Hilary Duff and Miley Cyrus…. What do all these women have in common (apart from multi-million dollar wardrobes and superstardom, of course)? They all started out as teen stars on tweenie-focussed shows for the likes of Disney and Nickelodeon. Which means that, when you're wondering who the next crop of all-singing, all-dancing fashion stars are going to be, checking out the networks' current big names is the go-to place to start looking. Here are the women that made it big on the small screen first...
Getty ImagesBorn: 22 July 1992
On-Screen Alter Ego: Alex Russo in Wizards of Waverly Place
Need To Know: Selena Gomez has made the leap from Disney starlet to full-fledged singer-slash-actress-slash-celebrity. She's released multiple critically acclaimed albums, starred in films such as Spring Breakers, is one-half of the year's most talked about couple and she's a founding member of Taylor Swift's squad. Oh and she just happens to be the most followed person on Instagram.
Getty ImagesAriana Grande
Born: 26 July 1993
On-Screen Alter Ego: Cat Valentine in Victorious
Need To Know: It's hard to remember Ariana started out on the small screen now that she's such a, you know, huge singer. As of June 2017, her music videos had been viewed more than eight billion times online. NBD, right?
Getty ImagesZendaya Coleman
Born: 1 September 1996
On-Screen Alter Ego: Shake It Up’s Rocky Blue
Need To Know: One of Hollywood's most exciting stars right now, Zendaya's a silver-screen actress (Spider-Man: Homecoming anyone?), a Rihanna-approved style icon, a model, singer and activist. Way to go.Read next: 7 times Zendaya kicked (serious) ass
Getty ImagesBorn: 23 November 1992
On-Screen Alter Ego: Hannah Montana in Hannah Montana
Need To Know: Miley has long left dear old Hannah Montana behind in favour of some risque (Wrecking Ball) and some not so risque (Malibu) music, some Hollywood film roles and an abundance of charity work. Cyrus set up The Happy Hippies Foundation in 2014 to help youth homelessness, the LGBTQ community and other vulnerable people.
Getty ImagesBorn: 28 September 1987
On-Screen Alter Ego: Lizzie Maguire in Lizzie Maguire
Need To Know: Following Lizzie Maguire, Hilary Duff turned her attention to music releasing the likes of 'Come Clean' and 'So Yesterday' (we're making you nostalgic, right?). Now a mum of one, the actress resides in LA and last year was rumoured to be working on a new album.
Getty ImagesBorn: 8 October 1997
On-Screen Alter Ego: Ambitious dance star CeCe Jones in Shake It Up
Need To Know: A former child model, flame-haired Bella has made no secret of her struggle with dyslexia, and her determination to succeed is quite inspirational. She had no formal dance training before landing the Shake It Up role, and took on three classes a day to get up to speed. In the last few years she's starred in films like The Duff and Perfect High.
Rex FeaturesDebby Ryan
Born: 13 May 1993
On-Screen Alter Ego: Jessie Prescott of Jessie
Need To Know: With her permanent smile and distinctive cheekbones, Debby is one of Disney’s most recognisable faces – not to mention one of its hardest-working. She currently plays the lead role in Jessie (which she had a hand in creating), having earned her stripes in previous Disney series’ The Suite Life On Deck and Radio Rebel, as well as films 16 Wishes and What If...?
Rex FeaturesPeyton List
Born: 6 April 1998
On-Screen Alter Ego: Emma Ross in Jessie
Need To Know: Blonde-haired cutie Peyton may only be 14, but she’s already firmly on our radar. Not a Jessie devotee? You may recognise her from Robert Pattinson film Remember Me, or as the young Katherine Heigl of 27 Dresses. Fame runs in the family; her twin brother, Spencer, has starred in over 400 ad campaigns.
Rex FeaturesBridgit Mendler
Born: 18 December 1992
On-Screen Alter Ego: Teddy Duncan in Good Luck Charlie
Need To Know: Having had a Hollywood agent since the age of 11, 19-year-old Bridgit may not yet be a household name in the UK but she’s well on her way. She guest starred in Disney’s Wizards Of Waverley Place before landing the lead in Good Luck Charlie – playing a teenager who makes a video diary of advice for her little sister, the Charlie of the title. Bridgit’s debut album, Hello My Name Is, was released in October 2012.
Rex FeaturesMiranda Cosgrove
Born: 14 May 1993
On-Screen Alter Ego: The Carly of iCarly
Need To Know: The jewel in Nickelodeon’s crown, iCarly has made Miranda one of its biggest – not to mention most valuable – stars, with her $180,000 per episode pay packet earning her a spot in the 2012 Guinness Book Of Records as the world’s Highest Paid Child Actress. Well, she has been working in Hollywood since she was three-years-old. She has an album, Sparks Fly, to her name too. Natch.
Rex FeaturesJenette McCurdy
Born: 26 June 1992
On-Screen Alter Ego: Tomboy Sam Puckett in iCarly
Need To Know: Nickelodeon devotees can expect to see a lot more Jenette’s tumbling blonde curls in the future. She’s landed the Holy Grail of kids’ TV: her very own spin-off show, Sam & Cat. She released an EP back in 2010 but music’s currently on the back burner, with her admitting in a recent interview: "I actually just left Capital Records recently. I’m really just deciding what else I want to do next. Right now I’m working on my new show, and I’m just figuring out where I should take my music from here."
Rex FeaturesJennifer Lindsay Stone
Born: 12 February 1993
On-Screen Alter Ego: Harper Finkle in Wizards Of Waverly Place
Need To Know: Jennifer has a unique claim to fame: her WoWP character is said to have been the inspiration for a certain Harper Seven Beckham’s unusual name. She’s currently balancing her Disney duties with her first steps onto the big screen, and is already a regular at style awards ceremonies.
Rex FeaturesChina Anne McClain
Born: 25 August 1998
On-Screen Alter Ego: Chyna Parks (yes, you are reading that correctly) of A.N.T. Farm
Need To Know: China may be one of the youngest in this breed of newbies, but she’s also one of its most promising – apt for a girl whose fame stems from her role in a school drama based on gifted students. In 2011 it was reported that a then-13-year-old China had earned over half a million dollars in her career to date. Together with her two sisters, Sierra and Lauryn, she forms band The McClain Sisters; their debut album is completed and awaiting release.
Rex FeaturesLaura Marano
Born: 29 November 1995
On-Screen Alter Ego: Talented songwriter Ally Dawson, the Ally of Austin & Ally
Need To Know: Laura is something of an unusual case in the Disney stable, as she cut her teeth on ‘grown-up’ programmes elsewhere before landing her starring role in Austin & Ally, rather than rising through its ranks. You might recognise her from shows such as Dexter, Heroes and Without A Trace. Endearingly, she also worked for a season as one of the child brainboxes on the Fox game show Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader.
Rex FeaturesVictoria Justice
Born: 19 February 1993
On-Screen Alter Ego: Victorious’ Tori Vega
Need To Know: Victoria is quickly following behind Selena Gomez in making the break from limited tweenie fame to real Hollywood stardom. A kids’ TV regular – she starred variously in shows including Gilmore Girls, iCarly and Zoey 101 before landing the Victorious lead – her fashion credentials are also impeccable, with Ralph Lauren, Gap and Guess campaigns already under her on-trend leather belt. No wonder she won the Hottest Girl Hottie gong at the 2011 Nickelodeon Australian Kids’ Choice Awards. The end of Victorious was announced in August 2011, so we’re expecting a big next step; watch this space.
Rex FeaturesElizabeth Gillies
Born: 26 July 1993
On-Screen Alter Ego: Jade West in Victorious
Need To Know: Gillies made her Broadway debut at the age of 15 – can we expect to see her treading the boards again sometime soon? When the end of Victorious was announced, she wrote on Twitter: "All good things must come to an end, and Victorious is no exception. Don’t be afraid that we’re all going to drop off the face of the earth, because we’re not. It might be the end of an era, but it’s the start of many new chapters for all of us." Music will feature in hers, for sure – she’s currently working on an alternative rock album.
Getty ImagesAllisyn Ashley Arm
Born: 25 April 1996
On-Screen Alter Ego: So Random! ’s Zora Lancaster
Need To Know: Allisyn cut her tweenie teeth alongside Demi Lovato in Disney drama Sonny With A Chance, and stayed on when the show was evolved into So Random! in 2011. Comedy’s very much the name of the game for this aspiring funny gal – she’s cited Jim Carey as a major inspiration for Zora’s character. Look out, Tina Fey!
Rex FeaturesKatelyn Marie Tarver
Born: 2 November 1989
On-Screen Alter Ego: Jo Taylor in Big Time Rush
Need To Know: She’s the girl all the boys want to date in Big Time Rush, and her ‘recurring character’ status gives her chance to work on other projects – such as The Vampire Diaries, in which she plays Blossom Moore. She’s also released two albums, and enjoys taking her music on the road.
Rex FeaturesErin Sanders
Born: 19 January 1991
On-Screen Alter Ego: Big Time Rush’s Camille Roberts
Need To Know: If you’re looking at Erin thinking, I definitely know that face, you’re probably right. Not a fan of cult tween shows Big Time Rush and Zoey 101? Then maybe it’s more likely to be from Mad Men. Or Ugly Betty. Or Weeds. Or The Mentalist… You get the picture. There’s a very big break just over the horizon for this one, we’re sure of it.
Rex FeaturesVanessa Morgan
Born: 23 March 1992
On-Screen Alter Ego: Sarah in My Babysitter’s A Vampire
Need To Know: This Canadian actress may have won the Junior Miss America 1999 pageant, but she’s more than just a pretty face; having starred in made-for-TV film My Babysitter’s A Vampire in 2010, its ensuing popularity meant she got to reprise her lead role in the subsequent TV show of the same name. She's also an A.N.T. Farm-er.
Rex FeaturesKelsey Chow
Born: 9 September 1991
On-Screen Alter Ego: Mikayla Makoola in Pair Of Kings
Need To Know: This sultry beauty – who One Tree Hill fans will better know as Gigi – is bound for big things, and takes acting very seriously indeed. Not content with having Disney bosses on speed dial (as well as her starring role in Pair Kings, she has The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody on her list of credits), she recently headed to Scotland to perform in Les Miserables at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Now that’s cool.
Rex FeaturesRyan Newman
Born: 24 April 1998
On-Screen Alter Ego: Zeke & Zuther’s Ginger Falcone
Need To Know: Fame’s nothing new for this young’un, who starred in her first commercial at the age of six and, at only 14 years old, had credits in hit shows Hannah Montana and Good Luck Charlie to her name. Her starring role to date, however, is as sassy little sister Ginger in Zeke & Zuther – a role which nabbed her the Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a TV series (Comedy or Drama) – Leading Young Actress in 2011. She also holds the unique honour of having been the youngest actor ever to have been motioned-captured, at the age of six, for 2006 film Monster House.
Rex FeaturesOlivia Holt
Born: 5 August 1997
On-Screen Alter Ego: Kim in Kickin’ It
Need To Know: Launched in 2011, Kickin’ It is one of Disney’s most recent titles and super-supple, all-American gal Olivia one of its newest finds. Her gymnastics skills impressed the big-wigs at the auditions for the martial arts-themed show and she’s starred in every episode to date, as well as playing the lead in original Disney movie Girl Vs. Monster – for which she recorded three songs, surprise, surprise – earlier this year.
Rex FeaturesKelli Berglund
Born: 9 February 1996
On-Screen Alter Ego: Superhuman Bree Davenport in Lab Rats
Need To Know: Could a career behind the camera be beckoning for this multi-talented up-and-comer? She has plenty of experience in front of it, in terms of both acting and modelling (representing Old Navy, Reebok, Hyundai and Mattel before you hit 17 – not too shabby), and is also an award-winning dancer. According to her Disney XD biog, though, she loves nothing more than “video editing, still photography and creating original films on her computer”.
Rex FeaturesStefanie Scott
Born: 6 December 1996
On-Screen Alter Ego: Queen bee Lexi Reed of A.N.T. Farm
Need To Know: She’s the new Lindsay Lohan – well, on-screen. And circa Mean Girls. This Illinois-born blonde plays A.N.T. Farm prima donna Lexi Reed, whose feathers are ruffled by the arrival of Chyna (played by China Ann McClain – keep up!). The role won her the Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a TV series - Supporting Young Actress in both 2011 and 2012. Next up: the Oscars. For sure. You heard it here first!
Rex FeaturesSierra McCormick
Born: 28 October 1997
On-Screen Alter Ego: Olive Doyle in A.N.T. Farm
Need To Know: Sierra may be best known for playing goody-goody Olive but on the red carpet, she does anything but play it safe, as evidenced by the sweet-yet-sassy belted BCBGeneration romper suit she wore to Variety’s 2012 Power Of Youth event (pictured). She’s also BFFs with China Anne McClain, having worked with her on A.N.T. Farm and various other shows. A new breed of power couple, if ever we saw it. (See also: Bella Thorne and Pia Mia.)
Rex FeaturesCaroline Sunshine
Born: 5 September 1995
On-Screen Alter Ego: European exchange student Tinka Hessenheffer in Shake It Up
Need To Know: Sunshine by name, sunshine by nature. This all-singing, all-dancing blonde already had a wealth of theatre and film roles on her resumé when she joined the Shake It Up cast in a small role that she played so well, it grew into a leading one. Despite her tender age she’s also a budding philanthropist, putting her name to charitable campaigns in support of causes as diverse as homeless puppies, victims of domestic abuse and supporting the troops.
Rex FeaturesNaomi Scott
Born: 6 May 1993
On-Screen Alter Ego: Mohini "Mo" Banjaree in 2011 Disney flick Lemonade Mouth
Need To Know: We’re going to be oh-so slightly biased here, but bear with us. We’re really rooting for Naomi Scott to make the crossover from teen fame to global superstardom, and why? Because not only was she born in London (her father is British), but she was discovered by Kelle Bryan of 90s pop greats Eternal. She was a series regular in Life Bites – the British version of a Disney original drama – and made an assured leap across the pond with a starring role in well-received 2011 Disney movie Lemonade Mouth. We can’t wait to see where it leads her.
