BY: Alexis Eichelberger

Watching our favorite child stars become adults is a wild ride. The women of Disney especially are notorious for moving into sexy territory as they’ve grown. Several have built successful careers showcasing both their talent and sexuality to the shock and delight of many.

Here’s how eight former Disney girls began and where they are now:

 

Miley Cyrus

We kick off our list with perhaps the most scandalous former Disney girl.  Miley Cyrus was the lead in the Disney Channel series Hannah Montana at just 11 years old. After the show wrapped, she made sure everyone knew she wasn’t a teen idol anymore. 

Cyrus released her seventh studio album, Plastic Hearts, in late 2020. The irreverent rock style that permeates every song seems to suit grown-up Miley perfectly. Plastic Hearts topped the Billboard Rock Albums Chart for several weeks after its release and landed on several year-end Best Albums lists.

 

Selena Gomez

Selena Gomez was all over Disney Channel during her teen years. She appeared in the Wizards of Waverly Place from 2007-2012 and acted in several Disney Channel original movies. Her music career coincided with her acting then, but she’s since switched to strictly music. 

Gomez released her sweet and sexy third album, Rare, in 2020. It’s a perfectly flirty pop album with self-love messages mixed in. Currently, Gomez has a Spanish album in the works that will reportedly drop soon.

Demi Lovato

Demi Lovato has emerged as one of Disney’s top former stars despite her trials and tribulations. She started in the Camp Rock movie franchise and followed it up with a starring role in a Disney Channel series. She also released some stellar music along the way.

Lovato has now released six studio albums and earned two Grammy nominations. She’s overcome addiction, and other mental health struggles to become a successful and celebrated vocalist who preaches self-love above all.

 

Sabrina Carpenter

You might have heard about Sabrina Carpenter recently. In case you hadn’t heard, she’s almost certainly the blonde girl infamously mentioned in Olivia Rodrigo’s viral single “drivers license.” Carpenter is a former Disney star and has acted in multiple Disney films and series as both a live-action and voice actor.

Carpenter is also a musical artist. She’s already released four studio albums, despite being just 21 years old. Her most recent single, “Skin,” is getting her plenty of attention. It’s been interpreted as a clap-back to “drivers license.”

 

Zendaya

Zendaya Coleman, now known mononymously as Zendaya, started her acting career in Disney Channel’s Shake It Up. She also sang for the series soundtrack and starred in Disney Channel original movies before heading to bigger and better things.

Zendaya is now a celebrated actress, best known for roles in The Greatest Showman and Marvel’s Spiderman: Far From Home and Spiderman: Homecoming and her starring role in the HBO series Euphoria. She recently became the youngest actress ever to win an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her work in Euphoria. Her upcoming projects include the Netflix original Malcolm and Marie and the blockbuster sci-fi film Dune.

 

Bella Thorne

Bella Thorne is another alum of Shake It Up, co-starring with Zendaya for its three-year run. Thorne followed that up with several movie roles and released two EPs in 2012 and 2014. She’s also gotten multiple Teen Choice Award nominations for both acting and music.

Most recently, Thorne has been getting attention for scandalous behavior rather than her art. She’s dated numerous women and men within the entertainer/influencer community. She also appeared in four films last year and will be releasing her debut studio album in 2021.

 

Britney Spears

Like so many superstars, Britney Spears started on Disney’s The Mickey Mouse Club. She joined in 1992 alongside Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake, Ryan Gosling, and Keri Russell. The “Club” ended in 1996; Spears continued to pursue an entertainment career.

She quickly became a pop music and sex icon and now has a Grammy Award and hundreds of other accolades. In recent years, Spears has performed multiple residencies in Las Vegas and has been working on her mental and physical wellbeing.

 

Cristina Aguilera 

Finally, we highlight another former Mousketeer. Cristina Aguilera was also part of The Mickey Mouse Club. After its cancellation, her music career skyrocketed. She is celebrated as one of the best vocalists, and her evocative style of dress and dance has become iconic.

Xtina has embarked on numerous tours and performed in pre-pandemic Las Vegas. Her collaboration with Demi Lovato, “Fall In Line,” was nominated for a Grammy in 2018.