The Ultimate Evolution of Disney Stars: From Lindsay Lohan to Selena Gomez and Beyond

Lindsay Lohan, Selena Gomez, and several other notable personalities began their careers on the Disney Channel and remain grounded in their humble beginnings. Selena Gomez, known for her hit song “Boyfriend,” starred on Wizards of Waverly Place between 2007 and 2012. While the network played a significant role in jumpstarting her career, Selena has been vocal about the challenges of being a child star and the negative aspects associated with it.

As a young artist, Gomez found the experience exciting and enjoyable. However, as she matured, she became aware of the harsh realities of the industry. She began to feel uncomfortable with the objectification of her body and noticed a shift in focus from her artistic abilities to her appearance. Even after leaving behind her Disney Channel image, she contemplated whether or not the spotlight was worth it.

She expressed her doubts, asking herself if the career she had chosen was really what she wanted and if it was still worth it. Despite feeling overwhelmed, she found solace in her fans' support during her tours. However, looking at herself in the mirror, she had doubts about whether she could continue. She took a pause to reflect and figure out her next move, but her passion for her craft remained strong. Her mental and physical well-being were the top priority, and as long as she was healthy and happy, she was committed to it. Reflecting on her journey as a Disney star, she acknowledged the role it played in shaping her as a leader and a role model for her young followers, even years later.

During an episode of Coach's "Dream It Real" podcast in April 2019, Gomez shared how being a role model taught her valuable lessons. As the first person to launch her own line with the brand, she felt the pressure to be perfect and set a positive example for her fans. Nonetheless, she is grateful for the experience, as it helped her comprehend the responsibility that comes with having a significant platform.

Credit: Shutterstock (2)

Lindsay Lohan, Selena Gomez and More Disney Stars Through the Years

They'll never forget their roots! Lindsay Lohan, Selena Gomez and more famous faces got their start on the Disney Channel back in the day.

As a former cast member on Wizards of Waverly Place, the "Boyfriend" singer kickstarted her career with the help of the kids' network. However, Selena Gomez has been vocal about the harsh realities of being a child star. In a September 2017 interview with Business of Fashion, she shared her experience of initially finding it all fun and games, only to later realize the dark and slimy side of the industry. She came to the realization that certain people wanted certain things from her, making it an arduous journey.

As she matured, Gomez became increasingly uncomfortable with the attention paid to her changing physique, feeling as though it detracted from her artistic pursuits. Even after departing from the Disney Channel, she began to question whether or not the spotlight was truly where she wanted to be.

"I began to ask myself whether I really loved this, whether it was still worth it," she recounted. "I would look out at the crowds during my tours and think, 'Yes, this is all worth it,' but then when I looked at myself in the mirror, I just felt like I'd had enough. I didn't know if I could keep going. So, I took a step back for a moment. It wasn't that I didn't love it anymore, I just needed to figure out how to approach it in a way that felt right for me. So long as I'm healthy and happy in my mind, I'm all for it."

After two years, the actress of Spring Breakers acknowledged that her time as a Disney star has taught her invaluable leadership skills and provided her with the chance to be a role model for her young admirers. In an interview on Coach's "Dream It Real" podcast in April 2019, Gomez expressed her gratitude for the experience and emphasized the importance of being a good influence on others, as she learned firsthand the significance of having a platform.

Scroll down to see more Disney Channel stars through the years — including Lohan, Demi Lovato and Shia LaBeouf:

Credit: Walt Disney/courtesy Everett Collection

Lindsay Lohan

The actress first rose to fame by playing twins in 1998’s The Parent Trap and went on to star in several Disney films such as Freaky Friday, Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, and Herbie: Fully Loaded. Despite facing some struggles in the limelight, the New York native made a comeback to the entertainment industry with appearances on the British series Sick Note (2018), the MTV reality show Lindsay Lohan's Beach Club (2019), and as a judge on The Masked Singer Australia (2019).

Recently, in July 2022, Us confirmed that Lohan tied the knot with Bader Shammas. In March 2023, the couple joyfully announced that they are expecting their first child.

Credit: Disney Channel / Courtesy: Everett Collection

Raven-Symone

The actress gained popularity by portraying a teenage psychic on Disney Channel's That's So Raven for four seasons. This led to the network's first spinoff, Cory in the House, featuring Kyle Massey. Following her departure from Disney, she cohosted ABC's The View between 2015 and 2016. Later, she decided to produce a spin-off of her former Disney series, Raven's Home, leading to her departure from the daytime talk show.

Raven-Symoné tied the knot with Miranda Maday in a surprise ceremony in June 2020.

Credit: rookwell-McNamara Entertainment / Courtesy: Everett Collection

Shia LaBeouf

LaBeouf's acting career began on the Disney Channel's Even Stevens, where he played the mischievous younger brother of Christy Carlson Romano's character. After the show's three-season run, he went on to star in films such as Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, Fury, and The Peanut Butter Falcon. LaBeouf also wrote and starred in Honey Boy, a semi-autobiographical film based on his own experiences with PTSD and his complicated relationship with his father. Despite a split from his wife Mia Goth in 2018, they were seen wearing wedding rings in 2020, sparking reconciliation rumors. However, in the years since their split, LaBeouf has been romantically linked to other people. In April 2022, it was announced that he and Goth had welcomed their first child together.

Credit: DISNEY CHANNEL/BOB D'AMICO

Jonas Brothers

The Jonas Brothers first rose to fame with their appearance in the 2008 Disney Channel movie Camp Rock. They went on to star in a sequel and also had their own TV series, Jonas L.A. After disbanding in 2013, the trio made a comeback with their fifth studio album, Happiness Begins, seven years later.

Kevin and Nick Jonas both found love and started families in the years following the Jonas Brothers' initial success. Kevin married his longtime partner, Danielle Jonas (nee Deleasa), in 2009 and the couple now has two daughters. Nick, on the other hand, tied the knot with Priyanka Chopra Jonas almost a decade later, and the couple welcomed their first child, daughter Malti, via surrogate in January 2022. Meanwhile, Joe Jonas wed actress Sophie Turner in two ceremonies in the summer of 2019, and the couple welcomed their first child, daughter Willa, in July 2020. Two years later, they expanded their family once again with the birth of their second daughter.

Credit: Disney

Miley Cyrus

Miley Cyrus portrayed a character named Hannah Montana in a popular television series. Her character lived a dual life as a high school student during the day and an international pop star at night. The series was on air for four seasons and was even adapted into a movie in 2009 titled Hannah Montana: The Movie. In 2010, Cyrus starred in The Last Song where she met her long-time partner Liam Hemsworth.

After a tumultuous marriage, the former Disney star shifted her focus back to her first love - music. Cyrus has since released eight albums from 2007 to 2023, showcasing her versatility as an artist.

Credit: Walt Disney Enterprises / Courtesy: Everett Collection

Hilary Duff

She rose to fame as the lead in Disney Channel's Lizzie McGuire from 2001 to 2004, and went on to star in The Lizzie McGuire Movie in 2003, which debuted at No. 2 at the box office. Hilary Duff also co-authored a trilogy of books, starting with Elixir in 2010, followed by Devoted in 2011 and True in 2013. She then appeared on the television show Younger from 2015 to 2021 before taking on the role of Sophie in How I Met Your Father in 2022. Hilary was previously married to hockey player Mike Comrie from 2010 to 2016, with whom she shares a son named Luca, born in March 2012. She is currently married to musician Matthew Koma, and they have two daughters together: Banks, born in October 2018, and Mae, born in March 2021.

Credit: Disney Channel / Courtesy: Everett Collection

Dylan and Cole Sprouse

Cole and Dylan Sprouse are best known for their roles as the mischievous Martin twins on The Suite Life of Zack & Cody. The show was such a hit that it was eventually rebranded as The Suite Life on Deck, following the twins' adventures on a luxury cruise ship. After the show ended, both brothers pursued higher education at New York University before returning to the entertainment industry. Cole landed a role on the popular TV series Riverdale, while Dylan starred in the 2020 romantic comedy After We Collided.

Cole had a three-year on-and-off relationship with his Riverdale co-star Lili Reinhart before calling it quits in March 2020. He then started dating Ari Fournier in early 2021. Meanwhile, Dylan's love life blossomed with model Barbara Palvin in June 2018. The couple made headlines in June 2023 when they announced that Dylan had proposed to Barbara in September 2022.

Credit: DISNEY CHANNEL/JOHN MEDLAND

Demi Lovato

Lovato's acting career took off in 2008 when she starred in Disney Channel's Camp Rock alongside Meaghan Martin, Anna Maria Perez de Tagle, and Jasmine Richards. Her success led to a sequel and eventually landing the lead role in the series Sonny With a Chance, which aired from 2009 to 2011. Despite some public struggles, including a nearly fatal overdose in 2018, Lovato made a triumphant return to the music industry with unforgettable performances at the 2020 Grammys and 2020 Super Bowl. Lovato's personal life has also been in the public eye, including a highly publicized engagement to actor Max Ehrich in March 2020, which ended in a split just six months later. In May 2021, Lovato came out as non-binary and revealed their new pronouns, they/them.

Credit: Criag Sjdoin/DISNEY CHANNEL/courtesy everett collection

Selena Gomez

Selena Gomez captivated audiences with her portrayal of the witty and lovable wizard-in-training, Alex Russo, on the hit show Wizards of Waverly Place. In addition to her acting career, Gomez also collaborated with her former best friend, Demi Lovato, for the Disney Channel movie Princess Protection Program in 2009. The multi-talented artist has released a total of six albums, including three with her former band, Selena Gomez & The Scene, and three solo records between 2013 and 2020. Despite her highly publicized on-again, off-again relationship with pop star Justin Bieber, Gomez has remained a beloved and influential figure in the entertainment industry.

Gaining recognition beyond her Disney days, the Texan talent made a name for herself on the big screen, starring in blockbuster hits such as Hotel Transylvania, Spring Breakers, and Dolittle. In 2021, she took on the role of Mabel in the critically acclaimed series Only Murders in the Building and served as an executive producer for 13 Reasons Why from 2017 to 2020. Throughout her career, Gomez has been romantically linked to The Weeknd and Andrew Taggart, and was rumored to have dated Zayn Malik in the spring of 2023.

Credit: Piers Allardyce/Shutterstock

Zendaya

Zendaya began her career as Rocky Blue on Disney's Shake It Up, before making the jump to the Marvel universe with roles in Spider-Man: Homecoming and Spider-Man: Far from Home. She also starred in the hit musical film The Greatest Showman and earned critical acclaim for her lead role in HBO's Euphoria, which earned her an Emmy award in 2020. Zendaya's romantic life has also been the subject of media attention, particularly after she confirmed her relationship with Spider-Man costar Tom Holland in July 2021.

Credit: Henry Lamb/BEI/Shutterstock

Debby Ryan

Debby Ryan, hailing from Alabama, rose to fame as Bailey Pickett on The Suite Life on Deck from 2008 to 2011. She also showcased her acting skills in the 2010 Disney Channel Original Movie 16 Wishes. After the Suite Life spinoff came to an end, Ryan landed her own Disney show, Jessie, where she played the lead character from 2011 to 2015. In 2018, she made a comeback to the small screen with Netflix's Insatiable, which aired for two seasons on the streaming platform.

In December 2019, Ryan tied the knot with Twenty One Pilots drummer Josh Dun.

Credit: Shutterstock

David Henrie

Since his stint as eldest sibling Justin Russo on Wizards of Waverly Place, David Henrie has continued to make a name for himself in the entertainment industry. He starred in the 2009 Disney Channel Original Movie Dadnapped and went on to appear in films such as Grown Ups 2 (2013) and Little Boy (2015). In 2018, he made his directorial debut with the feature film This Is the Year. In addition to his professional accomplishments, Henrie has also welcomed three children with his wife Maria Cahill, including daughter Pia in 2019, son James on Christmas night in 2020, and daughter Gemma in July 2022.