The announcement of Disney Channel going off the air made us melancholic remembering its best moments and shows. More than 37 years have passed since its first transmission which set a before and after in television. There are many actors who have been part of its productions, but there is a group that left an indelible mark. Here we take you on a nostalgic walk with this list. Find out what Disney’s biggest stars look like now.
BEFORE | Britney Spears
Britney Spears was the golden child on the Disney show, The Mickey Mouse Club. Her starring role on this major children’s show was the beginning of her career in the entertainment industry.
After her participation in this program was over, she went on to sing and stole all the cameras proclaiming herself as the Princess of Pop. She had multiple gold records and gathered masses of fans around the world, her success was unstoppable.
NOW | Britney Spears
Britney’s fame did not diminish over the years, but her career was seriously affected by problems in her personal life. Although she continued to produce music for some time, she currently has more than five years without releasing any single or album.
This pause in her career looks like it will extend for much longer, as Spears is in a legal battle with her father to remove the conservatorship she has been under for 13 years. Her fans are supporting her with a campaign they dubbed #FreeBritney.
BEFORE | Justin Timberlake
Another up-and-comer on the show The Mickey Mouse Club, was little Justin Timberlake. Along with his co-star Britney, who would later become his girlfriend, he animated this important children’s show which would be decisive in his life as an artist.
Timberlake also achieved great fame and was part of one of the most important musical groups of the show called NSYNC. After their separation, he was the member with the most successful solo career and even began to have an important presence in the world of cinema.
NOW | Justin Timberlake
With multiple awards and gold records for the reach of his music, Justin Timberlake finds himself producing and working behind the scenes. The last release he had of music was a single in 2020, while his last album was in 2018.
The singer and actor has been surrounded by controversy for alleged infidelities with his wife Jessica Biel. After publicly apologizing, he assured that he remains focused on his family and that’s why he has been away from the cameras.
BEFORE | Christina Aguilera
Belonging to the same Disney group as Timberlake and Spears, Christina Aguilera got off to a very similar start as her program mates. They were all child stars with promising futures.
Little Aguilera also followed in the footsteps of music, and at the age of 20 she started her musical career by releasing the single “Genie In a Bottle”. This song catapulted her to fame and laid the foundation for what would become her giant career.
NOW | Christina Aguilera
Years later, Christina decided to leave behind the image of innocence projected by her music and surprised everyone with an album called Stripped. During this period she was linked to Fred Durst, had problems with Pink and made headlines after kissing Madonna at an MTV awards.
Despite all this, Aguilera’s career matured with her and her scandals stopped making headlines. She is now a mother of two, and has not produced music recently, only small collaborations with artists such as Demi Lovato.
BEFORE | Ryan Gosling
At just 13 years old, Ryan Gosling was already a star. Accompanied by his inseparable friend, Justin Timberlake, this little boy acted like a pro in his scenes of The Mickey Mouse Club, winning over the audience and becoming one of the most loved and remembered.
While he wasn’t as active in show business during his teenage years as his other peers, Gosling rose to stardom as an actor later in his career.
NOW | Ryan Gosling
Ryan Gosling is now one of the most sought after and talented actors in Hollywood. His participation in major films has led him to be nominated for Best Actor at the Oscar and Golden Globe Awards.
Now with his two daughters he leads a more private life alongside his actress wife Eva Mendes. The La La La Land star has expressed in multiple interviews how happy he is with his current life and the experience of being a stay-at-home dad.
BEFORE | Hilary Duff
Adorable teenager Hilary Duff gave us endless moments of happiness thanks to her role in the series Lizzie Mcguire. Her influence on pop culture and children of the 2000s is still present today.
Besides being the star of this show, she also had a successful career as a singer. This foray into music left hits like “So Yesterday” and “Best of My Heart”, which are still remembered and used in social media trends.
NOW | Hilary Duff
After keeping a low profile and participating in few projects, Hillary Duff is back on the scene and is currently working on the filming of a second part of the famous series How I Met Your Mother.
She was also in talks for a new season of Lizzie Mcguire, however, as she herself communicated, the necessary agreements were not reached. The actress is now happily married with three children, and regularly posts updates about her life on Instagram.
BEFORE | Kevin Jonas
The rise of the Jonas Brothers was unimaginable. No one expected these three brothers to have such a huge impact on the pop culture of the 2000s. Kevin Jonas was part of this triumph and together with his brothers participated in multiple projects.
Although Kevin was the least extroverted brother of the three, he also had his starring role in Disney series and movies. In addition, he participated in musical collaborations of other famous stars, giving him the renown he currently retains.
NOW | Kevin Jonas
Years later, Kevin left his teenage look behind once he retired from his brothers’ band. The guitarist stepped away from the public eye and devoted himself to family life with his wife and children.
After 12 years Kevin joined the Jonas Brothers again releasing an album that left all his fans amazed and acquiring a whole new generation of followers. Now he is quite active on his social networks sharing part of his life as a father and as a music star.
BEFORE | Miley Cyrus
Not even Miley Cyrus could have imagined the success her Hanna Montana series would become. This iconic show catapulted Cyrus’ career, not only as an actress, but mainly as a singer.
Since her early days at Disney, Cyrus had problems with the company due to inappropriate photos that came to light. She also came under heavy criticism when she began to move away from her teen star image, but no one was prepared for the change she showed a few years later.
NOW | Miley Cyrus
Upon leaving Disney, Miley totally revamped her style and released an album called Bangerz. The drastic evolution generated all kinds of criticism and comments, but the high point came at her MTV Awards presentation, when she danced provocatively with Robin Thicke on open television.
Followed by this, she lived several separations with Liam Hemsworth, until they finally divorced in 2019. Her music career has remained just as controversial and she recently fanned the flames by releasing a rock genre album that has kept her active on the music scene.
BEFORE | Zendaya Coleman
Very few Disney stars manage to emerge unscathed and without serious consequences from their early fame. Zendaya Coleman, or as she is better known, Zendaya, is one of this exclusive group.
The star of Shake It Up shared the screen with actress Bella Thorne, and also participated in separate projects such as Good Luck, Charlie! In this way she was carving her way in Hollywood, to later reach the fame she currently possesses.
NOW | Zendaya Coleman
Despite still continuing to work with Disney, Zendaya is now part of much bigger projects. Among her repertoire are blockbuster films such as Spider-Man: Homecoming and Far From Home.
She also had an important role in the acclaimed series Euphoria, which earned her an Emmy nomination. The actress keeps her private life away from the cameras, but it is known that she is currently in a relationship with her Spider-Man co-star, Tom Holland.
BEFORE | Bella Thorne
In conjunction with Zendaya, Bella Thorne had the opportunity to be the face of one of Disney’s most successful shows, Shake It Up. This teenager was part of the generation that came to replace stars like Miley Cyrus and Selena Gomez.
Her work at the network opened doors for her at an early age, having the opportunity to work in other productions alongside actors such as Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore. However, like Cyrus, her change when she parted ways with Disney left everyone with their mouths wide open.
NOW | Bella Thorne
The physical change the actress and singer underwent was almost as drastic as the one in her personal life. Thorne has been involved in many scandals such as the big scam on the adult platform Only Fans of which she was part of.
She has also had multiple startling revelations regarding her past issues with Zendaya, eating disorders, and abuse experienced as a child. In 2019 she made her debut as a porn film director, and her last TV appearance was of little consequence.
BEFORE | Selena Gomez
Another of Disney’s most promising stars was teenager Selena Gomez. Her sweet personality and talent made her one of the most beloved actresses of her generation. She participated in several series and movies, but the most famous was The Wizards of Waverly Place, where she was the main character.
Despite having a low profile life, Selena began to star in scandals following her relationship with singer Justin Bieber. The tumultuous relationship would overshadow the teenager’s career for a while, until they finally split in 2018.
NOW | Selena Gomez
After leaving behind her history with Bieber, Selena Gomez was the victim of constant criticism from the American showbiz. She also had serious health problems after being diagnosed with Lupus, reason why she stayed away from the cameras.
However, in 2020, Gomez came back stronger than ever and revealed the release of two albums she titled Rare and Selena x Votes. She also released a makeup line called Rare Beauty and returned to acting with the Only Murders In The Building project.