Disney Channel Original Movie Leading Ladies: Where Are They Now? Kimberly J. Brown, Kirsten Storms, Christina Vidal and More

Credit: Earl Gibson III/Shutterstock; ABC/Craig Sjodin; MediaPunch/Shutterstock

Disney Channel Original Movie Leading Ladies: Where Are They Now? Kimberly J. Brown, Kirsten Storms, Christina Vidal and More

Disney darlings! There are so many stars that have appeared in Disney Channel Original Movies over the years — but what happened to some of the network’s biggest leading ladies? Us has the full rundown about what your favorite teen idols are up to now. From Halloweentown’s Kimberly J. Brown and Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century’s Kirsten Storms to Brink!’s Christina Vidal and Cadet Kelly’s Hilary Duff, the Disney Channel has championed female-driven stories for generations — and picked the ideal actresses to tell the tales. Clara Bryant, who starred in the first DCOM, 1997’s Under Wraps, joked that her role in the movie transformed her life in more ways than one. (There have since been more than 100 DCOMs made.) “The truth, probably my biggest memory from it was Mario [Yedidia], the boy who played Marshall, teaching me how to French [kiss],” she told iHollywoodTV in October 2021. “We had a little fling on set.” Christy Carlson Romano, who acted opposite of Duff in Cadet Kelly as Jennifer Stone, reminisced about her role in 2017, revealing how she feels about some fans’ theory that the two military students are secretly a couple. [jwplayer uV0VP2vu-zhNYySv2] “What I make of that is that this is art. Even if it’s a Disney Channel film, it’s still a piece of art. And the reason why my films and TV shows have done well over time is because they have substantial value that obviously rings true with the fans and fans of all ages,” she told MTV News at the time. “I feel very blessed to have played Jennifer Stone because I do think that if she could have influence over people going through all sorts of different things, then that’s very flattering to me.” The Even Stevens alum also gushed over Duff, explaining that the two women hadn’t met before they started filming the movie. “She's like a little sister,” Romano continued. “Because she's a little bit younger than me, so we got to get to know one another and become friendly during the rehearsal process.” While some stars have continued to make a splash in Hollywood, like The Cheetah Girls’ Raven- Symoné, other actors like the women who played twins in Double Teamed — stars Alana Austin and Poppi Monroe — have taken a path outside the limelight. Scroll down to see which of your favorite Disney Channel Original Movie leading ladies are still acting and which ones have settled down and started families: [podcast_block]

Credit: Disney Channel/Kobal/Shutterstock; Courtesy of Clara Bryant/Instagram

Clara Bryant

Bryant is an OG Disney star, playing Amy in the network’s first DCOM, 1997’s Under Wraps. She later starred as Tru alongside Shia LaBeouf in 2002’s Tru Confessions. The actress went on to play Molly on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and appeared in the movie Bone Eater before leaving the industry in 2007. The California native has stayed under the radar since her Hollywood exit, eventually graduating from Columbia University and the University of Georgia School of Law. While living in Hong Kong for four years, she worked as a private tutor. Beginning in September 2020, Bryant has worked as an enterprise strategy manager for Xtend Healthcare, LLC, according to her LinkedIn.

The former actress shares two children, son Merritt and daughter Winnie, with husband Todd Hollett.

Credit: Singer White/Ventura Valley Film/Kobal/Shutterstock; Earl Gibson III/Shutterstock

Kimberly J. Brown

Brown made a name for herself after playing aspiring teen witch Marnie Piper in 1998’s Halloweentown. She then played Jamie Grover, who becomes the older sister of five babies, in 2000’s Quints. Brown reprised her role as Marnie in Halloweentown II: Kalabar’s Revenge and Halloweentown High. The Maryland native has since starred in Be Cool, Friendship! and Hell, California. She also appeared on shows including Guiding Light, Low Winter Sun and General Hospital. Brown runs an Etsy shop called CraftilyCreative with a friend and published a Halloween-themed children’s book, Poppin’s Pumpkin Patch Parade, in 2016 with Diane Yslas.

In June 2022, the actress confirmed her engagement to her Halloweentown II: Kalabar’s Revenge costar Daniel Kountz, who played Kal in the spooky sequel. Their relationship turned romantic after they reunited to film a YouTube video in 2016. They confirmed the romance one year later.

Credit: Singer White/Ventura Valley Film/Kobal/Shutterstock; Courtesy of Emily Roeske/Instagram

Emily Roeske

Roeske played Marnie’s younger sister, Sophie Piper, who doesn’t realize her powers, in 1998’s Halloweentown. She later reprised the role 2001’s Halloweentown II: Kalabar’s Revenge and 2004’s Halloweentown High. The Wisconsin native hasn’t acted since the scary DCOM franchise. Instead, she became a mixed martial arts coach in Arizona.

The former child star married Mitch Chapman in 2013. The pair welcomed daughter Evie before eventually calling it quits. Roeske is currently dating Jacob Arellano, who has three children from a previous relationship.

Credit: YouTube; MediaPunch/Shutterstock

Christina Vidal

The actress portrayed soul skater Gabriella in 1998’s Brink! Vidal then appeared in Chasing Papi, Freaky Friday, See No Evil, Magic Man, 7 Days to Vegas and The Guilty. Her TV credits include roles on Taina, Code Black, Training Day, Grand Hotel, United We Fall and The Terminal List, which premieres in 2022. She was briefly part of the band Gemstone and sang on multiple soundtracks including the series Taina and the movie Freaky Friday.

The New York native married actor Marcus Emanuel Mitchell in 2016. They share two daughters: Willa born in January 2018 and Ava born in July 2020.

Credit: YouTube; ABC/Craig Sjodin

Kirsten Storms

Storms became a DCOM superstar in 1999 when she starred as Zenon in Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century and as Emily in Johnny Tsunami. She reprised her role in Zenon: The Zequel and Zenon: Z3 and later added to her Disney Channel resume, voicing Bonnie Rockwaller in both Kim Possible: A Sitch in Time and Kim Possible: So the Drama. Storms voiced the same character on the TV series Kim Possible from 2002 to 2007. She later starred on Days of Our Lives, Clubhouse and General Hospital: Night Shift — and has been playing Maxie Jones on General Hospital since 2005.

The Florida native split from actor Brandon Barash in 2016 after three years of marriage. They share daughter Harper, whom they welcomed in January 2014.

Credit: YouTube; Broadimage/Shutterstock

Raven-Symone

The child star made a splash as Nebula in 1999’s Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century and its two sequels. She then portrayed Galleria in 2003’s The Cheetah Girls and 2006’s The Cheetah Girls 2. Symoné continued to have success on Disney as Raven Baxter on That’s So Raven from 2003 to 2007 before reprising her role in its revival, Raven’s Home, which began in 2017. The actress voiced Monique in the Kim Possible series and its corresponding DCOMs. Symoné’s other acting credits include State of Georgia, Black-ish and Big City Greens. She released four studio albums from 1993 to 2008 and made her Broadway debut in 2012’s Sister Act. The Georgia native joined The View as a host from 2015 to 2016 and competed on The Masked Singer in 2019.

The Academy of Art University alum married Miranda Pearman-Maday in June 2020.

Credit: YouTube; Scott Kirkland/PictureGroup/Shutterstock

Camilla Belle

Belle won over fans with her portrayal of surfer girl Sydney Miller in 2000’s Rip Girls. She then starred in Back to the Secret Garden, When a Stranger Calls, Breakaway, The American Side, Sundown and The Mad Whale. The Los Angeles native had a guest-starring role as Melyssa on Dollface in 2019. Belle made her debut as a producer with 2016’s Looking at the Stars and in 2021, she directed her first film, Phobias.

The model made headlines in late 2008 when she briefly dated Joe Jonas after he split from Taylor Swift. The pop star’s song “Better Than Revenge” was later written about Jonas leaving her for Belle, whom he split from in 2009.

Credit: Bei/Shutterstock; Courtesy of Caitlin Wachs/Instagram

Caitlin Wachs

The child star, who had roles on the shows Profiler and To Have & to Hold in the ‘90s, made her way to the Disney Channel in 2000. She played Karen Riley, the younger sister of movie theater worker Pete Riley (Taylor Handley) in Phantom of the Megaplex. Wachs then played Andrea in the Air Bud franchise and appeared on Family Affair, Cracking Up and Commander in Chief. She moved behind the camera in 2014, working as a production assistant on The Meltdown With Jonah and Kumail, Tween Fest and Swedish Dicks.

The Oregon native studied theater at the University of Southern California before becoming a producer for music videos and commercials.

Credit: Jim Smeal/BEI/Shutterstock; Courtesy of Lindsey Haun/Instagram

Lindsey Haun

Haun portrayed Mahree Bok in 2000’s The Color of Friendship. She then appeared in Broken Bridges, The Life Zone, Meat Cute and Hanky Panky and TV’s True Blood and Such a Small World. The California native is a writer, director and editor, having worked on 2013’s Eva & Liza documentary and 2016’s Flesh and Blood and Bone video short. Haun’s resume also features soundtrack, costume designer and music department credits — and she previously worked as a composer on 2017’s Miscreants. She cohosted a web series with husband Nick amid the COVID-19 crisis in 2020 called, the “Nick and Lindsey Morning Show.”

Haun welcomed her first child, daughter Phoenix, in November 2020.

Credit: YouTube; Courtesy of Shadia Simmons/Instagram

Shadia Simmons

The Canadian actress played Piper Dellums, who eventually becomes close with Mahree Bok, in 2000’s The Color of Friendship. Simmons also popped up in the 2000 DCOM Quints before portraying Zenon’s pal Nebula Wade in 2001’s Zenon: The Zequel. The actress switched her focus to TV in the early 2000s, appearing on The Zack Files, Ace Lightning and Life With Derek. She stepped back from acting in 2009.

Simmons is currently a teacher. She reportedly is the mother of three children.

Credit: Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock; Courtesy of Courtnee Draper/Instagram

Courtnee Draper

Draper played Cody’s (Chez Starbuck) BFF and love interest Sam in 1999’s The Thirteenth Year before having a leading role as Megan Larson in 2000’s Stepsister from Planet Weird. The Florida native landed the role of Erica Lovejoy/Mary Carter Warwick on The Bold and the Beautiful in 2002 and portrayed Morgan Hudson on The Jersey. She also appeared in The Biggest Fan, Surf’s Up, Booth Girls and Ophelia. Draper voiced the White Tiger in multiple video games, including 2015’s Disney Infinity 3.0.

She graduated from Loyola Law School in 2014 and is currently working within the legal system. Draper shares twin girls with husband Kevin Hoiseth.

Credit: Buena Vista Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock; Matt Baron/Shutterstock

Brenda Song

Song was a big star on the Disney Channel, beginning with her role as Samantha Elizabeth Kwan in 2000’s The Ultimate Christmas Present. Her other DCOMs include playing Jennifer in 2002’s Get a Clue, Natasha in 2004’s Stuck in the Suburbs, Wendy Wu in 2006’s in Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior and London Tipton in 2011’s The Suite Life Movie. The California native starred on Phil of Future from 2004 to 2005, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody from 2005 to 2008 and The Suite Life on Deck from 2008 to 2011. Song then appeared on New Girl, Dads, Dollface, Station 19 and Amphibia.

The actress was engaged to Trace Cyrus from 2011 to 2012. She moved on with Macaulay Culkin in 2017 after meeting on the set of Changeland. The couple welcomed their first child, son Dakota, in April 2021. More than one year later, Us broke the news that they secretly welcomed their second child, son Carson, before 2023 began. 

Credit: YouTube; Courtesy of Alana Austin/Instagram

Alana Austin

Austin wowed fans as Andrea ‘Andi’ Carson, a teenager who impersonates her twin brother so she can race dirt bikes in 2001’s Motocrossed. The actress then appeared in The Retrievers, Hansel & Gretel, Miracle Dogs, Supercross and Popstar before leaving Hollywood in 2006. Based on social media, Austin has worked in the entertainment industry since graduating from the University of Southern California.

She got married in Santa Ynez, California, in September 2019. Austin and her husband welcomed their first child, a baby girl, in July 2020. She announced in August 2021, that she gave birth to twins earlier in the year.

Credit: YouTube; Courtesy of Poppi Monroe/Instagram

Poppi Monroe

Monroe played basketball superstar Heather Burge in 2002’s Double Teamed. The role was her first major acting gig, which she followed up with an appearance on Strong Medicine and CSI: Miami. Monroe was also seen in Disney Channel’s Tiger Cruise and voiced Kate Brewster in the Terminator 3: The Redemption video game. She left acting in 2006.

Monroe, who works in the wine industry, relocated from California to Texas in 2016. She shares her wine tasting adventures via social media.

Credit: YouTube; Courtesy of Annie McElwain/Instagram

Annie McElwain

McElwain portrayed Heather’s twin and fellow basketball phenom Heidi Burge in 2002’s Double Teamed. The actress popped up on CSI: Miami and Shark before leaving the industry in 2006. She currently works as a professional photographer, specializing in weddings, women portraits and brand shoots.

The Seattle native shares one daughter, Neala, with her husband.

Credit: Buena Vista/Kobal/Shutterstock; MediaPunch/Shutterstock

Hilary Duff

The Lizzie McGuire star showed a different side of her personality as fashionista-turned-military student Kelly in 2002’s Cadet Kelly. Duff then starred in Cheaper by the Dozen, A Cinderella Story, The Perfect Man, Material Girls and The Haunting of Sharon Tate. She also appeared on The Chase and Gossip Girl before landing the role of Kelsey Peters on Younger in 2015. In 2020, it was announced that she will portray Sophie on How I Met Your Mother. Musically, Duff has released five studio albums, including 2015’s Breath In. Breathe Out. She returned to music with 2020’s “Never Let You Go” single.

The Texas native married NHL star Mike Comrie in 2010. They welcomed son Luca in 2012 and separated four years later. Duff wed musician Matthew Koma in December 2019. The couple share two daughters: Banks, born in 2018, and Mae, born in 2021.

Credit: Buena Vista Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock; Broadimage/Shutterstock

Christy Carlson Romano

The actress played Kelly’s rival-turned-pal Jennifer in 2002’s Cadet Kelly. She portrayed Ren Stevens on Even Stevens for three seasons before reprising the role in the 2003 DCOM The Even Stevens Movie. While voicing the title character on Kim Possible for four seasons, Romano also appeared in Kim Possible: A Sitch in Time and Kim Possible: So the Drama. She later voiced Poppy Blu in 2019’s Kim Possible TV movie. The Connecticut native’s other film credits include The Cutting Edge 3: Chasing the Dream, Suicide Dolls and Dream Killer. The YouTube star has been hosting Christy’s Kitchen Throwback since 2019 and starring on Celebrity Kitchen since 2020.

Romano married producer and writer Brendan Rooney in 2013. They share two daughters: Isabella and Sophia.

Credit: Disney/Kobal/Shutterstock; SCOTT BARBOUR/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Lindsay Lohan

Lohan played super sleuth Lexy Gold in 2002’s Get a Clue before starring in Disney’s Freaky Friday. She went on to play Lola in Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, Cady Heron in Mean Girls, Maggie Peyton in Herbie Fully Loaded and Ashley Albright in Just My Luck. The former child star also starred in Georgia Rule, Machete, Scary Movie V and Among the Shadows. Lohan served as the executive producer on the miniseries Lindsay in 2014 and both starred and produced 2019’s Lindsay Lohan’s Beach Club.

The New York native released two albums, Speak and A Little More Personal (Raw), in 2004 and 2005, respectively.

Lohan was briefly engaged to Egor Tarabasov in 2016. Three years later, she was rumored to be dating Saudi Arabia’s crown prince Mohammad bin Salman, but her father, Michael Lohan, claimed they were just friends. Lindsay announced her engagement to Bader Shammas in November 2021. Us confirmed in July 2022 that she and Shammas had gotten married nearly one year after their romantic proposal.

Credit: Trent Warner/Startraks; Marissa Carter/imageSPACE/MEGA

Danielle Panabaker

Panabaker played Brittany Aarons in 2004’s Stuck in the Suburbs before starring as IS in 2006’s Read It and Weep alongside sister Kay Panabaker. The actress then appeared in Sky High, Friday the 13th, The Crazies and Christmas Joy. Her TV credits include Shark, Necessary Roughness, Justified, Arrow and playing Caitlin Snow/Frost on The Flash. The Georgia native directed her first project, an episode of The Flash, in 2019.

She married attorney Hayes Robbins in 2017. Danielle announced in April 2020 that the couple welcomed their first child. The Sky High actress announced she was pregnant with baby No. 2 in January 2022. The former child star confirmed the little one’s arrival in July 2022 via social media.

Credit: BEI/Shutterstock; Courtesy of Kay Panabaker/Instagram

Kay Panabaker

Kay made her Disney Channel debut as Emily Watson in 2005’s Life Is Ruff. She then starred as Jamie Bartlett in 2006’s Read It and Weep alongside her real-life sister, Danielle Panabaker. She later appeared on Summerland, Phil of the Future and No Ordinary Family and had leading roles in Nancy Drew, Fame, Little Birds and Beverly Hills Chihuahua 3: Viva La Fiesta! before leaving Hollywood in 2012.

The Texas native went on to graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles, and is now a zookeeper.

Credit: Fred Hayes/The Disney Channel/Kobal/Shutterstock; MediaPunch/Shutterstock

Ashley Tisdale

Tisdale played Sharpay Evans in 2006’s High School Musical and its two sequels. She previously gained fame on Disney Channel playing Maddie Fitzpatrick on The Suite Life of Zack & Cody from 2005 to 2008. The actress went on to star on Phineas and Ferb, Hellcats, Clipped, Ginger Snaps, Merry Happy Whatever and Carol’s Second Act. After founding her production company, Blondie Girl Productions, Tisdale served as an executive producer on Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure and TV’s Miss Advised and Young & Hungry. She has released three studio albums, including 2019’s Symptoms.

The New Jersey native married musician Christopher French in 2014. They welcomed their first child, daughter Jupiter, in March 2021.

Credit: Fred Hayes/The Disney Channel/Kobal/Shutterstock; INSTAR

Vanessa Hudgens

Hudgens' role as Troy Bolton’s love interest, Gabriella Montez, in 2006’s High School Musical — and its two sequels — shot her to superstardom. She would go on to star in Beastly, Spring Breakers, Machete Kills, Grease Live!, Second Act, The Knight Before Christmas and The Princess Switch franchise. The California native worked as an executive producer on 2015’s #15SecondScare before producing 2019’s The Knight Before Christmas and 2020’s The Princes Switch: Switched Again. She’s also recorded two studio albums, V and Identified, which dropped in 2006 and 2008, respectively.

Hudgens famously dated HSM costar Zac Efron from 2007 to 2010. She moved on with actor Austin Butler in 2011, but the pair called it quits in late 2019. She has been dating MLB player Cole Tucker since November 2020.

Credit: Disney Channel/Kobal/Shutterstock; Diggzy/Shutterstock

Demi Lovato

Lovato’s DCOM debut was as Mitchie Torres in 2008’s Camp Rock. They then played Rosalinda in 2009’s Princess Protection Program alongside Selena Gomez. The star portrayed Sonny Munroe on Sonny With a Chance from 2009 to 2011 before landing a recurring role on Glee in 2013. Lovato went on to voice Smurfette in multiple TV movies before reprising the role in Smurfs: The Lost Village. The Texas native played Jenny on Will & Grace’s revival before directing the documentary Demi Lovato: Dancing With the Devil in 2021.

The musician, who has released seven studio albums throughout their career, has been vocal about their ups and downs with sobriety after suffering a near-fatal drug overdose in July 2018. Lovato was hospitalized and later entered a treatment center. In May 2021, the star came out as non-binary.

Lovato dated Joe Jonas in 2010 and Wilmer Valderrama on and off from 2010 to 2016. They briefly got engaged to Max Ehrich in 2020 but called it off after two months.

Credit: Disney Channel/Kobal/Shutterstock; Broadimage/Shutterstock

Selena Gomez

Gomez portrayed wizard Alex Russo on Disney Channel’s Wizards of Waverly Place from 2007 to 2012. As her fame grew, she landed the role of Carter in 2009’s Princess Protection Program before reprising her magical role in Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie and The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex. Gomez also starred in Monte Carlo, Spring Breakers, Rudderless, Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising and The Dead Don’t Die. Gomez voiced Mavis in the Hotel Transylvania franchise and served as an executive producer on 13 Reasons Why and This Is the Year. She returned to TV after more than a decade away for 2021’s Only Murders in the Building.

The Texas native released three albums with her band, Selena Gomez & the Scene, from 2009 to 2011. She has since dropped three solo records, including 2020’s Rare. The musician launched her cooking show, Selena + Chef, for HBO Max the same year.

Gomez dated Justin Bieber on and off from 2011 to 2018. She had a high-profile romance with The Weeknd from January to October 2017, before briefly reconnecting with Bieber in November of that year. The actress and the “Baby” crooner split for good in March 2018.

Credit: Piers Allardyce/Shutterstock; Anthony Harvey/Shutterstock

Zendaya

The actress became a Disney Channel staple after playing Rocky Blue on Shake It Up from 2010 to 2013. While filming the show, she also portrayed Halley in the 2012 DCOM Frenemies and then played Zoey in 2014’s Zapped. Zendaya went on to star in The Greatest Showman, Smallfoot, Malcolm & Marie, Dune, Space Jam: A New Legacy and plays MJ in the Spider-Man films. Her TV roles include playing K.C. Cooper on K.C. Undercover (which she coproduced) and Rue Bennett on Euphoria. The Emmy winner released her debut album, Zendaya, in 2013. The same year, she penned the book Between U and Me.

Us Weekly confirmed in July 2021 that Zendaya and Tom Holland are dating.