On TV, Disney Channel looks like one long sleepover party: vibrant outfits, perfectly timed jokes, and a life lesson before the next commercial. But for the kids carrying those shows, fame hits fast and smashes them into a wall called “life.” Demi Lovato once warned would-be stars to “take it easy” and live a little first, because the job can swallow your teenage years whole. Other individuals have also openly discussed the unspoken challenges of fame.
From wrecked finances to image policing to flat-out inappropriate behavior, these former Mouseketeers have stories that everyone should listen to.
Miley Cyrus: The Best of Both Worlds and Body Dysmorphia
At 11, Cyrus stepped into the glitter rocket ship called Hannah Montana and left the world behind her. For a while, at least. She says that all that stress later fed her body dysmorphia and anxiety. And of course, there’s the existential crisis: who was Miley without Hannah? Turns out, the answer was a loud punk prince who managed to crawl out of that trap just fine.
Christy Carlson Romano: From “Kim Possible” to Living in Debt
Romano was everywhere in the 2000s: Even Stevens, Kim Possible, Cadet Kelly—you name it. But success didn’t come with a lifehack on what to do with all that cash. In her candid YouTube confessions, she revealed that she lacked basic financial knowledge, dropped out of school, and unexpectedly found herself with a substantial amount of money without a plan. This led to spending sprees on cars, designer items, and various other luxuries. She wishes she’d invested early instead of treating cash like a mood stabilizer. To make matters worse, she says psychics scammed her out of nearly $100k, which is not at all surprising for a kid.
Bella Thorne: Voice Notes from a Puppet
Thorne joined Shake It Up at 12, partly to help her family after her father’s death. Then they started putting pressure on her: change your natural speaking voice, don’t post this photo, don’t say that thing, don’t even think—we’ll do it for you. She says she felt like a puppet and that any misstep could make her homeless. It’s challenging to “find yourself” when the job requires you to be someone else.
Hilary Duff: “Perfect” on Camera, Dead on the Inside
Lizzie McGuire launched Duff into superstardom, which slowly led her to “harmful body expectations.” She’s spoken about an eating disorder fueled by being young, ultra-visible, and being told that thin equals good. Years later, she finally talked about how unhealthy that era was and now focuses on strength, health, and sanity over people’s opinions.
Dove Cameron: Impostor Syndrome in a Tiara
Liv and Maddie and Descendants turned Cameron into Disney royalty, but inside, she says she felt like an impostor, especially next to big names starring side-by-side with her. In 2022, she shared unfiltered posts about dysphoria and identity, then publicly embraced being queer. Cameron says you don’t have to know exactly who you are to deserve love, success, or a good eyeliner day, and that’s about the best you can do.
Demi Lovato: Fame, Trauma, and Truth
Lovato has been painfully open about recovery and relapse. In her documentary Dancing with the Devil, she revealed using substances as a teen and some far darker things: at 15, a fellow Disney actor she was dating at the time assaulted her after she said she wouldn’t go any further. Sadly, that’s not a plot twist; that’s a systemic failure of our society. Today, Lovato channels survival into art and sobriety, making music on her own terms.
Raven-Symoné: “Brand Raven” vs. Real Raven
Long before That’s So Raven, she was already a seasoned veteran. Yet even she faced relentless scrutiny when it came to her clothes, body, and even her skin tone. Some crew member told her they’d have to relight the whole show because of that, as if people would ever care about something this banal. As a teen, she also felt pressure to hide her sexuality to protect the Raven brand. She eventually came out publicly in 2013, but the journey took a significant amount of time.
Joe Jonas: The Ken Doll Phase
The Jonas Brothers had everything: hits, movies, sitcoms, and a flawlessly polished image. Joe later wrote that he hated staying baby-faced for Jonas and felt stuck in stories he didn’t believe in. Disney felt like the only option, which is understandable when you’re essentially still a child. He also admitted PR pressure around his brief fling with Demi Lovato during her private struggles. When your private life becomes a brand asset, that’s not dating; that’s marketing.
Selena Gomez: Human Being, Not a Product
Selena Gomez was outstanding as the youngest wizard on Waverly Place, but later admitted the Disney machine left her feeling like a “product.” In My Mind & Me, she tears up after an interview that made her feel cheap, saying she’d spent years trying not to be “Disney” again. She’s grateful for the push but refuses to squeeze back into the “good girl” box.
