Child Stars to Trainwrecks

That’s Showbiz, Baby: A Child Star Timeline

It’s not the suite life all the time.

by ALLY LAIN-HEDDEN graphics by SAMANTHA FUSS

Whether you shrieked whenever Nick Jonas sang “Red Dress” or cried your eyes out to Justin Bieber’s “Baby,” we all love our childhood stars. Regardless of who you support, we all can agree that our favorite celebrities have changed drastically. From Britney, Amanda, Justin, Miley, and Hilary, we are here to give you an update on the lives of those who practically raised us. Let’s talk about Britney Spears. Before all of the scandals and the iconic Hulu documentary, she starred on the hit Disney Channel show, Mickey Mouse Club. Following the show’s cancellation, Britney went on to sign a contract with Jive Records. Then came “Baby One More Time,” and we all know how that went...it’s still on my playlist today. As her fame skyrocketed, the innocent image she once portrayed was replaced with her party girl counterpart. Pressure from the industry and her family led to a decline in her mental health, multiple rehab stays, an infamous custody battle, and, eventually, conservatorship. Thankfully, the fight to end her conservatorship is moving in the right direction with her fans by her side. Along with Britney, Amanda Bynes is another notable example of a child star fallen victim to the industry. Amanda landed roles in Hairspray, and She’s the Man at a young age, putting her in the spotlight. Following a brief battle with substance abuse, she traded in her blonde looks for vibrant hair colors, lip injections, and a couple of tattoos. Her parents decided to step in and take conservatorship over her, which they still have today. Today she focuses on her education, meditation, and living a quiet lifestyle. From a small-town boy to a global heartthrob, Justin Bieber captured our hearts as kids and continues to make us swoon as adults. Yet his sensation on stage came with many hardships behind the scenes. He has opened up to his heavy drug addiction, failed relationships, and legal trouble and is not afraid to speak out against the industry. With every decision scrutinized, Justin found himself alone and hated by the world. Taking the time to heal following his bad decisions and constant media attention has allowed Justin to rediscover himself. He now follows a healthier lifestyle and recently privately married Hailey Baldwin, breaking hearts worldwide. While under constant pressure, he has found himself falling back in love with music and writing. Miley Cyrus, aka Hannah Montana, has been through it all. Becoming a household name from her roles on Disney, Miley has constantly felt the pressure to fit the industry image. Industry expectations caused body dysmorphia and battles with her confidence. Eventually, she grew away from Disney but continued her acting career with The Last Song, where she met her ex-husband Liam Hemsworth. Still heartbroken about that. Breaking away from her child image came with the infamous VMA performance and the Wrecking Ball video. Her outrageous outfits, onstage antics, and public activism were her way of showing the world that she had grown. Years later, she found herself on a new path and embraced her countryside with Malibu and Younger Now. Personally my favorite Miley era. While Disney Channel and Nickelodeon may have given us our favorite childhood stars, they also played a role in shaping them, and sometimes, breaking them. Some honorable mentions include MaCaulay Culkin, Hillary Duff, Dylan and Cole Sprouse, Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato, and Ashley Tisdale (team Sharpay forever). Always going to be obsessed with my childhood stars but definitely going to pay more attention to what’s going on behind the scenes.