Not every Disney Channel star can be an A-lister. The truth is, some stars completely vanish into obscurity. Some former Disney Channel stars only seemingly disappear but are in fact doing something completely different, such as Aly And AJ Michalka. While actors like Peyton List have broken free from the Disney mold and are making a lot of money elsewhere, where does Alyson Stoner fall?
Is she one of the richest most successful Disney Channel alumni and we just don't know it? Well, no... not at all... But according to Elite Daily, Alyson is still going strong.
So, what happened to the star of Mike's Super Short Show, The Suite Life With Zack and Cody, Camp Rock, That's So Raven, as well as non-Disney Channel projects like Drake & Josh, Step-Up, and the Cheaper By The Dozen movies?
Dancing Has Become A Major Part Of Her Life
Even before Alyson Stoner made her Disney Channel debut in 2001 she was dancing up a storm. In fact, she started to studio ballet, jazz dance, and tap dance when she was just a little kid. This passion and talent has continued to develop throughout her life and it's one of the many reasons Disney Channel took an interest in her from the start. After all, she was heavily featured in the Camp Rock films because of her dancing and singing abilities. This is also what landed her in the Step-Up films.
But even Missy Elliot took notice of Alyson Stoner at a young age. The famous rapper and singer featured Alyson in many of her music videos, most famously in 'Work It'. Their collaboration continued to 2019 when Alyson was featured as a back-up dancer at the MTV Music Video Awards. This was when Missy performed a medley of her songs. Alyson was featured in a spotlighted cameo wearing a yellow tracksuit, reprising the moves she did as a child.
Voice Work
While she seems to have done her best to separate herself from her Disney Channel past, Alyson Stoner continues to act to this day... But mostly voice work. She's made a really decent living doing voices in long-running projects such as Phineas and Ferb, Milo Murphy's Law, the Kingdom of Hearts videogames, The Loud House, Pete The Cat, and Young Justice, where she plays Barbara Gordon/Batgirl/Oracle.
It's clear from her candid YouTube videos that she is mostly done with the on-screen acting. At least for now.
"I was a pack mule growing up," she said in one of her videos. "Living in that little box? Being part of that little machine? It takes a huge toll on you."
She then went on to say just how challenging working in Hollywood was for her as a child.
"The competition, narcissism, perfectionism, the pressure, schedule, the traumatizing experiences that we can never talk about, because we’re either under contract or we’ll get shot or other things will happen to us if we open our mouths."
Of course, Alyson didn't exactly expand on any of the serious allegations she made at the end of that quote...
Her YouTube Channel And Endless Music
Alyson Stoner also has a fairly successful YouTube Channel, according to Elite Daily. This is where she is at her most raw and honest.
Her videos, which has attracted around 700,000 subscribers, are mostly about self-help as well as focus on her dancing and music.
Oh, that's the other thing about Alyson Stoner... She's constantly making music.
In 2008, Alyson's music career really started taking off when she performed two of the songs featured in her movie Alice Upside Down. From there, she made original work for a ton of different family movies. But she has also branched out to record her own music, which she's also created music videos for.
One of her most recent work, "Stripped Bare' featured Alyson shaving off her hair which she told People Magazine was a form of re-birth:
"Several years ago, I discovered I was being taken advantage of since childhood and left in a very compromised position. My health was affected along with my career path, my relationships and identity. So the song itself is kind of an emotional labyrinth. There’s sorrow and betrayal and a feeling of being at ground zero but it’s also mixed with this incredible promise for a new beginning. There’s unparalleled resilience. I see it as sort of the precipice of life and voice and story that’s finally my own."
She then continued by saying, "Shaving my head is an act of mental health and confidence, not self-destruction. I can’t tell you how many beliefs and opinions and insecurities fell to the floor with every tuft of hair, and I’m leaving them there. I’m shedding one era and rising as a new being in real time."
On top of all of this, Alyson told People Magazine that she's currently working on a number of bucket list projects as she's all about fulfilling everything she wants to accomplish. We wish her luck!