Growing up in the spotlight

Sarah Taryam, Arts Editor

This week we are taking a look at some of the grown-up Disney stars who started their careers with the channel as youngsters and speaking out about what they endured during their years at the channel. From Demi Lovato to Vanessa Hudgens, there are plenty of actors and actresses with their own disturbing stories.

Growing up in the Hollywood industry is difficult for youngsters. They are vulnerable to many things including being taken advantage of as well as succumbing to alcohol and substance abuse to ease their stress of growing up in the public eye.

Demi Lovato has been quite vocal of the suffering she endured growing up in the spotlight. In her documentary “Dancing With the Devil,” Lovato revealed that she began to suffer from an eating
disorder as a result of competing in beauty pageants at a really young age. Her team didn’t react in the best way telling her friends to be careful what they ate around her, which just made the problem worse. She dabbled with drugs and alcohol which saw her end up in hospital fighting for her life. Luckily, she pulled through, but it could have gone a really bad way.

An 18-year-old Vanessa Hudgens became the victim of a nude photo leaked which infuriated parents of children who watched her show. Luckily this was before the height of social media or the fall out could have been much, much worse.

At the end of the day these actors are human beings and should be allowed to make mistakes without paying such a high price that it affects their mental health. More needs to be done to protect these child stars at the height of their fame.