Dark Secrets Of These Disney Channel Stars

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.