"Hannah Montana" Just Turned 20, So Here's What 27 Of Your Favorite Disney Stars Looked Like Back In 2006 Vs. Today

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Recently, Hannah Montana celebrated its 20th anniversary with a Disney+ special, and aside from making me feel thoroughly and wholeheartedly ancient, it's also made me more than a little nostalgic for the golden era of Disney Channel back in the day. Juice box in hand...Suite Life of Zack & Cody on my screen...and not a care in the world? That was the life!

Three young people smiling and hugging in a school setting, wearing casual outfits with backpacks

So, in honor of 20 years, here's what all your Disney faves looked like back in 2006 vs. what they look like now, and what they've been up to since you last saw them:

1. Here's Miley Cyrus as Hannah Montana in the first episode of the show back in '06:

Young woman in a TV show setting wears a pink top with glittery details, extending her arm forward

And here she is now, at the 20th reunion premiere. Her ninth studio album, Something Beautiful, came out last summer:

Person in a sparkly silver outfit and graphic top stands in front of a "Hannah Montana" anniversary backdrop

Here's a side-by-side:

on left, person in scene with casual top; on right, same person at an event in starry, graphic t-shirt

And her today. She wasn't at the 20th anniversary reunion, but she's been booked and busy starring in the CBS sitcom Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage:

Person in strapless gown poses on event carpet in front of a logo backdrop

Savion Washington / WireImage / Getty Images

Here's a side-by-side:

Person in a TV show scene on left and at a red carpet event on right, wearing a strapless, ruffled gown

3. Here's Mitchel Musso:

A young person with a shaggy hairstyle sits at a cafeteria table with a food tray, wearing a backpack over a casual shirt

And here's what he looks like most recently, in 2018. Since his time on Disney, he released a mixtape in 2022:

A person smiling on a red carpet, wearing a sleek black leather jacket and holding a relaxed pose with hands in pockets

Here's a side-by-side:

Two side-by-side photos. On the left, a young person in a shirt and backpack. On the right, an adult in a leather jacket smiling at an event

4. Here's Moisés Arias in his first episode of Hannah Montana:

Young boy with striped shirt looking up at someone near school lockers

Here he is now, at the anniversary premiere. He's currently playing Norm MacLean in Prime Video's Fallout series:

Person at an event wearing a T-shirt with "Hannah Montana" text, standing in front of a backdrop commemorating the 20th anniversary

And here's a side-by-side:

left shows a young person in a striped shirt looking upwards; right shows an adult with glasses and a beard wearing a purple shirt

5. Cody Linley played Jake Ryan on Hannah Montana back in the day:

A young person in casual clothing and a cap is outdoors, facing another individual. Palm trees are visible in the background

And here he is today. His social media describes him as an actor, writer, director, and musician nowadays. He also teaches acting classes:

Person smiling in a suit at an event, with "Montana 20th Anniversary Special" in the background

Here's a side-by-side:

A person on the left with a casual hat and hairstyle, and the same person on the right at an event in a light blazer

And here she is today. That's So Raven got a spinoff, Raven's Home, back in 2017, which she starred in. Since, Raven married her wife, Miranda Pearman-Maday, in 2020, and the pair host a podcast together. Raven continues acting, producing, and teased an upcoming memoir about being a child star:

Person on a red carpet in a black outfit with intricate designs and a sheer top, wearing sunglasses. Logos and sponsors in the background

Here's a side-by-side:

Two side-by-side images of a celebrity. The left shows them with styled hair and earrings; the right shows them with short hair, sunglasses, and a studded jacket

7. Here's Anneliese van der Pol, who played Chelsea, in a 2006 episode of That's So Raven:

Three people stand together; one holds papers. A woman on the right wears a patterned apron-style outfit. The setting appears casual, possibly a TV show

And here she is now. She, too, reprised her role in Raven's Home, where she met her costar and now-husband, Johnno Wilson. They got married in 2024 and late last year, had their first child together:

Person in a denim dress attends a "Come From Away" event, posing in front of a themed backdrop with logos

Here's a side-by-side:

in a chic outfit at an event, hair flowing naturally

8. Here's Hilary Duff in 2006. Lizzie McGuire had wrapped two years prior, but she was still making the rounds with her film and music career:

Person holding a microphone at an MTV event, wearing a sleeveless top with styled hair, smiling at the camera

And here she is today. She's been consistently acting over the years, starring in shows like Younger and How I Met Your Father. She also returned to music this year after a decade-long hiatus, and is touring her new album luck… or something:

Person on talk show set wearing a sleeveless, knee-length dress and high heels, smiling and gesturing while seated

Here's a side-by-side:

Two side-by-side photos of a smiling woman with long hair at different events

9. Here's Adam Lamberg in 2005, at the time starring in the indie film When Do We Eat?, which ultimately ended up being one of his last acting roles:

Person on the red carpet wearing a corduroy blazer over a striped shirt, smiling with hands in pockets

Here he is most recently in 2019. He was set to reprise the role of Gordo in the Lizzie McGuire reboot, which was ultimately scrapped in late 2020. Since otherwise retiring from acting, he went on to attend UC Berkeley and works in "fundraising and special events consulting."

Two people smiling and seated at a cafe table, one wearing a sheer, patterned top and the other a casual shirt

Here's a side-by-side:

Two side-by-side photos of the same smiling individual with different hairstyles; one with curly hair, the other with short, styled hair

10. Here's Lalaine, who played Miranda Sanchez on Lizzie McGuire until her early departure in 2004. At the time, she was pursuing music:

Person smiling, wearing a striped hoodie and a chunky black necklace, with long hair cascading over shoulders

And here she is now. In 2024, she narrated the audiobook for Disney High: The Untold Story of the Rise and Fall of Disney Channel's Tween Empire. While not confirmed, her agent claimed she was open to being involved in the Lizzie reboot:

Person smiling at a media event, wearing a green shirt over a lace top and necklace, in front of a branded backdrop

Here's a side-by-side:

Two women smiling at the camera in side-by-side photos. One wears a hooded top; the other wears a blouse with earrings

11. Here's Danielle Panabaker, who starred in the DCOM Read It and Weep alongside her sister, Kay, in 2006:

Person at a Radio Disney event, wearing a casual blazer over a t-shirt, smiling for photos

And here she is today. She's still acting and is directing, too. She's active in the DC TV universe, having played Caitlin Snow/Frost in Arrow, Supergirl, Legends of Tomorrow, and several seasons of The Flash:

A woman in a sleeveless, textured dress stands outdoors near greenery, smiling with long, wavy hair and a small handbag

Here's a side-by-side:

Two side-by-side photos of the same woman at different ages, smiling

12. Here's Zac Efron in '06, the year the first High School Musical movie came out:

Person smiling, holding basketball, in front of "School Musical" sign. Wearing casual layered clothing

Here he is today. He's still acting — he notably portrayed Kevin Von Erich in The Iron Claw — and is currently the Chief Brand Officer for Kodiac Cakes:

Person in a cap and casual outfit sits in a crowded event, smiling and relaxed

And here's a side-by-side:

Two different portraits of the same person at different ages, smiling

13. Here's his costar, Vanessa Hudgens, who played Gabriella Montez:

Person standing on stairs wearing a long-sleeve top and embroidered jeans, smiling at the camera

And here she is now. Not only has Vanessa continued acting, but she's also a mom. She and her husband, Cole Tucker, welcomed their second child in November of last year:

Smiling woman with long hair in a fitted gown, accessorized with gold bangles and rings, holding her belly at a formal event

Here's a side-by-side:

Two side-by-side portraits of a woman with long hair smiling; on the left, casual style, on the right, formal attire

14. This is Corbin Bleu, who played Chad Danforth back in 2006:

Smiling person with curly hair, wearing a graphic t-shirt and an open hoodie, standing outdoors with arms crossed

And here he is now. Corbin has been busy on Broadway, most recently starring as Nick Carraway in The Great Gatsby. He also returned to the HSM universe, appearing in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series:

Person smiling, standing in front of curtain, wearing a short-sleeve button-up shirt and slacks. Arms are crossed comfortably

Here's a side-by-side:

younger with curly hair and older with short hair, wearing casual outfits

15. Monique Coleman played Taylor McKessie in the HSM movies, and here she is then:

A person with curled hair, wearing hoop earrings, a red headband, and a heart-shaped necklace smiles at the camera

Here's what she looks like today. In 2019, she was nominated for a Daytime Emmy for hosting the docuseries GimmeMo', and her Instagram bio describes her as a "Global Youth Advocate" and "Adult Figure Skater":

Person on event carpet in a textured coat, smiling against a sparkly, light-studded backdrop

And, of course, here's a side-by-side:

Two side-by-side images of a woman, showing her hair and style changes over time

16. Olesya Rulin played Kelsi Nielsen back in '06:

Person in glasses and a cap holds papers, looking thoughtful. Casual attire with braided hair

Here she is in 2021. She, too, has continued acting, most recently starring in the movie Black Bags:

Person posing outdoors in athleisure wear including a sports bra, leggings, cap, and sneakers, standing in front of "alo" signage

Here's a side-by-side:

Left shows a person in a hat, glasses, and casual attire, looking off to the side while holding a notebook. Right shows the same person now with a cap, looking at the camera

17. Let us not forget the iconic Sharpay, as played by Ashley Tisdale. She also played Maddie on The Suite Life of Zack & Cody starting in '05:

Two people standing together, facing each other and talking in a lively setting. One has long blonde hair and a heart necklace

Here she is today. Now Ashley French, she's active on social media, posting about motherhood, wellness, and interior design. She also continues to voice Candace on Phineas and Ferb, and has been cast in an upcoming CBS sitcom:

Two people walking on a city sidewalk. The woman wears a white suit and black boots, the man wears a denim jacket, white shirt, and tan pants

Here's a side-by-side:

Two side-by-side images of a woman with long hair. On the left, styled hair and necklace; on the right, loose waves and a white blazer

18. Speaking of Suite Life, let's take a look at Dylan Sprouse, who played Zack, back in 2006:

Person with a microphone, wearing a checkered jacket and green shirt, speaking at an event

And here he is in 2026. In 2023, he married supermodel Barbara Palvin. He continues to act, produce, and — for a time — was in the business of running a meadery in Brooklyn:

Person in a pinstripe suit with an open-collared shirt against a sunset background

Here's a side-by-side:

Side-by-side image of a young boy holding a microphone and an adult man in a suit with facial hair

19. And here's his twin brother, Cole Sprouse, who played Cody:

A young person with medium-length hair smiles, wearing a graphic t-shirt, posed in front of a background with text and logos

And here he is today. He also continues to act, most notably playing Jughead Jones in Riverdale and starring in Lisa Frankenstein. He's also a photographer and has shot professionally for W magazine and Teen Vogue:

Person in a casual outfit with a leather jacket and light pants, walking outside at night among a crowd

Here's a side-by-side:

Adult with short hair and beard wears a leather jacket, gazing sideways

20. Let us not forget London Tipton herself, Brenda Song. Here she is back in '06:

Person smiling at an event, wearing a floral embroidered dress with teardrop earrings and a small handbag. Hair styled in a ponytail

And here she is today. She's engaged to fellow child star Macaulay Culkin (Home Alone) and is still acting. Most recently, she was part of the Netflix show Running Point, as well as films like Zootopia 2 and Operation Taco Gary's:

Person in a chic pinstripe suit with a unique crisscross neckline poses at a red carpet event

Here's a side-by-side:

mature, elegant with sleek hairstyle

21. Here's the Disney darling duo, Aly & AJ, back in '06. At the time, they had just starred in the DCOM Cow Belles together, and Aly had been playing Keely on Phil of the Future:

Two people with long, wavy hair posing for a photo at an event, wearing stylish, casual dresses with decorative elements

And here they are now. They're still making music and are currently on a US tour. AJ was also recently announced to be part of the cast for the highly anticipated fourth season of White Lotus:

Two women on a night out; one in a black gown with white bows, the other in a polka-dot dress with ruffles and a black ribbon

Here's a side-by-side of each of them:

Four photos of women, each with long hair, posing for a portrait. Two have curly hair, and two have wavy hair

22. Speaking of Phil of the Future, here's the show's titular star, played by Raviv Ullman, in 2006, which was the year the show's second and final season aired:

A person wearing a blazer, graphic t-shirt with a lightning bolt, and a beanie, smiling at an event

And here he is in 2026. He's still acting and has taken to directing as well, most recently having co-directed the film Drag, which premiered at SXSW this year:

A person with short hair smiles, wearing a striped button-up shirt, standing against a simple background

Here's a side-by-side:

Two side-by-side photos of an adult male from different years, one younger with a beanie and the other older, both smiling gently at the camera

23. 2006 was also the year the Jonas Brothers released their debut album, It's About Time, and went on to tour with Aly & AJ. Here's Joe Jonas back then:

Young man smiling, wearing a camouflage-patterned shirt and a silver chain necklace

And here he is today. He and his brothers released their seventh album, Greetings from Your Hometown, in 2025, which they're touring this year. According to fans, Joe is also working on new music as a solo artist and for his band DNCE:

Man with curly hair smiling, wearing a patterned sweater and collared shirt at a public event

Here's a side-by-side:

Two images side by side show the same man at different ages, showcasing youthful and mature appearances with distinct hairstyles

24. Here's the eldest Jo Bro, Kevin Jonas, back in '06:

A person holding a microphone, wearing a casual jacket and patterned shirt, looking slightly to the side

And here he is today. Last year, he released his first solo song, "Changing." He is, of course, still part of the band with his brothers, and also starred in a Disney+ holiday special, A Very Jonas Christmas Movie, alongside them:

Man in a suit and T-shirt poses with a woman in a sleeveless dress on a red carpet

Here's a side-by-side:

Two side-by-side photos of a man at different ages, holding a microphone on the left and wearing a suit jacket on the right

25. And, of course, here's Nick Jonas back in the day:

Young person with curly hair wearing a collared shirt over a striped tee, looking slightly off-camera

And here he is today. In addition to marrying actor Priyanka Chopra back in 2018, he's been busy making music and acting. This year, he released his fifth solo album, Sunday Best, and stars in the upcoming film Power Ballad alongside Paul Rudd:

Person in a beige suit with a white shirt and black bow tie smiles at the camera

Here's a side-by-side:

Two side-by-side photos show a person as a teenager with curly hair and as an adult with short hair and a beard, wearing a tuxedo

26. Here's Selena Gomez in 2006. Her show, Wizards of Waverly Place, premiered the next year, but she made her Disney debut in '06 as Gwen on Suite Life:

Person in a black dress with gold detailing, posing at an event backdrop

And here she is now, pictured at the Golden Globes, where she was nominated for Best Actress (Musical/Comedy TV) for her performance in Only Murders in the Building. She also got married to record producer Benny Blanco last year, and released a collaborative album with him titled I Said I Love You First. As of early this year, she is also a billionaire thanks to the massive success of her beauty brand, Rare Beauty:

Person in elegant, off-the-shoulder feathered gown with short wavy hair and radiant smile, posing at an event

Here's a side-by-side:

left has long hair and a gold-embellished dress, right shows short hair and an elegant, feathered gown

27. And finally, here's Demi Lovato in 2006. Though Camp Rock wouldn't come out for another two years, she was already pursuing her acting and music career:

Person in formal attire with chandelier earrings at an event, smiling at the camera

Here she is today. She recently released a cookbook, One Plate at a Time, and is set to tour her ninth studio album, It's Not That Deep, later this spring:

Person in a modern black dress holding a cookbook titled "One Plate at a Time" against a plain background

Here's a side-by-side:

Serious expression with slicked-back hair and tattoos

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