Monique Coleman

While it seemed like this beauty became famous overnight as one of the stars of High School Musical, her journey to fame actually took a decade. Significantly older than her HSM costars, Coleman was already 25 when Disney's smash 2006 TV-movie changed her life. The South Carolina native began performing while still in high school, appearing on stage and in commercials, and even writing, directing and starring in her own one-woman vehicle. Although she had a handful of parts in the '90s, she jump-started her career by moving to Los Angeles in the '00s, winning a string of guest spots on a variety of series (Gilmore Girls, Malcolm in the Middle, Boston Public), invariably playing younger than her actual years. HSM and a recurring role on the Disney Channel's hit series The Suite Life of Zack & Cody planted her firmly in the spotlight.