If You Grew Up in the '90s, You'll Appreciate These Disney and Nickelodeon Stars 'Then and Now'
I have to say, I watched every one of these shows growing up, and seeing these kids as adults is messing with my mind, to be honest.
Disney and Nickelodeon helped define a whole era of childhood TV, and for a lot of '90s kids, those stars still feel strangely familiar. The shows were funny, colorful, and endlessly rewatchable, but they also launched actors who went on to very different lives, from steady careers to full-blown superstardom.
This roundup looks at some of the most recognizable faces from those classic series, including the Disney Channel and Nickelodeon favorites who grew up right alongside their audiences. Some stayed close to the spotlight, while others took a quieter path, which makes the before-and-after comparisons even more fun.
Either way, the nostalgia hits fast, and the transformations are hard to ignore.
#1. David Henrie — Justin Russo
Wizards of Waverly Place
© Wizards of Waverly Place / Disney Channel © davidhenrie / Instagram #2. Jake T. Austin — Max Russo
Wizards of Waverly Place
© Wizards of Waverly Place / Disney Channel © jaketaustin / Instagram #3. Selena Gomez — Alex Russo
Wizards of Waverly Place
© Wizards of Waverly Place / Disney Channel © selenagomez / Instagram
#4. Jennifer Stone — Harper Finkle
Wizards of Waverly Place
© Wizards of Waverly Place / Disney Channel © jenniferstones / Instagram
#5. Cole and Dylan Sprouse — Zack and Cody Martin
The Suite Life of Zack & Cody
© The Suite Life of Zack and Cody / Disney Channel © colesprouse / Instagram © dylansprouse / Instagram
#6. Brenda Song — London Tipton
The Suite Life of Zack & Cody
© The Suite Life of Zack and Cody / Disney Channel © brendasong / Instagram
#7. Ashley Tisdale — Maddie Fitzpatrick
The Suite Life of Zack & Cody
© The Suite Life of Zack and Cody / Disney Channel © ashleytisdale / Instagram
The glow-up comparisons start early, and they only get more dramatic from here.
#8. Debby Ryan — Jessie Prescott (who was also Jessie)
The Suite Life of Zack & Cody
© Jessie / Disney Channel © debbyryan / Instagram
#9. Raven-Symoné — Raven Baxter
That’s So Raven
© That's So Raven / Disney Channel © ravensymone / Instagram
#10. Kyle Massey — Cory Baxter
That’s So Raven
© That's So Raven / Disney Channel © kylemassey / Instagram
#11. Miley Cyrus — Hannah Montana
Hannah Montana
© Hannah Montana / Disney Channel © mileycyrus / Instagram
#12. Emily Osment — Lilly Truscott
Hannah Montana
© Hannah Montana / Disney Channel © emilyosment / Instagram
#13. Mitchel Musso — Oliver Oken
Hannah Montana
© Hannah Montana / Disney Channel © mitchelmusso / Instagram
#14. Moisés Arias — Rico Suave
Hannah Montana
© Hannah Montana / Disney Channel © 490tx / Instagram
By now, the nostalgia is doing most of the work.
That same awkward power-play energy pops up in Kaley Cuoco’s tense moment with a Charmed co-star who overlooked her.
#15. Hilary Duff — Lizzie McGuire
Lizzie McGuire
© Lizzie McGuire / Disney Channel © hilaryduff / Instagram
#16. Demi Lovato — Sonny Munroe
Sonny with a Chance
© Sonny with a Chance / Disney Channel © demilovato / Instagram
#17. Sterling Knight — Chad Dylan Cooper
Sonny with a Chance
© Sonny with a Chance / Disney Channel © sterlingknight / Instagram
#18. Allisyn Ashley Arm — Zora Lancaster
Sonny with a Chance
© Sonny with a Chance / Disney Channel © alwaysallisyn / Instagram
#19. Jamie Lynn Spears — Zoey Brooks
Zoey 101
© Zoey 101 / Nickelodeon © jamielynnspears / Instagram
#20. Sean Flynn-Amir — Chase Matthews
Zoey 101
© Zoey 101 / Nickelodeon © rioflynn / Instagram
#21. Victoria Justice — Tori Vega
Zoey 101
© Zoey 101 / Nickelodeon © victoriajustice / Instagram
Some of these transformations are almost impossible to believe at first glance.
#22. Matthew Underwood — Logan Reese
Zoey 101
© Zoey 101 / Nickelodeon © matthewunderwood / Instagram
#23. Erin Sanders — Quinn Pensky
Zoey 101
© Zoey 101 / Nickelodeon © erinzariah / Instagram
#24. Bella Thorne — CeCe Jones
Shake It Up
© Shake It Up / Disney Channel © bellathorne / Instagram
#25. Zendaya — Rocky Blue
Shake It Up
© Shake It Up / Disney Channel © zendaya / Instagram
#26. Miranda Cosgrove — Carly Shay and Megan Parker
iCarly & Drake & Josh
© iCarly / Nickelodeon © mirandacosgrove / Instagram
#27. Jennette McCurdy — Sam Puckett
iCarly
© iCarly / Nickelodeon © jennettemccurdy / Instagram
#28. Nathan Kress — Freddie Benson
iCarly
© iCarly / Nickelodeon © nathankress / Instagram
#29. Drake Bell — Drake Parker
Drake & Josh
© Drake & Josh / Nickelodeon © drakebell / Instagram
#30. Josh Peck — Josh Nichols
Drake & Josh
© shuapeck / Instagram © shuapeck / Instagram
#31. Ariana Grande — Cat Valentine
Sam & Cat
© Sam and Cat / Nickelodeon © arianagrande / Instagram
#32. Jonas — The Jonas Brothers
Jonas L.A.
© Jonas / Disney Channel © joejonas / Instagram
That was a full trip through peak Disney and Nickelodeon nostalgia.
Want another teen-star mess to unpack? Read about Demi Lovato’s unhealthy relationship with Wilmer Valderrama.
