She had played bit parts on a handful of TV series but, until High School Musical came along, Vanessa Anne Hudgens was just another pretty young actress. A hit in more than 100 countries, the HSM movies made Hudgens a bona fide star. She sang and danced on an international concert tour, got her own record deal, and found her image on merchandise ranging from posters and T-shirts to toys and video games. Fans began copying her fashion styles and the paparazzi were following her everywhere. When nude photos of the young actress popped up on the Internet, Hudgens quickly learned about the downside of fame; she also learned the importance of family, friends, and fans. She s grateful for those who ve stood by her through good times as well as bad.
