Sydney Peterson

Student looks at a picture of Jack, an actor on the early Disney Channel from Kickin’ It

Disney Channel shows and movies have been a big part of students’ childhoods. Growing up and idolizing these characters can lead to forming attachments and developing harmless crushes on them. Some of the popular responses have been from characters from shows like Starstruck, Kickin’ It, and Austin and Ally. When the participants responded to the question of why they found them attractive, a pattern emerged: the specific Disney Star having the “Disney Look.”

Annie Mullin, a tenth grader at Benilde-St.Margaret’s, listed off many of her favorite Disney characters from when she was younger. All of these characters share at least a couple of characteristics: the charming smile, the refreshing and positive attitude, and the appearance in general. The real question is: what makes the ‘Disney Look’? These things seem appealing to young girls and boys, racking in viewers from all over the world. Some interpret the ‘Disney Look’ as someone approachable while still maintaining the innocent vibe. It’s a kid-friendly, harmless crush. Some of the prime examples of these Disney stars are Troy Bolton from the High School Musical franchise, Diggie from Liv and Maddie, as well as Jack from Kickin’ It, to name a few. “They’re all tall. They just got that Disney look,” Mullin said.

Now, these shows are fabricated for younger viewers, which is reflected in the clothing style and dialect. The trend that you see when you ask people who their favorite Disney Channel actor or actress is growing up, is most likely someone from an older show, like the ones mentioned above. Growing up with these actors, you attach yourself to them. Most of the time, you grow up with the actor who holds a special and deeper connection. Emily Guggenberger, a sophomore at Benilde St. Margaret’s, enjoyed shows like Austin and Ally or Liv and Maddie. Further on, Guggenberger states that she agrees with the whole ‘Disney Look’. “They’re all made to be like those perfect men. So it’s what you look up to in men’s expectations,” Guggenberger said.

Does having a particular taste in Disney actors correlate to who you have celebrity crushes on today? Most people would probably answer that no, the original casts are already iconic as it is. This shows that this ‘Disney Look’ is completely independent and uniquely Disney, which is one of the reasons that Disney has been so successful.