Demi Lovato is opening up more about child stardom — and some of the difficulties that came with it.
The Heart Attack singer had an open and honest discussion with fellow child star Keke Palmer on the latter’s Baby, This Is Keke Palmer podcast on Tuesday. While the icons may have acted on different networks (Demi on Disney Channel and Keke on Nickelodeon), they had more than a few things to relate on… namely, in Keke’s words, the networks “always pitting” stars against one another to crown the “number one girl.”
Demi’s rise to Disney fame kicked off in 2007 when she was cast in TV-short series As the Bell Rings. A year later, she starred in Camp Rock alongside the Jonas Brothers, and by 2009, she landed her own full-length TV show in Sonny with a Chance.
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The late 2000s were a BIG time for the Disney Channel network! In addition to Demi, Miley Cyrus skyrocketed to fame with Hannah Montana (2006 to 2011) and Selena Gomez carved out an undeniable name for herself with Wizards of Waverly Place (2007 to 2012). The trinity of Disney Channel princesses, if you will!
While landing spots on such a major network must have been equally exciting and nerve racking for Demi, who uses she/they pronouns, she reflected on going into it with a “built-in friendship” with Selena. She told Keke:
“We actually were on Barney together, and so I felt this safety when I came into the Disney Channel having a built-in friendship there already.”
The Here We Go Again singer noted how “grateful” she was for that and that she “will always be grateful for the friendship that I have and continue to have” with the Rare Beauty founder. However, sharing the stage with such powerhouses didn’t come without struggles.
Demi admitted it was “challenging” dealing with comparisons to Selena and Miley, especially as a teenager:
“You naturally have insecurities at a young age. So you start comparing yourself to other people.”
But the now-33-year-old shared some very important advice she received from her mother at the time:
“But one thing my mom instilled in me was, ‘There’s room for everyone. It’s not a competition.’ That’s what I really stuck by. That’s what kind of got me through that period. I was always rooting for everybody.”
That’s how it should be!
Elsewhere in her conversation with Keke, Demi reflected on the swirl of “emotions” that come with her Disney past:
“There’s so many emotions that come to mind when I think about that period of time in my life. Those were the years that started it all for me, and I have very fond memories. Some not so fond memories of the struggling that I had when filming those shows.”
She added:
“You know, having struggled with an eating disorder while on camera was really challenging. I struggled with my mental health very much so, but ultimately, like, very fond memories. I made friends that I will have for the rest of my life.”
In the years since further developing their careers, the trinity has continued to support one another. Last September, Demi gushed over Selena and husband Benny Blacno’s album I Said I Love You First, saying on Watch What Happens Live they did a “really, really great job.”
Earlier in the year, Selena gushed about her former Disney Channel co-stars on the Therapuss podcast:
“From the Jonas Brothers to Miley [Cyrus] and Demi [Lovato]. It’s good to see them all do their thing.”
You can listen to the full podcast episode (below):
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If you’re struggling with an eating disorder, there is help available. Consider visiting https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/ or call their hotline at (800)-931-2237 for resources
[Images via Baby, This Is Keke Palmer & Disney Channel/YouTube]
