Icons of Our Past: Where Are They Now?
By Leslie Klein
Growing up amid the 2000s will always be a great story to tell. An even better part of growing up in that era includes the multitude of icons that were on our screens. While some are still socially prevalent, others became less popular after their stardom. While these individuals may not be on everyone’s radar anymore, they are still working towards their dreams.
Hilary Duff
Hillary Duff starred in various movies in the 2000s. From the infamous “A Cinderella Story” to stereotype-breaking “Cadet Kelly,” she was a prominent figure in teen entertainment. She is also widely known for her role as “Lizzie McGuire” as that was the show that most of her fans connected with. But where is Duff now? Duff is a mom of four who has settled into a slower lifestyle. However, the star is still actively involved in her career, maintaining her presence in the industry. In 2015, she starred in a romcom television show, “Younger,” until it was paused due to the pandemic. The final season aired in 2021. Moreover, the soundtrack was released, which has created a sense of nostalgia for Duff fans who have not heard a fresh version of her voice in years. She also starred in a spin-off of the hit sitcom show, “How I Met Your Mother” called “How I Met Your Father,” but due to mixed reviews and the hold that COVID-19 put on the show, it was canceled after two seasons. A spinoff of “Lizzie McGuire” was also in the works but ended due to creative differences. Given so, the child star has been pushed away from acting, but that has not stopped her. In 2021, Duff released a children’s picture book, “My Little Brave Girl,” that hit number eight in the New York Times Children’s Picture Books category, leading her to release another picture book in 2023 called “My Little Sweet Boy.” Since her most recent release, she seems to be living a more average lifestyle while spending time with her family.
Bridgett Mendler
Anyone who grew up in the late 2000s to early 2010s knows Bridgett Mendler for her roles as Teddy Duncan on the hit Disney show, “Good Luck, Charlie” and as the rocking high school girl in the Disney Channel original movie, “Lemonade Mouth”. While Mendler spent the days of her childhood and teen years in front of the camera, she grew into an icon of women’s empowerment. Since her days of acting, Mendler decided to pursue a higher education with her completion of a master’s degree in media arts and sciences from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2020. According to People’s Magazine, Mendler has recently received her Ph.D. from MIT as well and will soon be getting a law degree from Harvard Law School.
Along with pursuing various degrees, Mendler has become the CEO of Northwood Space, a company founded by her and her husband, Griffin Cleverly, in 2023. The company is known for working on creating a data highway between Earth and space. In her personal life, Mendler began fostering a little boy in 2021, which led to his adoption in 2022. To say that Mendler has succeeded is an understatement. She has positively broken down barriers that hold many women back from pursuing their extraordinary dreams.
Jesse McCartney
The song of the summer, “Beautiful Soul”, was all the rave during the 2000’s. As the world knows, Jesse McCartney was a major heartthrob who kept all the girls on their toes. However, he found his ‘beautiful soul’ and married actor Katie Peterson in 2021. While some individuals would say McCartney was a one-hit-wonder, others would argue that he was always the it-boy of the 2000’s. However, as the years went on, his fans grew up while he was still seen as the teenage heartthrob. McCartney set his mind on showing his fans that he had grown into a talented, mature man, so, the star went on to continue creating music and acting. He even helped write the widely adored song “Bleeding Love”. Eventually, McCarney extended his talents to voice acting by landing the role of Theodor Seville in “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip.” Moreover, McCartney guest starred in the hit TV show, “Young and Hungry”, along with competing in season three of “The Masked Singer” as “Turtle”. His most recent venture was releasing an EP called, “All’s Well” in April 2024. While he isn’t currently in any acting roles at the moment, it is likely that the world will see more of Jesse McCartney again.
Brenda Song
Brenda Song, widely known for her role as London Tipton in Disney Channel’s “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody” and “Suite Life on Deck”, captured the hearts of adoring fans with her striking looks and goofy personality. Song has been acting since 1994 and has guest starred in various hit television shows over the years such as, “George Lopez”, “That’s So Raven” and “New Girl.” Similar to many child stars, she sought after more ‘adult’ roles after her break from Disney. While oftentimes it is hard for these actors to get their feet in the door with other companies, Song quickly was offered new roles and successfully fulfilled her title as an actress despite the challenges that come with the transition from children’s television. Aside from her steady acting career, she has two children, both boys, with Macaulay Culkin, the actor known for his roles as Kevin McCallister in the first two movies of the Home Alone series. Song has cultivated a success in acting that many actors have yet to reach. While her target audience has shifted, her career has yet to waver.
