Becoming a star is the dream of loads of kids around the world, however becoming one while young can be a slippery slope. Sometimes they turn out as upstanding citizens but other times the star power can change the way they behave for the worst but that is for you to judge, here are a list of child stars then and now.

Samora Mangesi

 You probably remember him presenting on HN9 as well, but before Hectic Nine-9, at 17, he co-wrote, directed and produced a play called Fire in Sophia, after his first semester at AFDA he fell in love with live television and within that year, he presented his first TV show on CTV called ‘Youth Aflame’. In 2013, he became the presenter of Hectic Nine, and after leaving the show in 2017, Samora joined SABC1’s The Real Goboza as a Co Host alongside Sinazo Yolwa.

Selena Gomez

made her debut in 2002 on Barney & Friends, but only got her big break until 2007, when she began playing Alex Russo on Disney’s Wizards of Waverly Place. After the show ended in 2012, she has gone on starring in movies like Another Cinderella Story in 2008, Monte Carlo in 2011, she lend her voice to the character of Mavis in the Hotel Transylvania film franchise and serves as an executive producer of the popular streaming service television series 13 Reasons Why.

Thulasizwe Siphiwe Dambuza

professionally known as Lasizwe, became a local internet celebrity, uploading videos of himself interpreting how South Africans act on a daily basis on social media. He made appearances on shows like The Scoop Africa, The Real Goboza, hosted an outdoor event with Mabala Noise, presented an award at the 2017 South African Hip Hop awards and was featured on a Babes Wodumo and Ntando Duma’s music video Jiva Phez’kambhede. Starting his YouTube channel, he received the Silver play Button for reaching 100 000 subscribers!

Somizi

Started his acting career at the age of 13 in a film called Scavengers and in 1992, he got his big break as an actor and choreographer in the musical and political film, Sarafina. In 1996, he featured in a television series called Tarzan: The Epi Adventures – he even got his break judging gig on the 11th season of the highly popular singing competition and in 2016, he premiered his own reality show, Living the dream with Somizi. Since April 3, 2017, he co-hosted the radio show “The Fresh Breakfast Show” alongside host DJ Fresh and on March 30, 2019, he was replaced by Relebogile Mabotja as the station reshuffled. He then moved to co-host #TheBridge. He got married in a traditional wedding on the 28th September 2019, to boyfriend Mohale Motaung.

Zac Efron

Zac made his first appearance in the Disney channel original film High School Musical and continued to play the lead role of Troy Bolton in the subsequent sequels. After starting on the Disney channel, he landed other film roles as a “Good boy” in films like 17 Again and New years eve. More recently though, he has made a living playing edgier roles in films like Neighbours and its sequel as well as Dirty Grandpa and his latest film where he plays famous serial killer Ted Bundy in Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile.

Which of these child stars did you enjoy as kids and which do you prefer as adults? Let us know in the comments and let us know if you want us to cover any other child stars.