Top 10 Childhood Crushes: Where Are They Now?

Childhood Crushes: Where Are They Now?

Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for Childhood Crushes: Where Are They Now?

For this list, we’ll be checking in on all of the cutest stars we had a thing for while growing up.

If we missed any of your formative first loves, let us know in the comments below!

#10: Danica McKellar

If you had a celebrity crush in the early ‘90s, there’s almost a one hundred percent chance it was on Winnie Cooper. Fred Savage might have been the star of “The Wonder Years”, but it wouldn’t have been complete without Danica McKellar’s endearing performance. After the beloved coming-of-age show went off the air, McKellar had trouble transitioning into more adult roles, so she pivoted to something else she was extremely passionate about - mathematics. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from UCLA and wrote several books about the subject. Her goal has been to help break stigmas around mathematics for girls around the world. We always knew little Winnie Cooper would do great things!

#9: Joshua Jackson

Move over Dawson, this is a Pacey Witter stan account. All of the kids from “Dawson’s Creek” have gone on to achieve pretty great heights in their careers. And although Joshua Jackson’s didn’t take off like, say Michelle Williams, he’s still killing it in his own way. Over five seasons, Jackson starred as Peter Bishop in the popular sci-fi show “Fringe”. He has since followed that up with notable roles in series such as “The Affair” and “Little Fires Everywhere”. In 2022, he received a Critics’ Choice Award nod for his titular performance in the true crime miniseries “Dr. Death”. Jackson has been married to actress Jodie Turner-Smith since 2019, with whom he welcomed a daughter the next year.

#8: Alexa PenaVega

Looks like our favorite spy is all grown up! In the early 2000s, Alexa PenaVega made our adolescent hearts flutter. She had a starring role in the “Spy Kids” franchise, and led the iconic teen film “Sleepover” in 2004. But what has she been up to since? Well, besides still having amazing hair, PenaVega has remained pretty active on the screen, taking up roles in several Hallmark movies. She got married to Big Time Rush member Carlos Pena Jr. in 2013 and appeared, alongside him, on the 21st season of “Dancing with the Stars”. While you may remember her as Alexa Vega, she and her husband actually joined their surnames together, taking up PenaVega after their marriage.

#7: Tahj Mowry

Our little smart guy is still out here doing wonders in Hollywood! As the star of the beloved comedy series “Smart Guy”, Tahj Mowry became one of the most unforgettable child actors of his day. Although he came from an acting family, with his siblings Tia and Tamera headlining their own show “Sister, Sister”, Mowry was a star in his own right. After his run of childhood performances came to an end, the Hawaii actor smoothly transitioned into more mature roles. He starred on the hilarious sitcom “Baby Daddy,” which ran from 2012 to 2017, and is slated to appear in the Disney+ show “The Muppets Mayhem”.

#6: Tiffani Thiessen

If there ever was an “it girl” in the early ‘90s, it was Tiffani Thiessen. As Kelly Kapowski on “Saved by the Bell”, Thiessen stole more than just Zack Morris’ heart. She followed that performance with a stint on “Beverly Hills, 90210” as the emotionally troubled Valerie Malone, becoming even more of a teen idol. After her days as a ‘90s heartthrob, Thiessen got married to her husband, actor Brady Smith, took on more TV roles, and even hosted her own cooking show. In 2020, she reprised her role in the “Saved by the Bell” reboot, alongside much of the original cast. We guess you can take the girl out of Bayside, but you can’t take Bayside out of the girl!

#5: Frankie Muniz

In the early 2000s, Frankie Muniz was one of the most bankable child stars in the nation. After playing the titular role on “Malcolm in the Middle”, the actor went on to star in popular kids’ movies like “Agent Cody Banks” and “Big Fat Liar”. But all teen idols must grow up – so what happened to this one? He got into racing, of course! That’s right – in 2008, Muniz decided to pursue a career in open-wheel racing, putting Hollywood on the wayside. He also dabbled in music, drumming for a band called Kingsfoil from 2012 to 2014. Unfortunately, Muniz has also had a few difficult health issues, but we hope he’s doing much better now.

#4: Hayden Panettiere

Hayden Panettiere began her acting career as a child, and appeared in a slew of film and TV roles. She attained teen idol status in the 2000s, most notably with her turn as the indestructible cheerleader Claire Bennet on “Heroes”. Not long after the show ended, Panettiere landed a leading role on ABC’s musical series “Nashville”. These days, she continues to act, transitioning from hero to horror queen with her appearances in the “Scream” franchise. A pretty vocal activist, Panettiere has worked to combat whale and dolphin hunting, and also spoken out in support of victims of domestic violence. As a survivor herself, it’s wonderful to see the actress use her platform to bring awareness to such an important cause.

#3: Chad Michael Murray

Were you really a teen in the 2000s if you didn’t have a crush on Lucas Scott? The dreamy character from the coming-of-age drama series “One Tree Hill” elevated actor Chad Michael Murray to heartthrob status. This was further helped by his charming performances in movies like “A Cinderella Story” and “Freaky Friday”. So what’s Murray up to now? Well, in 2019, he landed where many teen stars of yore find themselves – guest starring on “Riverdale.” He also played the titular serial killer in the 2021 film “Ted Bundy: American Boogeyman” and has authored two novels. The actor got married in 2015, and has welcomed two children with his partner, Sarah Roemer.

#2: Hilary Duff

Lizzie McGuire may be an outfit repeater, but the actor who brought her to life was one of the most prominent teen stars of the early 2000s. From her roles in movies like “Cadet Kelly” and “A Cinderella Story” to her singing career, Hilary Duff definitely had a lot of fans swooning over her. Since then, Duff has remained active in Hollywood, starring in hit TV comedies like “Younger” and “How I Met Your Father.” She’s also become a very successful businesswoman, foraying into fashion, cosmetics, and a host of other industries. This teen crush is, however, off the market. She was married to hockey player Mike Comrie for six years, but after their divorce in 2016, she married musician Matthew Koma in 2019.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Taylor Lautner
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Jonathan Taylor Thomas
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Larisa Oleynik
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Clayton Snyder
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Rider Strong
Shawn From ”Boy Meets World” Has Sure Found His Voice These Days

#1: Zac Efron

In the late 2000s, our hearts were totally breaking free for one Zachary Efron. The teen heartthrob may have burst onto the scene with the “High School Musical” trilogy, but his career has progressed nicely into adulthood. He went on to star in comedies like “17 Again” and “Neighbors,” and even took a turn at playing Ted Bundy. Efron has carved out a pretty versatile career, immersing himself fully into the process, sometimes even to his own detriment. In 2020, he made the transition from actor to explorer, showing off his signature charm across the world with his Netflix travel series “Down to Earth with Zac Efron”. The show won him an Emmy for Outstanding Daytime Program Host in 2021.