Top 10 Best Disney Channel Female Leads

“Jessie” (2011-15)
Jessie is a self proclaimed struggling actress, but her true calling is as nanny to the Ross children. No matter how much trouble they cause, she always has their backs and does whatever she can to help them through the struggles of growing up. Ninety percent of the time she has an endearing, clumsy charm, and a bright and bubbly personality, but you better not dare to mess with the kids she takes care of, or you’ll get a mouthful of that other ten percent.

“Shake It Up” (2010-13)

These two make the perfect “opposites attract” team. Rocky is the book smart one who likes to follow rules, and CeCe is the street smart, and rebellious one. It may seem like they have nothing in common, but they make one dynamic duo as they dance their way to their dreams together. CeCe helps bring Rocky out of her shell, and Rocky helps to keep CeCe from going too far. Though their differing personalities occasionally clash, they always manage to ultimately bring the best out in each other, and that’s what true friends do.

“Liv and Maddie” (2013-17)

Liv and Maddie may be better in stereo, but we've got to spotlight Maddie this time. She's a huge basketball star at school, and unlike her sister, tomboy Maddie doesn’t really care about fashion or other stereotypically girly things, but she is also unafraid to show off her feminine side. Her passion for sports can make her a bit overly competitive, but when it comes down to it, Maddie's team is always more important than herself. And though Liv is a famous actress, Maddie never lets it make her jealous, or diminish her self worth. All in all, she is a strong woman by any definition.

“Andi Mack” (2017-)

Finding out that your big sister is actually your mom would turn any teenager’s life upside down, but, despite the initial freak out, Andi, actually handles the situation with a mature amount of grace. Andi is a bright and caring young girl who always puts her family and friends first. She helps Cyrus when he struggles with coming out, and is there for Buffy when she has her own family drama. She is more than just a strong female lead, she is a wonderful role model for the show’s young audience. It's just another service she provides.

“Girl Meets World” (2014-17)

The Disney Channel spin off of the classic '90s show “Boy Meets World” brought with it a whirlwind of nostalgia for '90s kids, and a new hero for a younger generation: Riley Matthews. She is the perfect mix of Cory and Topanga, or as Shawn puts it, she’s Cory with Topanga’s hair. But she’s much more than that. She's goofy, and compassionate, and her friends are the most important thing in the world to her. Every single episode she teaches lessons about friendship, love, and life as she herself learns about everything from dealing with bullies, to forgiveness, to the secret of life.

“K.C. Undercover” (2015-18)

Zendaya sneaks in again with a second Disney character, K.C. Cooper. K.C. is a teenage spy in a family of secret agents. She is strong both mentally and physically being both a math wiz and a black belt in martial arts. Her naturally suspicious personality makes her a good spy even though it can sometimes get her in over her head. That might sound like a lot to handle for one teenager, but with the help of her friends and family K.C. conquers her school life, and saves the world daily.

“Lizzie McGuire” (2001-04)

Lizzie McGuire is perhaps the most relatable Disney female lead ever. Unlike several of the other characters we've discussed, she’s not a secret agent, or famous, or has some kind of powers. She's just an average, everyday, young girl trying to figure out life. She has your standard nuclear family, two great best friends, a crush, a bully, and that little voice in her head analyzing everything. All her problems probably remind all of us girls of the same issues we went through when we were in middle school.

“Wizards of Waverly Place” (2007-12)

An everyday girl Alex Russo is not. On the surface, she may seem like just another ordinary teenager, struggling with school, and her social life while she grows up, but everything is not what it seems. Alex is the only female sibling competing in the battle to be the official wizard of the Russo family. Despite the built in sibling rivalry, she is always a good sister and a good friend to her brothers. Like any great sister, Alex always has their backs when they need her.

“Hannah Montana” (2006-11)

Miley might not be the most relatable character to appear on a Disney Channel show, but she represents wish fulfillment at its finest. What kid didn’t dream at least once of being a famous star? Miley gets the best of both worlds. She lives the good life as a famous pop star but also gets to enjoy life as an everyday teenager thanks to her dual persona. You might imagine all that fame and acclaim at such a young age might go to her head, but she always stays grounded with the help of her friends and family.



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

Teddy Duncan
“Good Luck Charlie” (2010-14)


Chyna Parks
“A.N.T Farm” (2011-14)


Sonny Munroe
“Sonny With a Chance” (2009-11)

“That’s So Raven” (2003-07)

Raven is the fearless leader of her band of friends. She frequently dresses up in ridiculous outfits and uses her psychic powers to help her friends and family out of tough situations. More often than not, things tend to get a lot worse before they get better, but hey, it’s the thought that counts. Her schemes are legendary. She even once used her unique skills to take down a racist store manager. It takes someone really special to inspire her friends to dress up in crazy costumes and accompany her on her wild adventures.