A Brief History of Disney Teen Stars

Selena Gomez
Having decided it needed a Latina star, the casting folks at Disney Channel cast a wide net and looked at thousands of kids. They chose one: Selena Gomez, who plays slacker Alex Russo on Wizards of Waverly Place, one of the rare Disney shows that's not about show biz. She released her first album in September.

• Making More Mileys: Inside Disney's Teen-Star Factory