Raven Symone

The 20-year-old actress, who will turn 21 on December 10, is a model and singer and multitasks like other Disney alumni such as Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan and the Olsen Twins. But unlike them, Raven has managed to rise to stardom whilst keeping her privacy and not have her every move reported in the tabloids.

Born on December 10 1985 in Atlanta, Georgia, Raven-Symone Christina Pearman began her career at age 2 in local print ads. Her family soon relocated to New York City, where the talented little girl signed up with the prestigious Ford Modelling Agency. Raven auditioned for a part in Ghost Dad, starring Bill Cosby, but was turned down because she was too young for the part. However, she impressed the casting director with her personality and ability to memorize lines so much that she was introduced to Bill Cosby, who wanted her for The Cosby Show. Raven’s character premiered on the show in the sixth season all the way to the end of show in the eighth season in 1992. It was a sad goodbye for everyone on the show, but unlike many other Cosby kids who have simply ‘faded away’ from the spotlight, Raven’s star only seems to be brightening.

In September 1992, Raven was given the part of Nicole on the top-rated series, Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper. In between filming the series, Raven was awarded the Junior Achievement Award by the NAACP. In 1993, she released her first album, “Here’s To New Dreams”. Unfortunately, the album did not sell as much as her label had hoped and she was subsequently dropped.

That setback did not deter Raven. She made her feature film debut in The Little Rascals, and after Hangin With Mr. Cooper ended, she went on to star in various TV serials.

Raven on That's so Raven

In 1998, Raven landed the part of Eddie Murphy’s daughter Charisse Dolittle in the comedy Dr. Dolittle. The movie was a successful enough to spawn a sequel in 2001, where Raven reprised her role.

But it was not until 2002 where Raven rocketed to stardom with her the hit Disney Channel series That’s So Raven, originally titled Absolutely Psychic. The ratings for the show when skyrocketing and surpassed that of then highest-rated show, Lizzie McGuire.

Raven as Asana in The Princess Diaries 2

While filming That’s So Raven, Raven went into the studio to record tracks for the soon-to-be Disney Channel movie The Cheetah Girls. As everyone knows, The Cheetah Girls, which premiered on Disney Channel in 2003, was a major hit, and become the highest rated Disney Channel Movie that time. It went on to produce a soundtrack and due to the popularity of the film, the three other stars of the movie, minus Raven, formed the band The Cheetah Girls.

In 2004, Raven starred as the princess Asana in the popular movie The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement. She also released her album “This Is My Time” that year, and the title single “This Is My Time”, was featured on The Princess Diaries 2 soundtrack and was a huge hit.

Raven in The Cheetah Girls

The Cheetah Girls had its sequel, The Cheetah Girls 2, which achieved extraordinary success, and its viewership surpassed that of the then phenomenally successful High School Musical. Its soundtrack debuted at no. 5 on the Billboard Top 200 album chart in August. What draws people to the show is its positive portrayal of girls and the message they send to girls everywhere- to be themselves, and have fun. Fans of the The Cheetah Girls say that they are “all about self-esteem, and building yourselves up”. Even parents approve of it! However, Raven will not be touring with the other Cheetah Girls as she is pursuing her own solo career.

Most recently, her 1999 album, “Undeniable”, was re-issued under the new title, “From Then Until. Raven has also starred in the Lifetime film, For One Night, which features a track, “Gravity”, that is on Raven’s brand-new album “From then Until Now”, which came out October 31st.

Raven at her 21st Birth- day Party in December

Raven’s upcoming projects include the remake of Adventures in Babysitting. The original, made in '87, followed a high school senior who gets stuck baby-sitting a bunch of kids. The dull night is interrupted when she gets a call for help from a friend stuck downtown, leading her and the kids into a night of misadventures. Raven will be starring as Sparkle Williams in the remake of the legendary 1976 movie Sparkle, the movie which inspired the legendary Broadway production, “Dreamgirls”, which has recently been made into a critically-acclaimed movie of the same title starring the sensational Beyonce Knowles and Academy-Award winner Jamie Foxx. Keep your fingers crossed!

Raven at the American Music Awards 2006

And if you’re wondering what Raven does instead of partying, she quips “I stay at home, feed my dog, and watch Law and Order”. Law and Order also happens to be her favourite show. One thing that is sure to have made her even more popular is her down-to-earth image. Parents love her as she is who she is, and though she is not fashion-magazine skinny, she is comfortable with her size as she says “People who have followed me for 20 years have been following me with the way that I look,” As for us fans of the sunshiney Raven, we will certainly continue following her, no matter what!

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