In High School Musical 3, Jemma McKenzie-Brown was a new addition to the cast of already established actors such as Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens. McKenzie-Brown played Tiara, an East High junior who transferred from overseas and is looking to take over Sharpay’s role as star of the drama club. The British actress told Access Hollywood, back in May, that she was “over the moon” when she found out that she had landed the role. At the time, she was only 13 and, at her current age of 14, seems ready to become a bona fide Disney star. However, Disney may think twice before making her the newest face of their wildly successful High School Musical movies, thanks to some racy MySpace pics.

Well, what else is new?  McKenzie-Brown joins the ranks of fellow Disney stars Miley Cyrus, Vanessa Hudgens, and Adrienne Bailon in the latest photo scandal to hit the internet.  Mind you that what I'm about to describe may not shock you the way others before her have, but let's keep in mind that she's only 14 years old.  The pics, which were posted this week, show McKenzie-Brown in several sexy shots.  She's in her underwear posing with boys, she's in a hot tub with what looks like alcohol in her hand, and she's posed in several pics the way a Pussycat Doll might.  Though we could argue that she's only imitating what she sees, let me just add that lead singer Nicole Scherzinger is 30... not 14.

If you're not slightly concerned or unnerved by the description of the pics, perhaps it's because these days, nobody seems very shocked by anything.  I totally get that teens make unhealthy choices and act in inappopriate ways but many of those teens don't join forces with Disney to become a role model to young children.  For example, you may know someone who drinks alcohol and maybe drives home before being totally sober.  You may not like it but you don't make a big deal out of it either.  However, that person isn't the president of Mothers Against Drunk Driving.  They're not claiming to be an advocate for something or an example to others, and then going out and behaving in hypocritical ways.

Does anyone keep an eye on McKenzie-Brown, Cyrus, Hudges, Bailon, and the like?  There's certainly a wide range of ages here but doesn't someone look out for situations like this, parents or publicists, and try to catch these things before they hit the internet and get to the fans?  How Disney will respond to this news remains to be seen.  They could tweak the direction that any future High School Musical movies are going or they could proceed as if nothing had happened, feeling that it's not really their business.


- Gina Scarpa, BuddyTV Staff Writer
Source: National Ledger
(Image courtesy of Disney)