According to Rolling Stone magazine, High School Musical star Zac Efron is the new American heart throb.  At just 19-years-old, the young sensation is on the cover of the venerable magazine, in a provocative pose, showing some skin.  This is ground typically held by such mainstream hunks as Justin Timberlake and Matthew McConaughey.

What Efron lacks in volume of work, he makes up for in popularity.  The only major credits to his name are High School Musical, the summer big screen adaptation of the Broadway musical version of Hairspray and the upcoming High School Musical 2.  Three musicals, and suddenly Zac Efron is poster boy material.

The new "heart throb" title comes at a time in popular culture when it looked like the rule of Tiger Beat cover boys was in short supply.  Over the last five years, several musician/actors tried to make the leap from tween success to widespread sex appeal.  All that remains are the washed up careers of stars like Jesse McCartney and Aaron Carter.  Against all odds, Zac Efron appears to be the real deal, transitioning from teeny bopper to national celebrity.  His picture is now in demand for the tabloids, and there's as much scrutiny on his personal life as there is on his professional career.

The lengthy article accompanying the cover of the new Rolling Stone, set to hit news stands August 23, Zac Efron talks openly about his relationship with High School Musical Vanessa Hudgens, saying that underneath her sweet appearance is "a very, very sexy woman."  Whether their relationship, if they even have one, is true love or some publicity stunt, it's certainly raised both of their profiles and helped to catapult High School Musical 2 even further into people's minds.

A more interesting question is whether Zac Efron truly is worthy of this title, or if he happens to be coming along at the right time.  While the tween demographic has always been strong, it's a recent shift that turned it into a primary player.  Rather than just targeting high schoolers and young adult males, tweens are one of the most popular groups for advertisers.  Between Hannah Montana and High School Musical, the Disney Channel is leading the pack, and transforming these young kids who were unknowns just two years ago into some of the best-selling musical artists and hottest film stars.

Regardless, Zac Efron is in high demand, and a sexy Rolling Stone cover will only increase that.  Though he doesn't appear to have any immediate projects other than the likely High School Musical 3, satisfying the needs of tween girls by posing for magazine covers is likely enough to keep him riding the wave of success.  It's certainly a sign of having a good year when starring in a big summer blockbuster with John Travolta isn't even your biggest accomplishment.  This racy cover is sure to be giving young girls sweet dreams for quite some time to come, as they dream of becoming Vanessa Hudgens' Gabriella and having basketball star Troy Bolton sweep them off their feet.


High School Musical 2 premieres this Friday, August 17 at 8pm on the Disney Channel. Check back each day this week for the rest of our Top 5 list.

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-John Kubicek, BuddyTV Senior Writer
Source: Rolling Stone
(Image courtesy of Rolling Stone)