Have you heard of the “Disney Curse?” It’s a tale as old as time: A young star enters the pressure cooker of fame at a formative age. They experience massive success on the iconic Disney network, as well as a meteoric rise in popularity. Then, the show ends. They try to move on, to mature, to grow as an artist, but their every move is scrutinized until eventually, they crack. Cue tabloid frenzy. We have seen this pattern across decades of child stars, but is it inevitable? What if the stars don’t burn out? What if they go on to have incredible success in their adult ventures and harness their unique platform to change the world? For actress and musician Sofia Carson, transforming the “Disney Curse” into a powerful force for good is as easy as “bibbidi-bobbidi-boo.”
Carson initially rose to fame as Evie, daughter of the iconic Evil Queen in the television film Descendants. At the time of its release, Descendents was the fifth most watched original movie in cable history, making Sofia Carson a household name by the age of 22. Throughout the lifespan of the beloved multi-film franchise, Carson accepted roles in a number of other successful television projects such as Adventures in Babysitting and Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists. However, in recent years, the Florida-born creative has sharpened her focus on another passion: Music.
“I don’t remember a moment in my life when I wasn’t completely in love with music,” Sofia explained during a press conference in early February 2022. “It was always so much more than what I do. It’s who I was. It’s something that runs through my blood and is the beating of my heart.” According to the star’s mother, Carson was singing before she was talking, and dancing before she was walking. At 11 years old, she wrote her very first song. The singer shared, “There’s something so magical about how your deepest, darkest thoughts can feel safe in a song, and how on a stage, beneath the spotlight lives the courage to share those thoughts with the world.”
Living courageously is something that is essential to who Sofia Carson is. Her most recent single “LOUD” is a bold declaration of female empowerment, with lyrics that proclaim, “Don’t try to calm me down. I was made to be loud.” Carson describes feeling an instant connection to the track, which was written by songwriters Alida and Paris Carney. The singer explained, “It felt like the most beautiful continuation of the story I’ve been telling with [my] music, as well as a beautiful marriage of who I am as a person and as an artist. We all feel an immense duty as women in the industry to amplify not only our own voices but each other’s voices. ‘LOUD’ is dedicated to the women of the world and all the voices of change who are now louder than ever.”
Sofia Carson may very well be the most articulate and poised artist in the game right now, but she doesn’t just talk the talk. Her belief in being loud extends deeply into the world of activism. In August 2019, Carson became the first Global Ambassador of the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation, and most recently, she sponsored a scholarship opportunity that will provide a talented, young Latin musician with an education from Berklee College of Music. “It makes me emotional,” the artist remarked, “because I had the same dream that so many people around the world have, and they don’t have the access to the education that I was lucky to have. What is tremendously important to myself and to the foundation is doing our part in helping to close the gender gap that exists in the [music] industry. We hope that this scholarship will help to inspire young women, especially around the world, to have a career in the industry, whether that is as a musician, an engineer, or a producer. I hope it encourages them to fearlessly follow their dreams.”
Sofia Carson’s generous spirit comes from an honest and beautiful place. As the daughter of Colombian parents, the star spent her childhood visiting the South American country. Her mother and grandmother (from whom she adopted her artistic surname Carson) made certain that Sofia understood her position of privilege in the world. One of the most formative experiences occurred when she was 12-years-old, visiting a shelter for battered women in Barranquilla, Colombia. Carson explains, “I met an 11-year-old girl named Maria who had just given birth to her step-father’s child. That moment changed our life forever, because it opened our eyes to true need. It confirmed that the most important thing that we can do with our lives is to give. That’s why I dedicate my voice to uplifting and helping girls like Maria.”
Carson’s empathy for those in need shines through in every aspect of her artistry. From the strong, female characters she has played, to the messages of empowerment in her solo music, Sofia is determined to inspire change in the world. “The roles that I play, the songs that I write, and the music that I sing are a reflection of who I am in my heart. I made a promise to myself that I would never lend my voice or my body to something I don’t believe in. That was my way of being true to myself, and my way of being loud.”
Recently, Sofia was able to put her creative talents to the test as executive producer, lead actress, and soundtrack creator for the upcoming Netflix film Purple Hearts. Adapted from the eponymous romance novel by Tess Wakefield, the movie tells the story of a struggling songwriter and a troubled soldier who enter into marriage out of financial need. Five years ago, Carson joined the creative team for the film alongside director Liz Nallan, whom she met while shooting Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists. The singer shared, “I had the honor of writing [Cassie’s] music with Justin Tranter, one of the greatest songwriters of our time. I’ve gotten to know [the character] in such an intimate way, in not only developing her, but learning her thoughts and her fears. Her story is remarkable. She’s very much a loud woman who is fearlessly using her voice to make change. I can’t wait for the world to meet Cassie.”
As she continues to explore new mediums of self-expression, Sofia Carson draws inspiration from incredible artists all over the world. “I feel so lucky to have been raised bi-culturally,” she shares, “To have been born in the states and to have been raised listening to Spanish music icons like Celia Cruz, Gloria Estefan, and Mocedades. I was also drawn to [women like Cher and Barbra Streisand] who were trailblazers, who did it all, who were not only musicians, but actors, directors, and producers. They kind of reframed what it meant to be a woman in the industry.” When asked about her biggest influence, Carson cites the inimitable Audrey Hepburn. “She has one of the most beloved careers in film, and she did everything with such grace and such timelessness, but most of all, she dedicated her life to giving.”
With such incredible examples to look up to, it is unsurprising that Carson has been able to sidestep that pesky “Disney Curse” and become a role model in her own right. To the fans that have followed her since her Disney days, the singer shares, “It is quite simply an honor to have grown up with them, to have had them by my side from the very beginning of my career. It’s a privilege, and I’m filled with gratitude to them. Everything that I do, I keep them in my heart and in my mind. I love them dearly and I cherish the fandom that we’ve created.”
Press conference conducted on February 2nd, 2022, in partnership with UMG’s creative solutions team °1824. Written by Anna Pollitt. This write-up was originally featured on the Popheads subreddit on 02/21/2022. You can view the post here.
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