High School Musical didn’t just give us a movie; it sparked a total cultural reset.
From the posters on our bedroom walls to the “Start of Something New” lyrics we knew by heart, we were obsessed with East High’s batch of Troy, Gabriella, Sharpay, Ryan, Chad, and Taylor. It soundtracked our childhoods, shaped our after-school conversations, and turned gymnasiums into stages where anyone could dream a little bigger.
The film made show tunes feel cool, and school performances were never the same again. We didn’t just watch these characters, we fell in love with them, saw parts of ourselves in their dreams and insecurities, and picked favorites based on who felt closest to home. For a generation, High School Musical wasn’t just something we watched; it was something we lived.
As we celebrate the show's 20th anniversary, the nostalgia is hitting different. It’s been 20 years since we first stepped into the halls of East High, and frankly, I think we all owe someone a massive apology. Call it a callback or a rewind, but I’ve started to see the film quite a little differently lately. Maybe it was just a product of its time, but growing up has made me finally realize something: we spent our childhoods cheering for the "status quo" to be shaken up, yet we were blinded to the most glaring truth of the series.
Sharpay Evans was never the villain. It’s time to admit that Sharpay was the only person in that school who actually understood the assignment.
No One Loved Theater More Than Sharpay
Let's start with the most obvious fact. For Sharpay, the stage wasn’t just a fun after-school activity or a way to meet a cute boy; it was her life, her career choice, and her absolute dream.
Think about the sheer amount of work she put in. While Troy and Gabriella were "accidentally" discovering their voices during a karaoke set, Sharpay was busy studying the craft. She didn't just sing a song; she reimagined it. Look at the reprise versions of What I've Been Looking For. While the original was a sweet, slow ballad, Sharpay turned it into a high-energy, choreographed performance. Yup! That’s being "extra" but also that’s showing musical prowess and versatility.
She understood that theater is about entertainment, energy, and precision. What’s to hate about a girl who knows how to put on a show? Maybe it’s time we look at the angle where she wasn't "stealing" a role, but simply fighting for what she deserved: the lead.
Moreover, we need to stop acting like ambition is a dirty word. Sharpay Evans is a character with big dreams, a fierce drive to succeed, and a healthy desire to be in the spotlight. In any other context, we would call that "work ethic." These aren't inherently negative qualities, and they certainly shouldn't make her a villain. She was the president of the drama club because she was the only one consistently showing up to do the work.
She is the Nepo Baby Who Actually Worked
It is easy to label Sharpay Evans as the ultimate "nepo baby" of East High. With a family that owns the Lava Springs Country Club and a wardrobe full of designer labels, many fans assumed her lead roles were just handed to her because of her status. However, this ignores a huge part of her character: Sharpay was a "triple threat" who actually did the work.
While Troy and Gabriella were late to auditions and treated the theater like a casual hobby, Sharpay spent her entire life in rehearsals. You can buy a pink piano, but you can’t buy the technical skill it takes to perform a high-energy number like "Bop to the Top."
From a professional standpoint, Sharpay’s "villain" behavior was often just her reacting to the total lack of effort around her. Ultimately, Sharpay reminds us that even if you're born with a silver spoon, you still have to put in the hours to be "fabulous."
Sharpay Has Always Stood Her Ground
Let’s face it, you may hate her strong personality, but Sharpay has always shown a great deal of vision and a solid game plan—and that makes her oh, so fabulous! While other characters were busy trying to "fit in," Sharpay knew exactly what she wanted from day one. She never apologized for her ambition or her desire to be a star. In a world that often tells young women to play small so others feel comfortable, Sharpay stood her ground and refused to dim her light. She wasn't just chasing fame; she was executing a clear strategy to reach her goals, showing a level of leadership that most adults would envy.
What truly sets her apart is her resilience, even when she doesn't get the role. Whether she was losing the lead to Gabriella or being sidelined in the talent show, Sharpay never packed up and went home. Instead of quitting, she pivoted, adjusted her plan, and found a new way to be part of the production. I think at this point, we are led to be convinced that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel, and Sharpay is that light. Even Ashley Tisdale agrees that Sharpay was simply a girl who knew her worth.
Finally, y’all are seeing the light https://t.co/46lZeF7xS6
— Ashley Tisdale (@ashleytisdale) September 16, 2019
The True Villain is The System
Throughout the High School Musical series, there is a clear emphasis on the pressures and expectations placed on teenagers by the education system and society at large. Sharpay is just one character who is affected by this system, and she should not be blamed for trying to navigate it in her own way. We see this most clearly in High School Musical 3: Senior Year, where the competition for a single Juilliard scholarship turns friends into rivals. The system at East High rewards "the new and shiny" rather than the "tried and true." Sharpay spent four years building the drama department, yet the school was ready to hand her legacy to Gabriella—who was literally planning to leave for Stanford.
Debunking the idea that Sharpay is the villain just feels right, but this doesn’t mean you are being forced to believe that Gabriella is the real antagonist. Maybe no one is. In reality, the "system" is the problem for making it feel like only one person can succeed. Sharpay is just a girl who dearly loves theater and understands that in the professional world, passion alone doesn't pay the bills discipline does. We see her vulnerability in High School Musical 2 when she feels her world shrinking as the Wildcats "invade" her sanctuary at Lava Springs. She isn't fighting Gabriella; she’s fighting to keep her identity in a world that tells her she’s "too much."
Redeeming her character is a win for every "Sharpay" out there who has been portrayed as the ruin simply for being prepared and ambitious. It’s time to stop punishing the girl who practiced and start questioning why the system favors the person who treats the craft as a hobby. She is not the villain! And now, it is finally time for Sharpay to really bop to the top.
.png)
