And the recognition keeps coming. Of outer beauty and inner beauty.

Although she’s already on our most beautiful list, we consider it an honor here at Team Hudgens that Vanessa is being recognised as one of People’s Most Beautiful for 2009. It’s a double honor when we think of the calibre of women she is classed with, and the fact that the feature is a celebration of beauty at every age.

As the sayings go, wash your hands and you can eat with kings (Queens in this case), or you make of yourself what you want to be. It is hard to control the things you encounter in life but you can control how you react to them and the type of person you turn out to be.

Vanessa was not born into fame or privilege. The first daughter of an average, middle class family with strong values, she’s had to shape herself and grow in a not-very-friendly environment, encountering various obstacles and making her mistakes along the way.

A budding performer, she’d set her heart on making it in the entertainment industry to her parents’ initial disapproval. They had good reason; they could foresee the cut-throat competition, exploitation and discrimination that a young girl who still saw the world with idealistic eyes could not yet see in her chosen industry.

She was very firmly stripped of that idealism, from being told at auditions that she was neither Caucasian enough, nor Asian enough, nor Hispanic enough nor anything enough for a role; to being duped into signing away half of her non-existent earnings by a producer who purported to help her because her parents, not being in the business, did not know better.

Even with unexpected fame in the form of High School Musical, she was still dogged with betrayal, scandal, lawsuits, discrimination, public scrutiny and ridicule.

The question begs to be asked, “In the face of all this, where does the beauty come from?”

The simple answer is from the heart. A heart that still chooses to see the world in a certain way while remaining pragmatic, that chooses to remain loyal to family and friends, that chooses to set relationships above ambition, that chooses not to be bitter or resentful of those that are favored or more successful.

A heart that chooses not to sacrifice its values for easy success, that chooses hope above despair, that chooses silence over retribution, that chooses to be strong where it counts. A heart that chooses to be comfortable with its imperfections and keep its focus on the things that really matter. A heart that chooses to love, laugh, and enjoy the simple pleasures of life on its journey to fulfil its dreams.

This is the kind of heart that breeds timeless beauty, the heart of a survivor that grows stronger with every obstacle overcome. And this beauty cannot help but be reflected externally, enhancing the outer beauty, deepening with age, and giving that luminous quality which can never be imitated by the best cosmetics or even plastic surgeons.

This is true beauty that is worth aspiring to. And this is why Vanessa will always be beautiful in our eyes.

For discussions, please visit the Team Hudgens forum

“Like a lily among thorns, so is my darling among the maidens.” – Song of Solomon 2:2

Vanessa graces the May 2009 cover of Self magazine, reveals 25 new things about her and reminds us of why we love her so much, why she stands out and why she should be on that cover.

Striking a playful and sweet yet subtly sexy pose, she epitomizes the sheer joy of being a woman, healthy and full of life.

Of being spontaneous and uninhibited in expressing herself, original, imperfect, quirky, sultry, free-spirited, passionate and confident.

Only Vanessa can name her big toe, find snakes sexy, speak unabashedly about her legs, and refreshingly tell it like it is without any thought of how it would be perceived or who to impress.

She speaks of her career aspirations, of wanting to star in an action role a la Angelina Jolie. She clearly has the body and talent to do so. Director Zack Snyder recognised that and offered her a role in his much anticipated Sucker Punch.

With that as a stepping stone, she can go on to develop her talent further, and steadily but surely, build up a solid resume. Solid achievements take time and patience.

She clearly does not take herself or life too seriously and is therefore able to relax, appreciate the ridiculous and always find something to laugh about and enjoy, whatever else is going on around her.

You would think that she would have gotten the memo that there are a lot of psychic naysayers obsessed with prophesying doom about her career prospects. They’ve ruled that she has no future outside HSM but are as addicted to news about her as cocaine addicts are to cocaine.

The naysayers are like angry waves hurling themselves unsuccessfully at an unbeatable rock, she remains unfazed, exuding a quiet strength that will not be worn down, a determination that is neither brash nor forward nor forced, an essence of grace and poise that can not be shaken.

Her strength lies in quietness and confidence; she rarely acknowledges unfounded criticism, neither does she attempt to defend herself nor make overtures to anyone.

She refuses to jump on to the popularity bandwagon, attempting to be all things to all people in order to be liked by everyone.

She’s chosen freedom to be natural and be herself over the desire to be liked and accepted. She doesn’t need that kind of affirmation or hype. It might take time but she’ll get where she wants to be, enjoying the process of getting there without losing herself.

Vanessa’s self-esteem is inherent; it has nothing to do with public opinion about her or the impression she is making on anyone.

She is who she is and will remain so irrespective of what people think, or what they expect her to be, or what they say. That’s the best kind of freedom, and sense of self.

That’s why she deserves to be on the cover of a magazine that celebrates self.
For discussions, please visit the Team Hudgens forum