The free-spirited actor and singer has figured out exactly who she is and what she wants.
Here’s how Vanessa found her happy place.
Vanessa Hudgens is always up for an adventure.
Thomas Whiteside,@thomaswhiteside
And the more spur-of-the-moment, the better.
“My friends and I are spontaneous,” she says.
We won’t have a game plan at all.
Thomas Whiteside,@thomaswhiteside
We’ll just do it."
Jumping in and going full throttle is something Vanessa, 32, has come to appreciate.
“I love a good challenge,” she says.
Thomas Whiteside,@thomaswhiteside
“It forces you to figure out who you are and what you stand for.”
One of her greatest accomplishments right now: Feeling confident in her skin.
“Over the past couple of years, I’ve really come into my own,” says Vanessa.
Thomas Whiteside,@thomaswhiteside
I love how silly I am.
I love how excitable I am.
And I love that I’m finally at a place where I can access those things.
Thomas Whiteside,@thomaswhiteside
For some people, I’m way too much.
But I love who I am, and there’s such power in that."
One she’s especially passionate about: Her role in the much-buzzed filmTick, Tick…Boom!
Thomas Whiteside,@thomaswhiteside
The role took her back to her roots, doing musical theater as a kid.
“I grew up being the girl in the sidelines, singing the harmonies,” says Vanessa.
“That was my musical theater upbringing.
Some of my fondest memories are of being in the rehearsal studio, practicing.
Plus, I love singing.
Any chance I can get to do it, I’m totally there for it.”
“I cried when I saw it the first time,” she says.
But why settle for two careers?
Vanessa has become a businesswoman as well.
And in June, she teamed with singer-songwriter Madison Beer to startKnow Beauty, a skin-care brand.
Here, Vanessa shares the healthy habits that give her energy to cover it all.
Do Workouts That Make You Want to Dance
“My fitness has taken a turn.
Cardio has been put on the back burner, and I’m very OK with that.
The things that have become the most important are balance and mental health.
During the pandemic, when everything was paused, I created a little community.
I’d get my friends together over Zoom and we would doIsaac Boots’s live workout classes.
As the world started to reopen, I found myself obsessed with Dogpound.
I go with my best friend; we’re extremely competitive.
We have the best time the amount of dancing we do between sets is ridiculous.
Everyone knows when we’re at the gym.
They say they hear us before they see us.
And I’ve just gotten back intoPilates with a reformer.
It works your muscles like nothing else.”
Celebrate Every Accomplishment
“At my fittest, I feel unstoppable.
Those little victories should always be celebrated.
That’s what contributes joy and happiness and power and strength to your life.”
Eat Feel Good Food.
“My overall food philosophy is,if it’s real, I’ll eat it.
Many things are processed and contain chemicals and ingredients I can’t pronounce.
I want real food.
I stay away from the processed stuff.
I also don’t eat meat.
What animals go through is so inhumane.
That’s not a system that I support.
I eat two bigger meals a day instead of three.
Breakfast typically hasavocado, maybe vegan sausage, and a piece of healthy bread.
Dinner depends on my mood.
I let myself have what I want.
Other times, it’s tacos and a margarita.
We have this bond we lean on one another, and we’re inspired by one another.
That’s so important.
But that’s the most destructive thing you might do.
Having a community is my stress relief.”
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Lose Yourself In Nature
“I love to be anywhere with a ton of trees.
Being in the woods or the forest or the jungle is grounding for me because nature has balance.
Everything happens the way it’s meant to.
It’s when I find my flow.”
I always say that my household supports all forms of expression and creativity.
It makes me very happy to have a home that’s a safe space for my friends."
Cherish What You Have
“Where I am now is better than I could have dreamed of.
That didn’t happen.
But I’m in such an amazing,healthy relationship, so it doesn’t matter.
Learning that has been extremely helpful to my growth.
I’m very grateful every day for where I am in this moment of my life.”
