by Alissa King

Created on: January 24, 2009   Last Updated: January 25, 2009

Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens have had a long-lived relationship by both teenage and Hollywood standards. Sure, there have been a few bumps in the road, but these tween idols have shown a lot of staying power in contrast to many fly-by-night celebrity romances.</p>

<p>If you aren't familiar with the names, Efron and Hudgens are the actor and actress who play the roles of Troy and Gabriella in Disney's fantastically popular High School Musical franchise. As the charming romantic leads, Zac and Vanessa became overnight sensations when the made for t.v. movie about peer pressure and personal choice hit cable television screens throughout America. The franchise was so popular in fact, that Disney quickly made a High School Musical 2, and recently created a third installment for the big screen. High School Musical 3: Senior Year proved a box office success, bringing in audiences of all ages in October of 2008.</p>

<p>Sure, the concept of a generic 'High School Musical' for the premise might seem a little dopey, but the execution and chemistry between the main players in the cast really struck a chord with both parents and the targeted tween crowd. The chemistry seen on screen was genuine, for the actors who played characters Troy and Gabriella began dating in real life while making the original Highschool Musical. Another element which added to the film's popularity was choreography by director Kenny Ortega.</p>

<p>There have been bumps in the road for Zac and Vanessa, sure. There was a brief break-up between filming schedules, and since then, constant rumors in tabloid media that one or the other has been seen flirting with someone else. The Star tabloid recently printed a story that Megan Fox came on to Zac Efron at the Golden Globes, right in front of his girlfriend Hutchens.</p>

<p>But as these young stars would be quick to point out, living the celebrity life is a little like being a goldfish in a bowl. People are always watching you, no move goes unnoticed and most everything is exaggerated. Efron has said in personal interviews, "Mostly, no, I don't read those articles- unless my parents tell me about something, or something serious happens." (The Daily Telegraph, Jan 11)</p>

<p>As young adults, the couple have learned to be hyper-vigilant and guarded about their personal life. Efron tends to deals with interviews by stating what he doesn't want to talk about up front. His intelligence comes through his words, and it's clear that a good family and common sense have helped him with the roller coaster ride of fame. Hudgens has had more trouble with the media. Nude pictures of her showed up on the internet between the release of the first and second movie. Her less guarded approach has provided more media fodder. However, a bubbly smile and good nature have kept her popular with her number one fans: Pre-adolescents. In a lot of ways, this couple greatly resemble the characters they play on screen. With a little patience and a lot of luck, their romance should continue to endure the vigorous trials of fame and stardom.

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