All things fabulous, that is her simple request.
I remember when the High School Musical franchise came out and how immediately I became obsessed with Sharpay Evans, and no one would understand why I liked the villain over the sweet—and bland—Gabriella. But for me, Sharpay was never a villain. In fact, I have related to her since a young age. She’s a determined person who knows what she wants and what to do to get there and is not afraid of showing her true self to the world, even if they think she’s a villain.
Let’s take a time machine and get back to when the first movie came out. It’s 2006, and everybody is in love with the story plot of Troy and Gabriella meeting at a New Year’s party during a karaoke session. Later, Gabriella changes school to Troy’s, and he falls even more for her. On the sideline, we have the story of Sharpay, who apparently is an obstacle to their love. But why?
Everyone that has watched the films over a hundred times like me knows pretty well how passionate about her performance career Sharpay was. Sharpay would literally do anything to get what she wanted because she knew she deserved it. Now, don’t get me wrong, I also don’t believe in doing anything to get where you want to go, but I admire her courage for standing up in front of others to believe in what she dreamed about.
Now, shall we go to the evidence that Sharpay was bopped from the top in the whole series?
high school musical 1
In the first movie, we have the opening musical performance scene of Troy and Gabriella just meeting singing at the karaoke. While shy initially, the couple soon starts to develop their voices and have fun with each other. Cute. For a date.
As Gabriella changes schools, both hear about the musical that is happening. In an attempt to keep that “connection” alive for both of them, which was music, they consider signing up to audition. Then, Sharpay tells the couple to try for supporting roles, considering they literally have no experience singing. Sharpay and her brother, Ryan, have been doing it for years and actually saw it as their career path. While this was considered a mean attitude of Sharpay, it is actually not.
During the audition, Kelsi composed the famous song “What I’ve Been Looking For,” which everyone auditioning for the role would have to sing. Sharpay and Ryan turned the song into a truly HIT by performing excellent choreography and introducing a new style to the lyrics. Killed it. Meanwhile, Gabriella and Troy show up late for the audition and try to convince Ms. Darbus, the drama teacher, to let them audition anyways. Reasonable enough, the teacher says no, as if they were truly committed, they would have prioritized it. And let’s be honest here, all Troy really wanted was to make what Gabriella wanted so he could be with her. Disappointed but not surprised.
Later on, during a basketball game and Gabriella’s science competition, it was the day and time of the final audition for the musical. Again, the couple is late and almost burned the school down with chemicals to make it on time for the audition. Sharpay and Ryan do their impressive performance first and wait, excited for the results. When Troy and Gabriella come, suddenly the whole school comes to watch, and Gabriella literally freezes for a solid minute. This proves Sharpay’s point that it would be better for them to start as supporting roles to get comfortable on stage first.
An actual plot twist, too, is how suddenly theater became this cool thing at school, while Sharpay and Ryan were made fun of by their colleagues about their passion.
Until now, as we can see, Sharpay did nothing to separate the couple, even though she also had a big crush on Troy. And since all the cards are lying down on the table, Gabriella’s closest friend, Taylor, was the toxic person in their relationship. The girl literally tried to sabotage Troy’s and Gabriella’s relationship because they were spending too much time together. Shame.
Well, we all know that Troy and Gabriella get the role, and Sharpay and Ryan, who have been training their whole lives for it, are not selected, even though they were super committed and apparently more talented. Even after that, at the movie’s end, Sharpay goes up to Gabriella and tells her to break a leg, showing that she holds no grudge against her.
Take-Away: if you fight for what you dream of and do everything in your power to make sure it will happen, you’re a terrible person. Really? I don’t think so.
high school musical 2
The second movie is summertime for the East High students, and Sharpay is off to her parent’s country club and resorts up in the mountains. While trying to relax and work hard to win the talent show, all her school friends need summer jobs. Sharpay makes sure that everyone gets a job because apparently, that was the only way that Troy would spend his summer in the resort. Even Gabriella gets a job there!
The movie’s whole plot shows the sudden “character” change of Troy for accepting Sharpay’s help to get a college scholarship and get a good education and future. Again, even though Sharpay had a big crush on Troy and he liked someone else, it shows how much she cared for him. If a guy did you dirty, would you still help him get a nice future? I don’t think so.
Once Troy starts relying on Sharpay to get that future and the connections, Gabriella “goes her own way” because they don’t have time to spend together anymore. Apparently, she’ll be left behind if he’s investing in his future.
Since Sharpay was helping Troy, she wanted him to participate in a talent show with her, as this could also be a way to show the recruiters his many talents. Even though he bails on her and continues to use her, she still cares for him. And let’s not mention the fact that her own brother bailed on her as well by the influence of Gabriella & Co.
In the end, Sharpay doesn’t participate in her own talent show for being boycotted and does a guest appearance in Troy’s and Gabriella’s performance. But, for Sharpay Evans’ fans, she wins the dazzling award. Recognizing the hard work her brother put on the choreography for the show, she hands it to him even though he did her dirty, leaving her with nothing on her most important night.
high school musical 3
The last movie of the series shows everyone’s plans for after graduation and the transition from high school to college. Sharpay still holds on to her dream of becoming a superstar and “wanting it all.” Think bigger!
The final play that is super important for someone shooting for a performance arts school also leads to Gabriella’s and Troy’s wishes. The couple convinces the whole school to be in it as it would be a great memory, while they don’t want to be in it too, and Gabriella ends up giving up later.
As Gabriella gives up, Sharpay steps in to save the show. Meanwhile, her assistant, Tiara, who wishes to be like her, tries to steal the spotlight from her. But she was messing with Sharpay Evans, who knows pretty well how to bounce back to the spotlight.
Then, Gabriella and Troy show up to the performance to “save” it while Sharpay is going through hell with the impostor girl to deliver a decent show.
At graduation, Kelsi received the scholarship that was supposed to be Sharpay’s, even though she dedicated her whole high school years to becoming the best performer she ever could. Anyone can relate to her now?
Sharpay is just misunderstood and made it look like a villain for being an influential person who seeks to become her best and go after what she wants. Her true crime? Wanting to become the lead in her own life and being who she wanted to be: a superstar! That is determination and ambition, ladies and gentlemen.
So yes, Sharpay is THAT girl who fights for what she believes she deserves and will rely on herself more than anything. Cheers to that!
“Imagine having everything we ever dreamed? Don’t you want it?”