Monique Coleman
She brought brains and heart to the High School Musical franchise, becoming a role model for a generation of young viewers.
Born 1980 (age 46)·American actress (b. 1980)·Birthday: November 13·Generation X
Biography
Monique Coleman, born in 1980 in South Carolina, stepped into the spotlight not just as an actress but as a vibrant advocate. While her portrayal of the academically driven Taylor McKessie in Disney's High School Musical series made her a household name, Coleman used that platform to amplify voices. She became the first-ever United Nations Youth Champion, focusing on empowering young people worldwide. Her career extends beyond the Wildcats, with roles on television shows like The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and a turn on Dancing with the Stars. Off-screen, she founded The Gimmie Mo' Foundation, dedicated to youth education and self-esteem, proving her impact is measured in more than box office numbers.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Monique was born in 1980, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Monique Was Born
The biggest hits of 1980
#1 Movie
The Empire Strikes Back
Best Picture
Ordinary People
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Monique's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1980Born
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1985Started school
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1993Became a teenager
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1996Could drive
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1998Could vote
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Turned 21
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2010Turned 30
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 40
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 46 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Portrayed Taylor McKessie in the globally successful High School Musical film trilogy.
- Served as the first United Nations Youth Champion, advocating for youth empowerment.
- Founded The Gimmie Mo' Foundation to support education and confidence in young people.
- Competed as a contestant on the third season of ABC's Dancing with the Stars.
Did You Know?
She is a trained dancer and performed in the national tour of the musical Fame.
She was a spokesperson for the Dove Self-Esteem Fund.
She hosted a web talk show, 'Mo' Motion,' focusing on youth issues.
“I think it's really important to use your voice for something positive.”
