One major Disney Channel star has quit fame for a very normal job – and is pursuing a Ph.D at MIT.
Bridgit Mendler shot to fame as Olivia in the Disney original movie Lemonade Mouth back in 2011, and later turned her hand to a music career with her debut album Hello My Name Is… Along with roles in everything from Alvin and the Chipmunks to Good Luck Charlie, Bridgit continued to release music until 2017.
But now she’s seemingly ditched fame for a rather more ordinary career.
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The actress achieved her bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California and went on to get a master’s at MIT – and she’s currently studying for a PH.D. at the university’s Media Lab.
(Image: Getty Images North America)
According to the college site, Bridgit is focusing on “technologies that support inclusive and collaborative governance and citizen engagement”.
Her online interactions with fans “inspired her interest in social platforms as a means for bringing more voices, experiences and expertise to government decision-making.”
Bridgit herself commented: “As an entertainer, for years I struggled with social media because I felt like there was a more loving and human way to connect with fans,” and now wants to improve social media for that very purpose.
Her LinkedIn page also lists Bridgit as attending Harvard Law School between 2021 and 2024.
(Image: Disney Channel via Getty Images)
She’s explained on the Techsetters podcast that she hasn’t completely turned her back on music and acting, telling fans: “I’ve written scripts, I’ve written music, but I also feel like I’m really building upon something with my research [at MIT] and so that’s something that I want to continue to build upon.”
Bridgit is the co-founder and CEO of a company called Stealth, a position she started in January 2023.
In her personal life, Bridgit’s husband is just as accomplished as she is. She married aerospace engineer Griffin Cleverly back in 2019.
After a high-profile romance with her Good Luck Charlie co-star Shane Harper, it made sense for Bridgit to settle down outside the public eye, announcing via Instagram in October 2019 that she had already tied the knot.
(Image: @bridgitmendler/Instagram)
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Speaking of her previous romance with Harper – which began in 2011 and lasted until 2015 – Bridgit revealed: “We knew each other for a while, were friends for a long time. I think everybody was very respectful about it and wanted to make sure that it wouldn’t be weird.”
Fans have been supportive of the star’s sudden career U-turn, with one gushing: “What a role model!” as somebody else admitted: “Not what I expected!”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
