Demi Lovato

If you’ve never heard of Demi Lovato, go ask your tween. After a stint on the short-lived Disney series As the Bell Rings, the 16-year-old singer-actress shot to fame as the lead in last year’s Camp Rock, the tale of a poor kid with pop-star dreams who lands a rocker hunk (Joe Jonas—you know, the cute Jonas brother). Since then, she’s barely had a moment to breathe. She’s released an album, signed up for two back-to-back TV movies (the soon-to-be-released Princess Protection Agency and Camp Rock 2), and now her new sitcom, Sonny with a Chance—about a sweet Midwestern girl who moves to Hollywood to join the cast of a kids’ sketch-comedy show—premieres Sunday, February 8, at 8pm on the Disney Channel. Decked out in a stunning red chiffon dress on a bleak New York winter’s day, the remarkably articulate adolescent chatted candidly about the ups and downs of life in the spotlight.

You’re riding high right now, but do you worry about the trajectory of your career?
Not really. I’m just enjoying it. I mean, you can’t please everyone. People say all the time, “Oh, she’s going to sell out,” or whatever. But they don’t know me. I’m going to change and I’m going to evolve, but that doesn’t mean I’m turning into another person. So there’s no need for me to worry about it. Even the best of the best have to deal with haters.

You’re only 16, but you seem quite mature for your age. Do you ever wish you could just be a normal kid?
No. I actually wish that I was 18, so I could vote and be considered an adult. It’s hard because everyone treats me like I’m an adult, so I might as well be one, you know? I don’t really have the same mind-set as kids my age, so I like to hang out with people who are older, except for Selena [Gomez] and Miley [Cyrus]. They’re the only friends I have that are my age. Right now, I kind of get judged if I like a guy who’s 18 or whatever. I’m supposed to be mature—so am I supposed to be with somebody who’s immature? It’s weird.

What kind of relationship do you have with your parents?
I have a great one with my mom. She wasn’t too strict, so I didn’t feel the need to rebel in any bad ways. And you know, I’m not done growing up either, so my mom’s still doing a pretty good job! Since she’s been so accepting, I’ve been able to grow into myself faster. A lot of parents are really strict and try to make their kids grow up into a certain mold. I think the kids who are allowed to be themselves mature more quickly. My mom’s really amazing—I want to be a mom like her. Not too soon though! I don’t want to have kids until I’m 30.

How’s your relationship with your dad?
I don’t speak to my dad. I have a great stepfather. He raised me my whole life and he is my one father. I saw my biological dad a while back, but the reunion wasn’t as happy as other people might have made it out to be. And that can be painful. It’s a part of my private life that isn’t so private. I dealt with my parents getting divorced and, you know, lots of kids go through that. Some continue to talk to their biological fathers; others call them their biological fathers. Know what I mean?

Living under the spotlight must be difficult. Do you ever wish you could live anonymously?
I don’t think anyone should wish that their life was another way. My life has to be lived in the public eye, so I’m going to make the best of it. I wouldn’t change my life for the world. I’m enjoying it! I wish there was a way to explain to people that my life really isn’t that different. I’m just busier, honestly. I still hang out with my family, I still hang out with my friends. When people ask, “What’s it feel like to be a teen queen?,” it’s not like some mystical, magical power comes over you and suddenly you feel confident and pretty. I just live my life and I make mistakes, and I don’t put too much pressure on myself.

Unlike some other teen stars, you haven’t stirred up much controversy or negative publicity. Do you see yourself as a role model?
I guess I’m seen that way. I really don’t put myself in many positions where people would think otherwise. But I don’t think it’s fair for other teen stars to be judged for not being the “best” role models. I would like my kid to look up to someone who can overcome their mistakes. If someone never makes mistakes, that puts pressure on the kid to be perfect. Then, when they do make an error, they end up getting frustrated with themselves. When someone sees a teenage star going through things, they’re able to look at them and say, “Wow, she makes mistakes too. But she doesn’t let herself end up with drugs or alcohol or other problems. She fights through it so that she can be a happier person.”

Do you really hang out with the Jonas Brothers in real life, or just when you’re working?
Well, we hang out mostly because of work, but I’m very close with Joe. He’s like an older brother, so I hang out with him the most of any of them. They’re awesome. I even appear in their new concert movie, Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience [which hits theaters February 27].

I read that you’re a big death metal fan…
Okay, I have been to some death metal concerts… I was listening to, like, metal and things like that when I left school. I kind of took out my emotions through harder music and rock. But now my life is changing. I’ve just become a happier person over the last few months, because my life has hit this place where it’s very comfortable. I don’t feel the urge to listen to that kind of music anymore. I’ve grown out of it. I’m listening to more mellow music, things that inspire my writing. Metal music never really did that for me. I couldn’t write a pop song if I was listening to metal all the time.

Apart from your acting and singing careers, do you have other life ambitions?
I’d like to write books and screenplays, but mainly I’d like to direct. That’s my main goal. Also, I’d like to make a difference against bullying, to show the effects it can have on somebody’s life. I left public school because of it. My classmates sent around a “We Hate Demi Lovato” petition. [Laughs] It was ridiculous! And yet, there are kids out there who kill themselves over this sort of thing. I’m sure if I hadn’t had dreams, I could have been suicidal. Fortunately, my parents always told me not to worry about things like popularity. So I would like to maybe start an organization about depression, or about girls’ self-images. There’s so much pressure now in our industry to be thin. That’s one way that I kind of am different—I’m not super stick thin. I’m Hispanic, I’ve got curves, but I like them. Sometimes it’s hard, especially when people online are like, “Oh, she’s the fat Disney girl.” Really? I’m normal! This is who I am. I couldn’t lose weight if I tried.