All About Vanessa Hudgens' Sister Stella Hudgens (2024)

Vanessa Hudgens and her sister Stella Hudgens are all in this life together.

The High School Musical star is the older daughter of Gina Guangco and the late Greg Hudgens. She became an older sister in 1995 when Stella was born in San Diego, California.

The Hudgens sisters grew up on the West Coast, and are both involved in the entertainment industry. Stella is an actor best known for being featured in various television series, including Players and Powerless. She also works as a model, and revealed that Vanessa has taught her to be bold when developing her own sense of style.

“Vanessa has taught me that my style really represents who I am,” Stella told PEOPLE. “She’s always been very experimental and always starting her new trend, so I kind of take after her on that.”

After their father died in 2016, Vanessa and Stella grew even closer with their mother, Gina, who emigrated from the Philippines to the United States. Vanessa announced that she would be shooting a documentary in 2023 that will feature her mother and sister while highlighting their Filipino heritage.

“The three of us are all very close. We do a lot of things together,” Stella said. “We all go through life being there for each other, support each other, love each other, which is a huge part of the Filipino culture.”

Here’s everything to know about Vanessa Hudgens’ sister, Stella Hudgens.

They grew up on the West Coast

Vanessa was born on Dec. 14, 1988, in Salinas, California, to her mother, Gina Guangco, and her late father, Greg Hudgens. A few years later, Vanessa became a big sister on Nov. 13, 1995, when Stella was born.

By the time of Stella’s birth, Vanessa’s family had moved to San Diego, where the Hudgens sisters would spend most of their adolescence before moving to Los Angeles. Their father worked as a firefighter while their mother held office jobs before quitting to raise Vanessa and Stella.

“My parents gave up so much,” Vanessa told Marie Claire. “They were very supportive of me. They gave up a lot so that I could get to where I am.”

The Hudgens sisters were raised “very, very conservatively,” Vanessa told InStyle in November 2018, adding that “travel wasn’t really a thing [for us]. I didn’t even get on my first flight until I was 14.”

Their mother Gina was originally from the Philippines before she immigrated to the U.S. at the age of 25.

“I was raised very Catholic,” Vanessa told The Cut in a 2023 interview. “My mom’s Catholic.”

Stella is an actress

Like her sister, Stella is also an actress. She first appeared in an episode of American Family in 2002, but has gone on to be featured in projects including Powerless, Smoky Kings and 16 and Missing.

Her most recent acting credit is for K. Asher Levin’s 2020 drama series Players.

Stella appeared in a fashion campaign with Noah Cyrus

In 2015, Stella was a part of Mudd Jean’s spring campaign alongside a few other younger sisters of stars. Stella starred in the campaign with Noah Cyrus and Alli Simpson, the younger siblings of Miley Cyrus and Cody Simpson, respectively.

The campaign, which also featured online personalities Jack Johnson, Jack Gilinsky and Sammy Wilkinson for Mudd’s spring 2015 collection, was shot in Malibu.

“This is my first time doing anything, really, for modeling,” Stella told PEOPLE at the time. “I didn’t know I would have this much fun — it doesn’t feel like work.”

She loves fashion

Aside from acting, Stella has modeled for and worked with a number of fashion brands. In 2017, she launched a collection with Boohoo, inspired by her own fashion tastes.

Stella has revealed that her older sister helped her explore her own sense of style growing up.

“Vanessa really taught me how to be myself and not keep up with trends," Stella told PEOPLE.

Stella has been featured in Vanessa’s music videos

Stella has appeared in a few music videos throughout her career, including some of her sister's.

She’s been a part of the music videos for Vanessa’s tracks “Say OK” and “Come Back to Me,” in addition to Jaden Smith’s “Pumped Up Kicks Like Me.”

Vanessa and Stella are incredibly close

While Vanessa and Stella are roughly seven years apart in age, the Hudgens sisters have an undoubtedly close relationship. They can both be seen expressing their admiration for each other across their social media platforms.

Vanessa said that Stella is “the kindest, most supportive and loving woman.” In an Instagram post celebrating Stella’s birthday, Vanessa added that her “life is so much better with [Stella] in it.”

“Words will never be able to fully express how much I love you,” Vanessa wrote in an Instagram caption. “I couldn’t be more grateful to have such an intelligent, beautiful, fun, loving, sassy womb mate. You’re everything to me and always will be. Love you 😘♥️♥️♥️.”

She was a bridesmaid in Vanessa’s wedding

In December 2023, Vanessa married baseball player Cole Tucker in a ceremony in Tulum, Mexico.

Early on in their relationship, Vanessa revealed to Stella that she was sure Cole was “the one.”

“After our first weekend together, I called my sister and was like, 'I think I just found my future husband,' " she said during an April 2023 appearance on Today with Hoda & Jenna.

Stella was right by Vanessa’s side throughout the entire wedding process. She joined Vanessa and the rest of her bridal party for her bachelorette weekend in Aspen, Colorado.

“The most iconic bachelorette weekend in Aspen thanks to my GIRLS and @airbnb ♥️ couldn’t ask for a more perfect home base 🥰,” Vanessa wrote on Instagram.

On Vanessa’s wedding day, Stella wore a beautiful deep-cut watercolor dress. “Just sisters blowin in the wind,” Vanessa captioned an Instagram post with Stella on the beach in her bridal gown.

Vanessa and Stella are going to be in a documentary together

In March 2023, Vanessa announced that she was going to be involved in a travel documentary that would showcase her Filipino roots. In association with TEN17P, the project will also share more details on Vanessa, Stella and Gina’s relationship.

“Raising two girls in America, I try to infuse the Filipino culture and kindness is No. 1,” Gina said at a 2023 press conference in Manila for the documentary.

Stella has always admired her mother's strength.

“I look up to my mother above anyone,” Stella told Teen Vogue. “She’s such a strong woman, and I’m so grateful to be her daughter.”

After losing their father to cancer in 2016, Vanessa and Stella were raised by their mother, which brought them together.

“I am who I am because of her,” Vanessa said. “We’re all a product of my parents and especially our mother, being able to produce us into this world.”