While she was busy having fun on-screen, the blockbuster film completely catapulted her career.
Growing up on set, her fellow actors and filmmakers became family to her.
Many people also may not know that she goes by a different name now instead: Alexa PenaVega.
How did that happen?
There, PenaVega could be around kids her own age instead of much older moviemakers.
“What other kid gets to be hooked up on a harness and flown all over the room?”
she later laughed toHollywood.com.
From there, endless opportunities seemed to await the 15-year-old star.
In 2007, she booked the role of Penny Pingleton in the award-winning musical “Hairspray.”
It was then that PenaVega’s acting career took a completely different direction.
The following year, PenaVega found her way back to the big screen.
This time, it was in a movie musical; starring in “Repo!
The Genetic Opera” gave her just another reason to use her voice.
PenaVega sang multiple songs on-screen, which sparked her interest in pursuing an even more musical career.
“And hopefully we’ll get another chance.”
Fortunately, PenaVega’s next project would help her to do just that.
In the end, PenaVega and Covel opted to get a divorce in 2012.
“We tried everything before making that decision,” PenaVega later toldComplex.
“But people staying married for the sake of being married is not healthy at all.”
Luckily, that relationship is something PenaVega doesn’t regret.
Just like the actress herself, her character “Carmen is now an adult.
She’s grown up,” PenaVega explained toPVR Pictures.
Carmen was then more of their mentor as she took on the role of their aunt.
However, there was a lot of new stuff for PenaVega to learn as an adult spy.
The new kids seemed to have it all down, though.
“They were teaching us everything,” PenaVega explained toHollywood.com.
“We’re like, ‘When did we get uncool?'”
This time, there was no singing involved at least, not from her.
That summer, PenaVega appeared in a music video for Aerosmith’s newest single “Legendary Child.”
In it, she played one of the fierce women that were rollerskating during a wild chase.
It was all rough and tumble, which seemed to be in true PenaVega style.
It was also the first song that Aerosmith had released together in nearly eight years (viaRolling Stone).
Needless to say, the video was just as legendary as the title of the song suggests.
So in 2013, PenaVega wrote and released her very first comic book called “Suicide Layne.”
The main character “does ride a motorcycle,” shesaid.
“And I ride motorcycles.”
After all, “you want to keep people guessing,” she said onThe CineSnob Podcast.
“You don’t want them to know what you’re going to do next.”
“And you don’t want to lose your fans along the way.”
In fact, she even appeared in an episode alongside him.
“We were friends at first,” she explained during anInstagram Q&A.
“But then once we started dating we both just knew!”
From that moment forward, they began working together a lot more often, too.
When it was announced who’d be moving onto the semi-finals, it was between Alexa and Carlos.
In the end, PAlexa was eliminated.
“He’s the best thing I could’ve ever asked for,” Alexa later admitted toEntertainment Tonight.
In 2015, they posted their very first video vlog together on YouTube talking about their day.
“There aren’t filters to what we’re doing,” she explained toMedia from the Heart.
“We’ll be honest about the conversations that we have, and we’ll post it.”
The PenaVegas’ YouTube channel LexLovesLos stemmed directly from their “Dancing with the Stars” experience.
Together, the couple wanted to show the world what a real marriage looked like.
Today, their videos have surpassed nearly150 million views.
Funny enough, it wasn’t her first film for the web connection either.
“Everybody keeps saying that,” she explained onHome & Family.
The two then became both producing partners and co-stars on Hallmark’s “Love at Sea.”
“We can’t believe we’re having a baby,” she and her husband Carlos PenaVega toldPeople.
“Truly, our hearts are exploding with the new blessing we get to experience.”
Later that year, their sonOcean King PenaVegawas born.
Three years later, another baby boy came into the PenaVegas' lives, this one namedKingston James PenaVega.
During a “Big Time Rush” reunion onInstagram, the family announced that Alexa washaving a baby girl.
Baby Rio Rey wasbornin May 2021.
Expanding the PenaVega family even more may be in their plans, too.
After all, Alexa has six brothers and sisters herself.
“So who knows really,” she told fans onInstagram.
In 2017, the PenaVegas packed up their things and moved to Maui.
When Alexa became a parent, however, her priorities completely changed.
“We just want to raise really happy kids.
Kids that are running around outside and not hooked to their tablets all day long,” sheexplained.
“So if it costs us the career, then it costs us the career.”
However, everything changed for Alexa and Carlos PenaVega in 2019.
“And they wanted to make it work from Maui.”
Many times, the PenaVegas have ended their days without having voices at all.
“You’re exhausted because you’ve been singing and laughing and jumping,” Alexa continued.
“There’s just so much energy packed into such a small amount of time.”
At this point, this actress can really do anything!
