Alyson Stoner says being remembered for Missy Elliott’s music videos is like constantly being asked about a second grade “show and tell.”
In a new interview with the Zach Sang Show, co-host Dan Zolot asked the former child star, “When people still see you as a little white girl from the Missy Elliot video, does that make you proud or is that you kind of, like, ‘I’ve done more?’”
Stoner, who appeared in Elliott’s videos “Work It,” “Gossip Folks,” and “I’m Really Hot,” replied with an analogy near the one-hour, 20-minute mark in the video above.
“[Do] y’all remember in second grade when you did ‘show and tell’ that one time? What if I only asked you about that every day for the rest of your life?” the 32-year-old asked. “That was my version of second or third grade show and tell.”
She conceded, though, that it’s a way she can connect with people.
“It’s just our initial connection point. And that moment in music history is, I mean, Missy deserves all the credit in the world for what she designed conceptually for bringing in—whoever decided to put a little white girl in the center,” Stoner said. “Like, obviously that was not my decision.”
Stoner also recalled going into the audition with no hip-hop training and having only studied ballet, tap, and jazz. They admitted that they later came to understand that hip-hop is a “cultural” and “sociopolitical” movement.
“It took a lot more training and, you know, being integrated into the hip-hop community for me to be like, ‘Oh, OK. Yeah, this isn’t just learning a routine,’” they said.
Although Elliot’s videos remain a defining moment, Stoner has since starred in films like Cheaper by the Dozen and Step Up and appeared in series like Disney Channel’s Mike’s Super Short Show, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, and recently returned to their role as Isabella in the Phineas and Ferb reboot.
Stoner also played Caitlyn in both Camp Rock films opposite Demi Lovato and the Jonas Brothers.
In 2019, Stoner made a surprise appearance at the MTV VIdeo Music Awards to perform “Work It” during Elliott’s Vanguard Award performance.
Stoner now works as a mental health advocate, pushing for better protocols for child actors and influencers—including stronger online safety protocols, per ABC.
Alyson Stoner’s memoir, Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything, is out now.
