What Happened to Olesya Rulin? Here's How High School Musical's Kelsi Looks Now

The first of three High School Musical movies came out in 2006 and followed the high school romance of Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez.

On a cast list that included names like Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens and Ashley Tisdale, the name Olesya Rulin may not stick out for most.

She played what some would consider the relatively minor role of Kelsi Nielson, the socially awkward school pianist, music composer, and drama club girl who followed 'it girl' Sharpay Evans around, at her beck and call. Kelsi was often hidden behind the piano during the song-and-dance breakouts that the movies became known for, as well as the romantic, intimate duets between Troy and Gabriella.

Character-wise, Kelsi did not stand out, although her unflattering wardrobe, including some unusual hats, was one of her most memorable features. Kelsi was quiet and kind, but her character was made to be nerdy and less noticeable..

If you were having a look at actress Olesya Rulin, it would be difficult to connect her to the shy, nerdy, wallflower-like Kelsi. And this photo makes it easy to understand why:

The first thing that comes to mind is 'glow-up.'

Looking at her aesthetic Instagram page, the Russian-American actress doesn't even remotely resemble her High School Musical character from all those years ago, and not just because time has gone by.

The 37-year-old's Instagram account, with a following of 221K, dedicates one half to health and wellness shots, photos of the actress, brand partnerships and sponsors.

The other half, goes to her family adventures, with photos of her husband Joseph Pauline, who she wed in 2021, and her baby daughter Ondine, who the pair welcomed in 2022.

It's no surprise that Olesya has some modeling shots too, she looks extremely youthful despite her age, she has a radiance and grace about her, and has a large group of followers who look up to her and follow her example.

Olesya, who can play the piano and is a trained ballerina, still pursues acting, with her roles including a 5 episode long role on NCIS: Los Angeles, an appearance on The Rookie, and the role of Emily in Family Weekend.

Apart from her acting career, she is an environmentalist, creative consultant, and author, having written The Hounds of Love.

This year, she celebrated her first Mother's Day and has actively shared her journey following her recovery from pregnancy, has traveled, and signed various brand deals.

In the past, she appeared as the quirky, quiet school pianist in the background. Today, she steals the spotlight as a glowing woman, and as High School Musical would put it; she's 'soaring, flying…'

Source: Instagram.