Monique Coleman started her acting career at an early age. Growing up in South Carolina, Monique began studying at the Workshop Theatre School of Dramatic Arts, where she appeared in over a dozen productions. Her first acting gig came in one acting class that turned out to be an audition for a commercial. Since then, Monique Coleman has appeared in local plays, regional commercials and supporting roles in small films.

After auditioning on various casting calls, Monique Coleman landed a lead role in a 1995 indie film called “Mother of the River. The film won various awards from Chicago-based film festivals, giving Monique Coleman the spotlight she deserved. In 1997, she made her TV debut as Young Donna in the TV-movie “The Ditch Digger’s Daughter,” which led to a nomination for ‘Young Artists Award of Hollywood.’ During this time, Monique Coleman was still attending as a sophomore in high school, where she wrote, produced, directed and starred in a one-person play entitled “Voices from Within.”

After high school, Monique Coleman attended the Theatre School at Chicago-based DePaul University. On stage, she appeared in productions of “Polaroid Stories,” “The Colored Museum,” “Noises Off,” and “The Real Thing.” In 2002, Monique Coleman graduated with a BFA in Acting.

From 2003 to 2004, Monique Coleman landed guest appearances on TV shows, including “Strong Medicine,” “Gilmore Girls,” “10-8: Officers on Duty,” “Married to the Kellys,” “Malcolm in the Middle,” “Boston Public,” “Veronica Mars.” In 2005, Monique worked alongside James Earl Jones in the 2005 Hallmark TV-movie “The Reading Room,” which led to a Camie Award for the role of Leesha.

In 2006, Monique Coleman won her breakthrough role when she was cast as one of the teens in the Disney hit movie “High School Musical,” playing Taylor McKessie. She then had a recurring role on the Disney TV series “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody.” After the success of “High School Musical,” Monique Coleman joined the cast members in “High School Musical: The Concert.” She also reprised her role as Taylor McKessie in the second and third installment of ‘High School Musical’ – “High School Musical 2” in 2007 and “High School Musical 3: Senior Year” in 2008.

In 2006, Monique showed off her dancing skills and competed in the reality TV show “Dancing with the Stars,” where she finished fourth with dancing partner Louis van Amstel. The following year, Monique Coleman landed a gig as the host of Disney Channel’s “3 Minute Game Show: High School Musical Edition.” She also recording the song “Christmas Vacation” for the Disney holiday album entitled “A Disney Channel Holiday.”