Growing up in the late '90s and early 2000s, there was no shortage of teen heartthrobs and TV characters that made us swoon. From the sitcoms we watched to the Disney movies (yes, you know you had a crush on some cartoons, don't lie), there was always someone making your preteen heart beat a little faster than you were used to. Here are just a few of our millennial first loves:
1. Jonathan Taylor Thomas (Home Improvement)
The youngest of the three Home Improvement boys, and undoubtedly the cutest. No clue what he looks like now, I only remember him as that tiny, dimpled darling.
2. Lola Bunny (Space Jam)
I warned you, cartoons were coming on this list. If you ask any 18-25 year old boy who watched Space Jam growing up if he had a crush on Lola and he says no, he's probably lying.
3. Uncle Jesse (Full House)
My ultimate first love. Seriously, you can ask my mother. I think there was an entire diary entry in the second grade devoted to John Stamos. Update: he is still hot, and could very likely be the Greek god of yogurt.
4. Topanga (Boy Meets World)
Every single millennial remembers that episode of Boy Meets World where young Topanga had that makeover and became super hot #WCW Topanga. Smart and pretty, and she didn't have to choose.
5. Shawn Hunter (Boy Meets World)
LORD, how I adored Shawn Hunter. He had that perfect 90's boy haircut and the flannel, and he was just so charming. I could write a five paragraph essay in MLA format with citations about how much I love Shawn Hunter, that bad golden boy.
6. Ashley Banks (Fresh Prince)
Don't get me wrong, I've always been in love with Will Smith, but Tatyana Ali played the literal cutest girl on all of television. She begged the existential question: do you wanna be her, or be WITH her?
7. Aladdin (Aladdin)
If you read my Disney characters as boyfriends list back in the day, you know Aladdin is my ultimate Disney prince. All he wears is a teeny tiny vest -- that in and of itself is crush worthy.
8. Princess Jasmine (Aladdin)
The hottest Disney princess of all time. I mean, what else can be said?
9. The Entire Cast of Saved By The Bell
Kelly Kapowski is the original definition of "girl crush." Zack Morris made me like preppy boys. I met Mario Lopez at an X Factor taping and I can tell you definitively, that man will be beautiful for eternity.
10. Carmen (Spy Kids)
Carmen was always cute (see: Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams end dance sequence), but Alexa Vega's glo' up was cemented on this season of Dancing With the Stars when she was partnered with Mark Ballas and slayyyed.
11. Aaron Samuels (Mean Girls)
"All he cares about is school, and his mom, and his friends...but I mean if you like that..."
I do, Regina, I really do.
12. Hallie and Annie (The Parent Trap)
Tell me you didn't have a crush on young Lindsay Lohan in the 90's-00's, I dare you. She was teen royalty.
13. John Tucker (John Tucker Must Die)
I was probably too young to see John Tucker Must Die when I did, but it still stands that he was super hot, no matter how much of a jerk he may have been. Besides, the scene where he gives her the watch and exclaims "I'm whipped!" in front of all his bros is an iconic scene in rom-com history.
14. The Entire Cast of Gossip Girl
It is unfair that every human in that cast (even Dan's dad) is super hot. Chuck Bass, first of all, how dare you? And as for YOU, Blake Lively, you keep living the dream being married to Ryan Reynolds and being hot.
15. Patrick Verona (10 Things I Hate About You)
Heath Ledger was one of the most beautiful men to ever grace this earth, and the green-eyed angel played one of the most charming rom-com bad boys in all the world. Clearly, I have a pattern, loving every bad boy character in every film, but when he serenades Kat with Frankie freakin' Valli of all things, my heart melts every time.
16. Hermoine Granger (Harry Potter)
Everyone was in love with Hermoine (*cough cough* Ron). Her brilliance and loyalty and hair may just be the best things in the wizarding world. Be honest, when you saw her in the ballgown in The Goblet of Fire, your jaw dropped.
17. Edward and Jacob (Twilight)
The year is 2009. Hot Topic t-shirts and Motorola Razr wallpapers are emblazoned with "Team Edward" or "Team Jacob", and there is definitely a cutout of Robert Pattinson in your bedroom. It was iconic, as were they. Talk about the ultimate 00's crushes.
