As Sharpay Evans [read: a wise prophet] once said, "Someone's gotta tell her the rules." Now, Sharpay may not have actually been a prophet, but that slight caveat most definitely does not revoke her idol status. In this case, the rules are, simply, that no fictional character has ever, or will ever, for that matter, usurp the one and only Sharpay Evans as the most high-octane individual to ever appear onscreen.
Following the onset of "High School Musical", it is quickly discovered that Sharpay has secured her spot as Queen of East High. Now, to many, taking pride in this position may seem tacky or juvenile, but the facts are inevitable - someone has to wear the crown, as the unfortunate patterns of society dictate, but honestly? Who might have done so better than she?
Exactly.
As the story progresses, it is revealed that Sharpay has sprung into action - the newly formed dynamic duo that is Troy and Gabriella has tossed the security of her valued position into a state of jeopardy and she refuses to stand for it. On the surface, this may appear to some as a natural course of events, but allow for a moment of reflection - is it not commonly understood that the common stereotype of a clique leader would have achieved such authority by doing nothing other than existing? Would it not, then, naturally follow, that, if the antagonist has yet to put in the effort up until this point, they will continue to do absolutely nothing, save for stress over the new uncertainty in their life?
Semantics.
Ultimately, Sharpay sadly bops her way right to the bottom, but the catch is, homegirl uses this setback as a way to grow and also ensure a less static future than her decidedly bland classmates. Some may ask "Literally how could Gabriella ever be seen as bland?" and although the premise this question addresses may appear commendable, it is merely a scratch on the surface compared to the depth of the real icon in this series. Sure, admittedly, Gabriella did slide some total bops onto the movie soundtracks, but as the trilogy unfolds into "High School Musical 2", it is predictably discovered that Gabriella has waded herself into more trouble in paradise with her man, Troy.
Thrilling.
Truly.
After a summer of slight defeat, once she gets Gabriella [read: that that pesky and unnecessary obstacle that stole Sharpay's part in the junior year winter musicale] sufficiently out of the way, Sharpay dives into "High School Musical 3" in a search for a personal assistant. Albeit less powerful than before, this determined worker strives to take on senior year and her dreams by storm.
Unbeknownst to the queen, her newly trusted personal assistant attempts to oust Sharpay of her own role! Given, Sharpay is also doing the exact same thing to Gabriella, but at the root of it, she is just trying to help. Gabriella is delaying the relay of information that she will be unable to perform whereas Tiara is just proving herself as a snake. However, in the end, her plans to humiliate Sharpay fail because she is the lesser of two creative geniuses, and Sharpay's natural charisma and stage presence easily allow her to upstage Tiara, who, as it turns out, makes a far better reptile than a personal assistant.
At the close of the series, it is found that Sharpay has not won her idealized scholarship from the Juilliard School of the Performing Arts, yet, she does plan to pursue the same degree at the University of Albuquerque, and honestly - what other antagonist still has a dignified ending in which they find success? The lack of available answers is no need for concern, as the close of the HSM saga is, in fact, far from Sharpay's actual finale. True fans, who continued viewing through Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure, arguably the most enjoyable sub-series spinoff (a whole new kind of argument), were allowed the privilege to view her true launch into stardom.
Between trying to pay her way through a life in New York and dismantling arrogance in the backstage world of Broadway, Sharpay proves herself able to annihilate the career of a condescending actress who tried to commit an act of treason in taking away the roles of two fantastic dogs, both of which were more talented than herself. In the end, Sharpay is able to secure a lead for herself and stand up for those who were otherwise unable to stand up for themselves.
Now, given, there is no concrete rubric for scoring which fictional character underwent the most change. However, it is undeniable that Sharpay's growth from a headstrong, confident drama club president to a Big Apple star who fights for the underdog, coupled with her impressive wardrobe advances (there is literally no argument that even her pink bedazzle job on the red graduation cap outshines that awful pink suit from her debut) solidifies her position as the most dynamic character in cinematic history.
