Dove Cameron

Dove Cameron is an American actress and singer who became a household name through her dual role as Liv and Maddie Rooney on the Disney Channel series Liv and Maddie. She later captivated a global audience as Mal, daughter of Maleficent, in the Descendants franchise. Beyond acting, she has built a music career with the dark-pop hit Boyfriend, which became her first Billboard Hot 100 entry. As of 2026, she continues to release music and stars in the Apple TV+ musical comedy Schmigadoon!. Known for her bold style and openness about her queer identity, she has a devoted fanbase that spans Disney enthusiasts and pop music listeners alike. [edit]

Dove Cameron grew up on Bainbridge Island, Washington, a ferry ride from Seattle. Her parents, Bonnie Wallace and Philip Hosterman, encouraged her creative side from an early age. She started performing in local community theater at age eight, landing roles in productions like Les Misérables at Bainbridge Performing Arts. Her mother, an acting coach, gave her professional training at home.

She attended school on the island and continued acting through her teens. In 2012, she landed her first on-screen role: a guest spot on The Mentalist as Charlotte Anne Jane. That same year, she appeared in episodes of Shameless and Malibu Country. These small roles built her résumé and led to a Disney Channel audition that would change everything. [edit]

In 2013, Cameron was cast as both Liv and Maddie Rooney on Disney Channel's Liv and Maddie. The show ran for four seasons and earned her a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in Children's Programming. That same year, she starred in the Disney Channel Original Movie Cloud 9, about competitive snowboarding.

Her biggest break came in 2015 when she was cast as Mal in Descendants, a TV movie about the children of Disney villains. The film was a massive ratings success and spawned two sequels (Descendants 2 in 2017 and Descendants 3 in 2019), making her a global star. She also appeared in NBC's Hairspray Live! (2016) and Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2018).

In 2021, she joined the cast of Apple TV+'s Schmigadoon!, a musical parody series. That same year, she released the single Boyfriend, a dark-pop anthem that became her first entry on the Billboard Hot 100. The song marked her transition from Disney star to mainstream pop artist, and she has continued releasing music and performing live. [edit]

Cameron's public image has evolved from bubbly Disney star to edgy pop artist. She favors bold fashion, often wearing high-fashion looks with dramatic makeup and hair. Her music videos and social media reflect a dark-pop aesthetic, contrasting with her earlier bright persona. Media coverage highlights her candidness about mental health and sexuality, and she is seen as part of a generation of young stars who openly discuss identity. Her fanbase, rooted in Disney Channel, has grown with her music career, and she maintains a close connection with fans through Instagram and TikTok. [edit]

Dove Cameron's fans, known as Dovelies, are a devoted and vocal community that has followed her evolution from Disney darling to dark-pop provocateur. They are a generation-defining fanbase, raised on Liv and Maddie and Descendants, who have grown up alongside her, embracing her queer identity and her edgy musical pivot. Their loyalty is evident in her staggering digital footprint, 47 million Instagram followers, 14.7 million on TikTok, yet they are not a fandom defined by organized campaigns or hashtag drives. Instead, their passion manifests in daily engagement, streaming marathons, and a shared language of inside jokes and aesthetic appreciation. They are the quiet engine behind her continued relevance, a collective that shows up not with billboards but with unwavering attention.

As of August 2026, iFANN's Global Fame Engine has evaluated Dove Cameron, but she does not currently hold a placement in the published rankings, whether the Global Top 1,000 or any Top-100 scope list. This absence is notable for a star of her visibility, yet it reflects the competitive landscape of global fame, where rankings shift with relentless churn. Her fame, while immense in specific spheres, Disney nostalgia, pop music, LGBTQ+ representation, has not yet translated into a top-tier ranking. But Dovelies know their queen's worth; they are patient, and they are everywhere.[edit]

Dove Cameron's journey is dotted with fascinating facts. She formed the band The Girl and the Dreamcatcher with ex-fiancé Ryan McCartan, releasing music until their breakup in 2016. Her stage name Dove was inspired by a childhood nickname. She has French, Russian, and Hungarian ancestry. Despite her public relationships with men, she came out as queer in 2020 and identifies as bisexual. She is an avid fan of horror movies and has said her favorite film is The Shining. In 2026, she paid tribute to Cher in a People magazine shoot, calling it the 'quickest yes I've ever said,' a moment that resonated with fans who admire her bold style. The Descendants cast, including Cameron, publicly celebrated Cameron Boyce's birthday in May 2026 with tributes, a poignant reminder of the bond they shared. Her engagement in 2026 and subsequent bridal beauty features marked a personal milestone, with Cameron feeling 'more open and experimental than ever.'[edit]

Dove was born Chloe Celeste Hosterman to Bonnie Wallace, an acting coach and author, and Philip Hosterman, founder of Kandahar Trading Company. Her father passed away when she was 15, a loss she has spoken about as deeply formative. She has an older sister, Claire Hosterman, who works behind the scenes in entertainment. The family lived on Bainbridge Island, where her parents supported her early theater work. [edit]

Dove Cameron has worked alongside several notable actors. She shared scenes with Emmy Rossum on Shameless in 2012. On Liv and Maddie, she starred with Joey Bragg, Tenzing Norgay Trainor, and Kaley Cuoco's sister Briana Cuoco. In the Descendants franchise, she acted with Cameron Boyce, Sofia Carson, Booboo Stewart, and China Anne McClain. She also appeared with Kristin Chenoweth and Alan Cumming in Schmigadoon!. [edit]

Dove Cameron's dating history has been closely followed by fans. She began dating Ryan McCartan, her Liv and Maddie co-star, in 2013. They formed the band The Girl and the Dreamcatcher and got engaged in April 2016, but called off the wedding in October of that year. Soon after, she started dating Thomas Doherty, her Descendants 2 co-star. Their relationship lasted from late 2016 to October 2020. In November 2023, she began dating Damiano David, the frontman of the Italian rock band Måneskin. The couple announced their engagement in October 2025, and as of 2026, they are engaged and planning their wedding. [edit]

iFANN currently estimates Dove Cameron's net worth at $10 million. Her wealth stems primarily from her acting career on Disney Channel, where she earned a steady salary for four seasons of Liv and Maddie and leading roles in the Descendants franchise. The Descendants films were major commercial successes, generating significant merchandise and soundtrack revenue. Music income from singles like Boyfriend and streaming royalties adds to her earnings. She also earns from live performances, brand endorsements, and her role on Apple TV+'s Schmigadoon!. Unlike many former child stars, she has managed her finances well and continues to work steadily.[edit]

Dove Cameron won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in Children's Programming for her dual role on Liv and Maddie. This remains her most prestigious acting award, recognizing her ability to play two distinct characters in a single show. [edit]