These photos are from last year. You can see Fanning as homecoming queen on Just Jared
Dakota Fanning, 16, has proven herself to be a rare teen star who can balance a successful Hollywood career with a normal school life. Last year Fanning was crowned Homecoming Princess at the private high school where she’s also a cheerleader. Now in her Senior year, Fanning has taken home the coveted crown of Queen. It looks like her king is the same guy as last year too. This just goes to show that Fanning is as popular with her classmates as she is on screen. Here’s a report on that from Yahoo!, along with some quotes she gave about the importance of school:
Everyone’s a fan of 16-year-old Dakota Fanning — including her classmates at Campbell Hall in North Hollywood, California. The veteran actress/high school senior was named to her private school’s homecoming court for the second year in a row!
In 2009, Dakota was awarded the title of “princess” while proudly wearing her cheerleading uniform and supporting her team, the Vikings, at the homecoming game, but during this year’s half-time ceremony on Saturday night, the “Twilight” star ditched her school colors in favor of a funkier ensemble. The teen queen (literally) rocked black tights, boots, and a sparkly frock while accepting a bouquet of red roses, a sash with her title, and the coveted crown.
Dakota explained her decision to go to school — at least when she’s not on a set — on “Today” last June. “I think it was really important to have the high school experience,” she said. “I think that I want [the college] experience as well. I just think everyone always looks back on that time in their life. Who was homecoming princess and [did] the cheerleading … and all the things that go along with high school? And I wanted to have that. I’m really lucky that I found a school that allows me to do both.”
[From OMG.Yahoo.com]
Dakota could have been tutored and home schooled, but she chose to put herself out there and work at going to high school and getting involved in extra curricular activities despite a busy filming schedule. I have a lot of respect for the way she’s handled herself throughout her career, particularly when you compare her to other famous girls her age. Her parents deserve a lot of credit too.
Photo Credit: Pacific Coast News. These photos are from 2009 when Dakota was homecoming princess. New photos are on Just Jared.
I think every parent who wants their kids to get into acting should first sit down with the Fannings and talk about the right way to do things. Both daughters seem smart, balanced, and well adjusted, and will most likely go on to excel at whatever they want to do.
She’s a doll, and so refreshingly normal.
She really is an amazing young lady with a good head on her sholders. That’s a rare find in Hollywood.
I really love her. She’s extremely talented, but hasn’t let it take over her life. I love the way she’s still just a normal 16 year old outside of it all. Go, Dakota! =)
She’s only 16 there plenty of time for her to ok crazyyyyy, which she will, child stars always have their “issues”
Adorable. 😀
I wonder if she would’ve won if she weren’t rich and famous. Just sayin’…
These look like last year’s pictures. This year she had on a kind of funky dress (instead of her uniform). Also, her sash says court instead of queen.
She’s still awesome, old pictures or new ones!
You know why she/her family managed to balance it all so that she could have the best of these worlds, dont you? Its because she obviously has no illusions about being “beautiful”/”pretty”. Instead, she is a fairly nice looking girl (aka just a regular teenager) who is supremely talented and intelligent. In my book, that beats “beautiful” or “pretty” any day but we’re talking about HW and the obssessive, self-absorbed fame-with-no-talent world of today which she had to navigate.
Kudos to her!
She was so good in the movie Man on fire.
@awhodat: Um…what? The only reason she hasn’t pulled a Lohan is b/c she’s not pretty enough?? That’s ridiculous. Her looks have nothing to do with it. It’s because she’s intelligent, very talented, has a solid family foundation (unlike the Lindsays and Mileys of the industry).
@Bite Me: Not all child stars go thru a crazy phase. Dakota Fanning actually reminds me alot of Jodie Foster, who never did. Or Natalie Portman or Leonardo DiCaprio, just off the top of my head?
Campbell Hall is not exactly Little House on the Prairie, you guys. It is very expensive and exclusive and Hollywood. For example, the Olsen twins went there. I’m not saying DF isn’t a nice girl but don’t think she’s going to the malt shop after school.
@ Lisa – At least she popular and isn’t claiming to be bullied like every other starlet. In my small town school she would have been the most popular girl also. They would have worshipped her, no bullies in sight for rich girls.
I really like her in her movies and you are able to believe she is whatever character she is playing. Unlike Kristen Stewart in the Runaways all I could think was Bella and that same brooding teen. Same goes for JLo and a bunch of other actors.
And everyone is forgetting about Hermione or whatever her name is. She didn’t go crazy either.
I’m a great fan of Dakota and her sister Elle. If I were running things, I would make Billy Ray Cyrus and wife and the Lohans pay huge fees for mandatory ongoing tutorials with the Fannings to be allowed to keep their other children.
And as far as the tony high school being somehow different, it seems like it would be even more catty and craven than regular high schools. The fact that Dakota can negotiate the school so successfully that she beats out other girls for homecoming queen while being as sweet as she is, says even more about her upbringing.
@ David
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right on. “creasy!” lol.
she is living the dream!!!
kudos to her folks.
way to go, dakota! 🙂
I think I’m the only one who is annoyed by her. She seems so…I don’t know? Boring?
This goes back to the whole “bullying” thing from the other day. Like I said, going to exclusive private schools in Beverly is a whole lot different than when you go to some random public school and you, (or your parents), are famous. The kids there are mean. This is what some of the Disney kids have been talking about. Demi Lovato and Miley Cyrus spoke about being mistreated at their regular schools in Texas and Tenn, respectively, a long time before all this bullying came to the forefront. And Dakota has been fortunate she doesn’t work for that machine and needs to put in 80 hr weeks. She gets to pick a project here and there and the school is known for famous kids and understand the issues that entails. That said, The Fannings have kept their kids pretty secluded and obviously that’s been a good thing.
I totally had a few tears pop into my eyes as I read this.
I think you need to give her some credit on her own. You can always find trouble no matter what your situation.
As a high school cheerleader (go Golden Eagles) and a runner up (sigh) on the Homecoming Queen, I say “YEAH” to living high school. It wasn’t all bad. (‘cept those narrow minded teachers in orthepedic shoes…they were a drag.)
She’s so cute and well grounded. I do wonder how awful it would be to have your child go to that same school. Dakota wins pretty much everything. Cheerleader, Home Coming Queen. Who elso would possible have a chance. Just saying………….
Yeah! Good for her.
Yeah, I think Dakota should get a little more credit for how she’s turned out in Hollywood. I’m not saying her parents aren’t influential, but the girl is just plain smart.
I think I’m the only one who is annoyed by her. She seems so…I don’t know? Boring?
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Good for her for being boring. Boring = normal.
I liked Man on Fire but after awhile listening to her squeaky voice scream Creasy over and over really grated on my nerves.
It would be sort of embarrassing if she didn’t win, right? Or maybe she would prefer that- it would authenticate her normality
I’m Australian and I just do not “get” cheerleaders. What a bizzarre idea…here at half time we throw frisbees to dogs and it seems to work for us! And crowning someone a queen? For what? Being pretty? Nice? Popular? Whats that about? Just odd, odd odd.
I think it just depends on the school you attend. I went to a really small school in the south. I’m not talented, but I am pretty and people were mean to me. I was Homecoming Queen but I still remember leaving school early in tears quite often.
I’m glad she seems so grounded and that she is having a great time in school. I bet a lot of the girls are jealous of her but she’s just so nice you can’t hate her.