Before she was selling out Madison Square Garden and dominating the Billboard charts with hits like "Espresso," Sabrina Carpenter was a blonde thirteen-year-old in combat boots. She was the "bad girl" with a heart of gold. Honestly, if you grew up in the mid-2010s, you didn't just watch Sabrina Carpenter in Girl Meets World—you probably wanted to be her.
Maya Hart wasn't your typical Disney Channel sidekick. She was edgy. She was troubled. While Riley Matthews was busy being the bubbly sunshine of the show, Maya was the one dealing with real-world abandonment issues and a broken home. It was heavy stuff for a Friday night sitcom.
But looking back from 2026, the show feels like a fever dream compared to the "Short n' Sweet" era we're living in now. People always ask: did she hate her time on Disney? Was there drama with Rowan Blanchard? How did a girl from a Boy Meets World spin-off become the biggest pop star on the planet?
The Audition That Changed Everything
Here is a fun fact most people miss: Sabrina didn't actually audition for Maya Hart. Not at first, anyway.
She originally walked into the room to read for the lead role of Riley Matthews. Can you imagine? The "Nonsense" singer playing the quirky, awkward daughter of Cory and Topanga. It doesn't fit. The casting directors saw it too. They realized her energy was way too sharp and grounded for Riley. They asked her to read for the best friend, the rebel, and the rest is history.
She landed the role in early 2013. At the time, she was just a kid from Pennsylvania who had done a guest spot on Law & Order: SVU.
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The chemistry between Sabrina and Rowan Blanchard was instant. They weren't just acting like best friends; they basically became sisters overnight. They even recorded the theme song, "Take On the World," together. It’s a catchy anthem that, looking back, sounds nothing like the synth-pop Sabrina makes now. But it was the start.
Why Maya Hart Was the Real Protagonist
If you go back and rewatch Sabrina Carpenter in Girl Meets World today, you’ll notice something weird. Maya gets the best storylines.
While the show was technically about Riley "meeting the world," it was Maya who actually had to face it. Her father, Kermit, had abandoned her. Her mother, Katy, was a struggling waitress with big dreams that never quite panned out. Maya used art as an escape.
She was the "Girl-Shawn."
The writers clearly wanted to mirror the dynamic of the original 90s show. Riley was the stable, suburban Cory. Maya was the "wrong side of the tracks" Shawn Hunter. Fans loved it because it felt authentic. Sabrina brought a level of nuance to Maya that most Disney actors just couldn't pull off. She could go from cracking a sarcastic joke to crying about her dad in ten seconds flat.
The Love Triangle Controversy
We have to talk about the Lucas Friar of it all.
For three seasons, the show teased a love triangle between Riley, Maya, and Lucas. It divided the fandom. "Lucaya" shippers (Lucas and Maya) were convinced they were endgame because of their "enemies-to-lovers" vibe.
Ultimately, the show chose the safe route. Lucas ended up with Riley. Looking back, this was a massive turning point for Maya’s character. She went through an "identity crisis" arc where she realized she was only acting like Riley because she loved her so much. It was a meta-commentary on how teenage girls lose themselves in their friendships.
The Transition: From Disney Kid to Pop Icon
Most Disney stars struggle to break the "mouse ears" curse. They either go through a "rebellious" phase or fade into obscurity. Sabrina took a different path. She was playing the long game.
While filming Sabrina Carpenter Girl Meets World, she was already signing deals with Hollywood Records. She released her first EP, Can't Blame a Girl for Trying, in 2014. If you listen to it now, it’s very folk-pop. Very Taylor Swift-coded.
She was working 16-hour days. She’d be on set from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, then head straight to the recording studio.
By the time the show was canceled in 2017 after three seasons, Sabrina was ready to run. She didn't look back. She started releasing more mature albums like Evolution and Singular. She did Broadway. She did Netflix movies.
Then 2021 happened. The "Drivers License" drama between Olivia Rodrigo and Joshua Bassett put Sabrina in the center of a massive internet storm. Most people would have crumbled. Sabrina wrote "Skin." She leaned into the villain narrative with a wink and a smile.
What the Cast is Up to Now
It's 2026, and the Girl Meets World cast has gone in wildly different directions.
- Rowan Blanchard: She’s become a high-fashion icon and activist. She’s very selective about her roles now, focusing more on indie projects and art.
- Peyton Meyer: He’s mostly stepped away from the spotlight to focus on his family.
- Ben Savage: Cory Matthews himself actually ran for Congress. Yeah, that happened.
- Danielle Fishel: She’s still the "mom" of the group, hosting a popular Boy Meets World rewatch podcast called Pod Meets World.
Sabrina, obviously, is the breakout. She went from opening for Taylor Swift on the Eras Tour to becoming a headliner herself. But she still credits the show for her work ethic. You don't survive Disney without learning how to handle a schedule that would break most adults.
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The Legacy of the Show
Is Sabrina Carpenter Girl Meets World worth a rewatch?
Honestly, yeah. It’s cheesy. It’s a Disney Channel show from 2014, so expect some cringe. But if you want to see the origin story of a pop legend, it’s all there. You can see the comedic timing she uses in her music videos being developed in scenes with Farkle and Lucas.
She wasn't just a child actor. She was a performer in training.
If you're a "new" Sabrina fan who only knows her from TikTok or her 2025 album Man's Best Friend, do yourself a favor. Go back and watch the episode "Girl Meets Forgiveness." It's arguably her best acting work on the show. It explains why Maya Hart was such a foundational character for a generation of girls who didn't feel like "Rileys."
Actionable Next Steps:
- Watch the "Girl Meets World" pilot on Disney+: Focus on Maya's introduction. You can see the "it factor" immediately.
- Listen to "Can't Blame a Girl for Trying": Compare her 2014 vocals to her 2026 sound. The growth is insane.
- Follow the "Pod Meets World" podcast: They occasionally drop behind-the-scenes nuggets about the spin-off, even though they primarily focus on the 90s original.