Vanessa Hudgens, star of Journey 2: Mysterious Island (which opens this weekend people!) recently spoke with Access Hollywood about maintaining a positive body image while in the Hollywood spotlight.

My body is my body…I love myself and I think you’ve got to be proud of the body you have and own it…

Sounds like pretty good advice, especially coming from a gal whose taken some heat in the press for putting on a few pounds since her HSM days.  We think Vanessa looks absolutely gorgeous and has truly come into her own as a beautiful, confident woman!

Having a nice piece of arm candy by your side at all times (ahem, Austin Butler) can’t hurt a girl’s confidence either!

[Image: Ivan Nikolov/WENN]

High School Musical sweetheart Ashley Tisdale was spotted leaving the Shamrock Tattoo Parlor in L.A. over the weekend, where the 26-year-old was seen checking out ideas for a brand, spanking new tat.

So wait, I’m confused.  If Ashley’s here, where’s Vanessa Hudgens?

The Tis’ desire for some fresh ink was most likely inspired by new rocker beau, Boys Like Girls frontman, Martin Johnson - but while the Disney good-girl seemed earnest in her search for the perfect new tattoo, she must’ve gotten cold feet, because she left Shamrock with nary an inkblot.

Besides the ones she came in with, that is.

Besties Vanessa Hudgens and Ashley Tisdale got their work out on together in L.A. Thursday, trying a high impact dance class on for size.

The BFFs were spotted leaving the gym looking fit and flushed with flowers in-hand.  Flowers after a work out?  Talk about some sweet incentive!

According to sources, the girls shook their money-makers to Beyonce’s hit ‘Run the World (Girls)’ during their class with choreographer Jeri Slaughter and looked dang good doing it!

Check out the exclusive footage of Ashley and Vanessa gettin’ their groves on below!

Fresh off her Hawaiian holiday with hottie BF Austin Butler, HSM sweetheart Vanessa Hudgens stopped by The Tonight Show with Jay Leno last night to talk about her latest project Journey II: The Mysterious Island and more importantly, her latest tattoo.

Or lack thereof.

BURN!

When Jay Leno asked Hudgens about her new “All You Need is Love” ankle tattoo that debuted in a tabloid photo of her frolicking along the beach with her beau, the 23-year-old stunner had to ‘fess up,

It’s fake. I have this mad obsession with drawing on myself, like, I cannot help it… I draw all over my hands, all over my arms, obviously my foot. It’s just fun. It’s hard to commit to a tattoo, like, I have a few, so, when you write on yourself it’s not that much of a commitment.

Yeah, who needs commitment?  Right Austin?

Check out the video of Vanessa’s appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno below…

Zac Efron who??

From the looks of her major PDA on the beaches of Hawaii this week with boyfriend Austin Butler, Vanessa Hudgens has all but forgotten about her HSM boyfriend of old.

The two lovebirds frolicked in the sand and surf during their recent jaunt to the Aloha state – Is Hawaii called the Aloha state?  If it’s not – it should be.  Write your congressmen!

Vanessa looked svelte and sun-kissed in a slinky red bikini, as she horsed around with her new beau.  The pair is most likely trying to make up for some lost time; Vanessa’s been in Australia promoting her later film Journey 2: The Mysterious Island for the last few weeks.

Must be nice.

And no, it has nothing to do with how terrible their latest project Journey 2: The Mysterious Island looks…

During a recent interview with an Austrailian interviewer, Josh Hutcherson and Vanessa Hudgens were asked how long they’d been going out together.

Ummmm…  I guess they’re giving anyone with a fedora and a notepad a press badge these days?

Although the pair briefly dated while filming Journey 2, they split back in July and Vanessa’s now dating fellow actor Austin Butler.  While the question certainly provided a few, long, dragged out awkward moments, Josh quickly took the reigns and defuse the situation.

We’re not… We were at one point, but she broke my heart. No, I’m just kidding. That was a while ago. We’re really good friends now.

Phew – thank goodness that’s over!

Check out the video of Josh and Vanessa’s awkward interview below…

BFFs Ashley Tisdale and Vanessa Hudgens stepped out in Studio City earlier to day to grab a bite and showcase some pretty interesting getups – especially for first thing in the morning.

Tisdale, who usually is right on point style-wise, sported a Pink Floyd tee, paired with leggings and thigh-high, lace-up camel-colored boots that didn’t quite jive with the rest of her ensemble.  And Hudgens, ooooh don’t get me started – Hudgens showed up in a ball cap, red pants and navajo-themed blanket-jackety thing that looked like a reject from my grandmother’s last yard sale.

Girls, girls, girls – you’re better than this!

Check out more pics from Ashley and Vanessa’s breakfast date below…

[Image: WENN]

High School Musical sweetheart Vanessa Hudgens turned the big 2-3 yesterday and celebrated her special day with new beau, actor Austin Butler by her side.

The actress, who will star in the 2012 releases Journey 2: The Mysterious Island and Gimme Shelter, has come a long way from her HSM roots – and has looks positively fabulous the whole way.  As an extra special 23rd birthday gift, Hudgens is about to begin filming Spring Breakers with hottie James Franco and BFFs Selena Gomez and Emma Roberts.

For my 23rd birthday I got a gift certificate to Forever 21… I think I got jipped.

Happy birthday Vanessa!

[Image: WENN]

High School Musical star Vanessa Hudgens has been dodging rumors about hooking up with ex-bf Zac Efron for months – although we’re not really sure why, have you seen ZEfron lately!?!?  The 22-year-old stepped out over the holiday weekend with boyfriend Austin Butler and the two looked nothing short of smitten.

The pair was seen hugging and kissing and all that mushy stuff, while taking an afternoon stroll around Venice Beach, where they grabbed lunch at 26 Beach Restaurant.  Spending time together over Thanksgiving weekend?  Sounds like the makings of a serious relationship to me!

Hudgens and Butler have been romantically linked since they were caught canoodling at a birthday party for Ashley Tisdale’s sister back in October.  Looks like this is one rebound romance that might actually stick!

High School Musical star Vanessa Hudgens may have had her heart broken by costar Zac Efron last year, but that doesn’t mean the 22-year-old is giving up on love!

According to reports, Hudgens stepped out with her new man, actor Austin Butler at a birthday party for Ashley Tisdale’s older sister, Jennifer, late last month and  although the two weren’t engaging in any major PDA, onlookers say the pair appeared to be enjoying each others company.

A source who attended the shindig shared that Butler and Hudgens,

…Were together but in a large group… They were not doing anything to show that they were really together romantically but they were definitely hanging out and having fun.

Butler, who is best known for playing Jamie Lynn Spears’ love interest on Zoey 101 and his current role on ABC Family’s Switched at Birth, is two years Hudgens’ junior – so it looks like someone nabbed himself an HSM Cougar!

Rarrrr!