Associated Press

Vanessa Hudgens: On The Record About Her Nude Photo Scandal

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (January 3, 2008) – “High School Musical” star Vanessa Hudgens has finally gone on the record about her nude photo scandal from last fall.

In a new interview with Seventeen magazine, Hudgens opened up about what it was like to find out that private photos of her nude frame made the rounds on the internet.

“I’m much better now. But truthfully I don’t like talking about it,” Hudgens told the magazine. ” It was very traumatic, and I am extremely upset it happened. I hope all my fans can learn from my mistake and make smart decisions. But I wouldn’t have been able to get through it if it wasn’t for my family, friends and fans, who supported me all along the way.”

Hudgens found out that the photos, which she said were originally taken for someone she was once dating, hit the internet while she was in Australia.

Though being down under helped her avoid some of the anxiety she believes she would have felt if she’d been stateside, it still was a tough moment. Even harder though, was telling her mother about it.

“I was just open with her, and she was just so cute. She was like, ‘Well everyone can be naked if they want to.’” Vanessa recounted. “My parents are very supportive of me. And they know I’m a teenager, and yes, kids do stupid things sometimes.”

The 19-year-old actress said she learned a valuable lesson from the photo scandal, one she tries to impart on other young women.

“I tell girls all the time: ‘Don’t post your private business for the world to see!’” she said. “You just have to be careful.”

As for the other reason she became tabloid fodder – her relationship with “HSM” cutie Zac Efron, Hudgens said that as a boyfriend, Efron is just what the doctor ordered.

“He always makes me happy. He literally knows exactly what to do to make me laugh,” she said.

Hudgens did admit however, it can be hard dating the blue-eyed boy, especially since he is so very popular with the ladies.

Seventeen Vanessa on the cover of Seventeen

“It’s hard when you have a good-looking boyfriend,” she said. “You want your man to be your man. You don’t want all these girls up on him and stuff like that.”

Though they may be dating, they aren’t thinking about the future.

“It’s fun having a boyfriend. He’s a friend and a cute friend who you like. It’s nice. But only time will tell,” she said. “I’m still young, and I have my girlfriends and I have my family.”