Since making her Descendants debut in 2024, Malia Baker has quickly made Chloe Charming, Cinderella’s perfectionist daughter, her own. In 2024’s Descendants: The Rise of Red, Baker joined Kylie Cantrall’s Red for a time-traveling adventure that introduced a new generation to the beloved Disney franchise. Now, Baker is stepping back into Chloe’s shoes for the franchise’s fifth film, taking the character into uncharted territory. This time, Chloe and Red face the unexpected villain Maddox Hatter as they venture into the magical world of Wonderland.

Descendants: Wicked Wonderland premiered on Disney Channel on July 16 and quickly made its mark becoming the #1 movie on Disney+ globally following its release. The film’s soundtrack also made an impressive debut earning more than 2.18 million Spotify streams in its opening week. Clearly, the Descendants phenomenon continues to resonate with audiences around the world.

For our August 2026 digital cover, we caught up with Malia Baker to discuss growing alongside her character, welcoming a new generation of cast members into the franchise, and the preperation behind the film’s songs and choreography. She also opens up about the timeless themes that have kept Descendants resonating with fans across generations and what makes stepping into this ever-expanding world so special.

Exclusive Photos for Popternative Magazine by Alyssa Lancaster
Makeup: Joseph S
Hair: Jasmine Merinsky
Styling: Amy Mackenzie
Creative Director: Alyssa Lancaster
Clothing: The Citizen Room

Returning as Chloe for Descendants: Wicked Wonderland, did your experience making the first film change the way you approached or understood her character this time around?

Malia Baker: I think so for sure. I also think it being so heavily linked to the different chapters and stages of your own life [resonated]. I was 15 when I first got introduced to Chloe, and I think I grew up with her throughout the years. And as I’ve been able to learn more in the real world, she’s learned more through her life in Auradon and in Wonderland. To be able to portray this next chapter of her life and with these amazing characters, I think it was so effortless because it felt like we were doing it in real life as well.

What was it like welcoming new cast members into the Descendants world?

Malia: It was so special. I love this new cast. I think that they’re such stars and I’m so excited to see what’s [next for them]. I always said this on set, “I can’t believe I get to work with you guys now,” [because] I know that an audience one day is going to be like, “do you guys remember when Alex [Alexandro Byrd] and Kiara [Romero] and all these stars were in something together when they were younger?” It was a big honor to be able to not only welcome them, but learn from them and grow with them.

What’s one new aspect about Descendants: Wicked Wonderland that you think will surprise fans the most?

Malia: Easy. Evil Chloe. I think that’s going to really surprise people, and I’m really excited to just be able to say Evil Chloe because I have done the whole walking around thing saying “people are going to expect the unexpected” because I [couldn’t yet] say what will happen. When I read the script for the first time, she took me aback.

The songs and choreography in Wicked Wonderland look so seamless on screen, but there’s obviously a lot of work that goes into making it look that way. What did the preparation process look like for you?

Malia: Wicked Wonderland took around five weeks of prep and boot camp. We had a whole training regimen for those five weeks where it really is a bond like no other with your cast, dancers, and choreographers. And I honestly think that that’s where the magic happens. You get to explore this physicality and know exactly what’s going to happen on the day, so that when it’s time to show up, you’re [ready]. So five weeks of prep and insanity, love, blood, sweat, and tears—they all go into it.

The Descendants franchise has managed to connect with multiple generations of fans. What do you think is the secret ingredient that’s kept the franchise so popular over the years?

Malia: I think the secret ingredient is timeless themes. I think people really resonate with characters that go through situations regardless of age. I think there’s something really special about being able to reflect on these classic characters and tell their own versions of the stories along the way. I looked up to Cinderella growing up. You look up to all these princesses and these heroes and villains, so to see their entire life story and gain even understanding of the villains, I think it blends this really cool concept of this gray space between what is good and what is bad. It does it in a very philosophical way and it lets you lead your own path.

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Descendants: Wicked Wonderland is streaming on Disney+.

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