# Shelby Simmons
**Shelby Simmons** (born 2002) is an American actress known for playing Ava King on the [Disney Channel](https://www.edgepedia.org/disney-channel) comedy series *Bunk'd* and Sydney in the Netflix series *[Prince of Peoria](https://www.edgepedia.org/prince-of-peoria)*, and for appearing as Hillari Kimble in the 2020 Disney+ film *Stargirl*.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 2002, Richmond, Virginia, USA[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8684137/) |
| Signature TV role | Ava King on *Bunk'd*, credited for 52 episodes (2019–2024)[2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4591680/fullcredits) |
| Film role | Hillari Kimble, Stargirl's antagonist, in *Stargirl* (Disney+, 2020)[3](https://d23.com/meet-the-cast-of-stargirl-on-disney-plus/) |
| Netflix role | Sydney in *Prince of Peoria*, Netflix's first series filmed in front of a live studio audience[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8684137/) |
| Voice work | Mia in *Night at the Museum: Kahmunrah Rises Again* (2022)[4](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/person/shelby-simmons) |
| Recent credits | Stage Manager in *A Big Bold Beautiful Journey* (2025) and Tiffany in *The Gates* (2026)[4](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/person/shelby-simmons) |
## Early life and start in acting
Simmons is a Virginia native who performed in school plays, her favorite role being [Princess Fiona](https://www.edgepedia.org/princess-fiona) in *Shrek*. After moving to Los Angeles she took guest and recurring parts on children's television, including a guest spot on *Game Shakers*, a recurring role on *[Andi Mack](https://www.edgepedia.org/andi-mack)*, and a guest appearance on *School of Rock*[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8684137/). Her first professional role was in an episode of *Game Shakers*[5](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/shelby-simmons.html).
## Television
**Prince of Peoria.** Her love of comedy led to one of the lead roles in the Netflix series *Prince of Peoria*, playing Sydney; the show was the network's first series filmed in front of a live studio audience[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8684137/). She also appeared in the 2018 special *Prince of Peoria: A Christmas Moose Miracle*[4](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/person/shelby-simmons).
**Bunk'd.** Simmons joined the Disney Channel series *Bunk'd* as a series regular playing Ava King, a tough-as-nails camp counselor from the big city who takes over the Woodchuck cabin. She described the character as growing from someone unsure what she was getting into into a big-sister figure who bonds with her campers[6](https://d23.com/meet-the-happy-campers-of-disney-channels-hit-comedy-bunkd/). She is credited for 52 episodes across 2019 to 2024[2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4591680/fullcredits), and she appeared as Ava in the 2020 crossover special "Raven About BUNK'D" with the cast of *Raven's Home*[7](https://www.detpress.com/storage/uploads/65/14/6514561A-E96F-B345-B2E0-AADD7604943C/press-release-9-1167239.pdf).
## Film
In *Stargirl*, the 2020 Disney+ film adapted from Jerry Spinelli's novel, Simmons played Hillari Kimble, the popular girl who serves as Stargirl's antagonist. In interviews she pushed back on reading the character as a simple mean girl, saying Hillari "doesn't come from a place of jealousy or hatred" and is instead baffled by Stargirl's way of being[3](https://d23.com/meet-the-cast-of-stargirl-on-disney-plus/). She said she focused on making Hillari a real person with a purpose rather than a generic mean girl[8](https://thatsitla.com/stargirl-on-set-interview/).
Her other film credits include Hannah in *Selfie Dad* (2020), Claire in *Snow Day* (2022), the voice of Mia in *Night at the Museum: Kahmunrah Rises Again* (2022), the Stage Manager in *[A Big Bold Beautiful Journey](https://www.edgepedia.org/a-big-bold-beautiful-journey)* (2025), and Tiffany in *[The Gates](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-gates-2026-film)* (2026), with *Slay Day* listed for 2027[4](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/person/shelby-simmons) • [9](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/shelby_simmons).
## References
1. [Shelby Simmons, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8684137/)
2. [Bunk'd (TV Series 2015–2024) Full cast & crew, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4591680/fullcredits)
3. [Meet the Cast of Stargirl on Disney+, D23](https://d23.com/meet-the-cast-of-stargirl-on-disney-plus/)
4. [Shelby Simmons Movies and TV Shows, Plex](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/person/shelby-simmons)
5. [Shelby Simmons, Famous Birthdays](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/shelby-simmons.html)
6. [Meet the Happy Campers of Disney Channel's Hit Comedy BUNK'D, D23](https://d23.com/meet-the-happy-campers-of-disney-channels-hit-comedy-bunkd/)
7. [Raven About Bunk'd Crossover 2020 press release, Disney](https://www.detpress.com/storage/uploads/65/14/6514561A-E96F-B345-B2E0-AADD7604943C/press-release-9-1167239.pdf)
8. [Stargirl On Set Interview, That's It LA](https://thatsitla.com/stargirl-on-set-interview/)
9. [Shelby Simmons Movies & TV Shows List, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/shelby_simmons)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Child and youth screen performers › Child performers born 2001 to 2010 › Performers born 2001 to 2005*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 11, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license