Adrienne Bailon-Houghton spills on potential Cheetah Girls reboot... and her relationship with costars now

Adrienne Bailon-Houghton hasn’t played Chanel 'Chuchi' Simmons from The Cheetah Girls in over 20 years, but if she had to speculate as to where her Disney character would be today, it would involve a lot of glitz and glam.

'I feel like Chanel Chuchi is living her best life,' Bailon-Houghton, 42, told Daily Mail exclusively, while discussing her partnership with Finish to celebrate the launch of New Finish Ultimate Quantum, alongside her mom, Nilda Felix. 

'I know that they have said that the Cheetahs... I believe in the book series, it says we did end up becoming a major big thing. So I'm sure she's living a fabulous life.'

The film trilogy, based off the books by author Deborah Gregory, helped launch Bailon-Houghton to fame alongside co-stars Raven-Symoné, Sabrina Bryan, Kiely Williams and Lynn Whitfield. 

Bailon-Houghton starred in all three films, which followed a successful girl group finding their footing in the music industry around the world; the first film debuted in 2003, the second installment, The Cheetah Girls 2, came out in 2006 followed by The Cheetah Girls: One World in 2008.

Success translated off-screen for the popstars, too. They each found success with albums and tours based on the movies.

With former network co-stars like Hilary Duff selling out arenas on tour this year and Miley Cyrus bringing Hannah Montana back for the 20th anniversary in March, Bailon-Houghton revealed that she’s seen it all and has thought about reprising her role on film or tour, too.

'I love the fact that I've always said never say never,' the former talk show host said. 

'My only concern is that it be done right, you know? Like, if we're gonna do it, it has to be done really well. And yeah, we shall see.'

After seeing Hulu not order the highly anticipated Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale pilot to air, Bailon-Houghton said it was a wake-up call that despite fans craving nostalgia, anything being brought back to life has to be done carefully.

'I think there's something to be said about seeing ... people being disappointed [with some reboots if] it doesn't match what it was,' Bailon-Houghton explained. 

'And I think there is a fear of like, I don't want to ruin the franchise. Sometimes, things are better [leaving people] wanting more versus [people] going, they did it again and it was not great.'

'I've always said that I think that would be the reason not to do it is, sometimes you don't want to touch gold,' continued Bailon-Houghton while reflecting on the possibility of a Cheetah Girls reboot. 

'If it was the way it was and your audience is so happy with it... even now, I love the fact that there's a whole new generation of cheetahs that are watching it on Disney+, and they have no idea that it's not a movie that's current.

'They're watching it and their moms are showing it to them, and I think that that's amazing. 

'So I think there is something to be said about how you reboot something. [It's important to] not try to recreate it as much as maybe pass the baton to a new generation.'

While it remains to be seen if Bailon-Houghton will break out her microphone again for a Cheetah Girls reboot, she hasn't closed the door on reuniting with all of the ladies again, especially one in particular.

'Raven and I are super close, and I absolutely adore her,' Bailon-Houghton said.

'I got to be a part of her reboot [in 2022] of That's So Raven, which is called Raven's Home, and I got to reprise my character of Alana Rivera, who was the bully on That's So Raven.

'I came back now as the principal of the school, and that was so much fun. So anything I can do to work with Raven, I'm there.'

Having just moved from Los Angeles to New York City to be closer to family, Bailon-Houghton said she is happy to be in the kitchen cooking and doing dishes with Finish alongside her son, Ever James, three, and mother while she figures out her next move.

'I feel like this is such an organic partnership,' Bailon-Houghton said of the breakthrough dishwashing detergent that also has the Finish Cookbook Club, a series of classes that will pair hands-on recipe demos with practical cleaning insights.

'Mainly because I love nothing more than cooking with my mom. We do everything together as a family. 

'She lives 15 minutes from my house. It's the reason why I moved back to New York from LA. Now having a son, I really love the fact that I have this great village.'

Bailon-Houghton explained that it's been especially special to teach recipes passed down from her grandmother to her son, who 'helps them in the kitchen.'

'I love the fact that while my mom has taught me all these things, including clean up afterwards, I now get to introduce her to some new tricks in the kitchen like the new Finish Ultimate Quantum,' added the star.

'It's unbeatable,' she gushed. 'It works. I think for such a long time, the [older] generation was like, "We clean everything by hand."

'I'm like, "Girl, that is so old school." Pop one of these in the dishwasher. You get to do two things at once. 

'You get to still hang out with your family. You can get on the floor and still play with your grandson. And guess what? In just a little bit, it's all gonna be clean.'

'It does work,' Felix agreed. 'I think that's what sold me was the fact that I get to spend more time [with my family]. 

'I'm not in the kitchen cleaning and scrubbing the pots after or during cooking. I am now able to spend time with my family, get on the floor, play with the kids, and then when they're gone, the dishes are done. It's amazing.'