A nude photo of “High School Musical” actress Vanessa Hudgens surfaced on the internet earlier this week, making lots of eyebrows raise at the unexpected image.

Vanessa Hudgens, the 18-year-old actress/singer that stars alongside Zac Efron in the teen musical “High School Musical” and its sequel “High School Musical 2,” released in early August this year, has found herself in the very middle of her personal scandal.

According to celebrity gossip web site TMZ, the National Enquirer was first to report the existence of the sexy photo, after which it showed up on various other blogs, including Perez Hilton’s.

A representative for Vanessa told TMZ: “This was a photo which was taken privately. It is a personal matter and it is unfortunate that this has become public.”

Indeed.

Vanessa is currently dating co-star Zac Efron, 19.

She discovered her singing and acting talent at an early age and pursued her interests. Vanessa made her debut in 2003, when she appeared in the controversial film “Thirteen,” starring Evan Rachel Wood and Holly Hunter.

A year later, she appeared in “Thunderbirds,” starring Brady Corbet. Vanessa played the main character’s love interest. Other actors appearing in the film were Ben Kingsley, Bill Paxton and Anthony Edwards.

Vanessa had her big breakthrough in 2006, in the Disney Channel film “High School Musical.” That same year, she released her first album, titled “V.”

She and Zac Efron are reportedly in negotiations to star in the third installment of the “High School Musical” series. It remains to be seen whether the private nude photo that made its way into the world wide public will affect Vanessa’s career.