Nini Salazar-Roberts

**Nina "Nini" Salazar-Roberts** is a former main character from the Disney+ series High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. She is portrayed by Olivia Rodrigo.

Nini is a student at East High. Nini was briefly a student at Youth Actors Conservatory, but decided to come home after she realized that she did not like it there and she missed her boyfriend and friends. She played the role of Gabriella Montez in the fall musical High School Musical. Her best friend is Kourtney and she formerly dated her friend since kindergarten, Ricky. Nini lives with her two moms Dana and Carol and meets up with her father Marvin in California during the summer holidays.

## Personality

Nini is one of the stars in East High's production of *High School Musical*. Formerly relegated to the chorus of her school’s musicals, Nini recently returned from summer camp, where she found her voice – and confidence — playing the lead in *The Music Man*. Nini also found a new boyfriend at camp, much to the dismay of Ricky Bowen, her current ex-boyfriend.

Fiercely loyal to her two moms, she’s stronger than she first appears: an iron butterfly. Never misses *American Idol* and *The Voice* (only after doing her homework, natch) and takes hour-long showers to sing Ariana Grande’s entire album. personality wise, Nini is shown to be kind, caring and protective of her friends. She is also shown to be smart, passionate for theater and music and, like most teenagers, is still trying to find her path in this world.

## Biography

* Before the Show
* Season 1
* Season 2
* Season 3

### Before the Show

Nini has been friends with Ricky and started dating a year ago. At the beginning of summer Nini writes the song  I Think I Kinda, You Know for him and posts a video of her singing the song on Instagram. At the end of the video she tells Ricky that she loves him. Ricky is shocked by her sudden confession and wants a break. (The Auditions)

That summer Nini goes to summer camp where she meets E.J. whom becomes her boyfriend. He helps her to become more confident of herself and helps her to get the role of *Marian the Libarian* in the musical *The Music Man* at camp.

### Season 1

On the first day of junior year, Nini tells Kourtney Greene all about her "showmance" filled summer with E.J. Caswell and her time at theater camp. She decides to tell her ex-boyfriend, Ricky Bowen about him until the right time which was instantly neglected as soon as Ricky decided to say "hey" as soon as he saw her in the halls. It turns out, Ricky just wanted a "pause," but mistranslated into a break up. This all started six weeks before the first day of junior year, when Ricky and Nini were at the latter's house on their one year anniversary. Nini gives him a gift of a song titled "I Think I Kinda, You Know" in a video format of her singing and playing ukulele publicly on Instagram. After the video stops playing, she says, "I do, Ricky. I love you." Ricky followed the statement with an "Oh," leaving Nini heartbroken. Back to reality, Nini sees this in a positive light. She takes it as a fresh start, and everyone is on the same page.

Being the theater nerd Nini is, she was obviously excited when Miss Jenn announced that this years show was going to be *High School Musical*. She wants to audition for Gabriella Montez.

At lunch, Kourtney is telling her and E.J. what she's done over summer break, but immediately talk about auditions for the musical right after she finishes. E.J. suggests that they go in costume to the auditions. Nini quickly turns that idea down, not wanting to jinx anything about her getting the role she is hoping for. E.J. then comforts her by saying that they are a package, meaning that if one of them doesn't get a role or is cut from the show, the other is not going to participate as well. E.J. also shares some more comforting remarks by saying that they have a better chance than last year since all the talented seniors are out of their way. After their conversation, they share a kiss.

After E.J. gets whisked away by some fellow jocks, Nini asks for Kourtney's opinion on him. Kourtney explains how she doesn't want another boy to hurt her after Ricky crushed her. Kourtney claims that Nini didn't come out of her bedroom for forty-eight hours after the break up. Nini then tells her that it's different now, and that she is her own person. E.J. then pulls her into a conversation with another athlete.

After school, she has a talk with her grandmother, Malou, about her first day back as well as a dream of being alone on this big, Broadway stage where she opens her mouth, and nothing comes out. She's been having since she was little. Malou explains that this dream means that there is something about being heard feels off-limits to Nini. Nini's mothers, Carol and Dana arrive with twelve glazed donuts after after their car broke down in front of the donut shop.

The next day, Nini, E.J. and Kourtney are at auditions. E.J. boasts about not having any competition which Nini hesitantly agrees.

## Physical Appearance

Nini has brown eyes, as well as brown hair to match. She is of average height. She usually wears sweaters, jeans and quirky clothing.

## Songs

* Start of Something New (Nini Version)
* I Think I Kinda, You Know (Duet)
* What I've Been Looking For
* All I Want
* Born to Be Brave
* Truth, Justice and Songs in Our Key
* Out of the Old
* Just for a Moment
* High School Musical 2 Medley
* YAC Alma Mater (Nini Version)
* The Best Part
* Even When/The Best Part
* Granted
* The Rose Song
* You Ain't Seen Nothin'
* Be Our Guest
* Second Chance

## Relationships

### Ricky Bowen

*Main article: Nini-Ricky Relationship*
Nini and Ricky have been friends since their childhood, but only started dating in high school. They broke up at the start of the show in season 1 due to Ricky not being able to say 'I Love You' to Nini. After trying to deny their feelings for each other, they reconcile. For season 2 they are boyfriend and girlfriend again, but have consistent relationship issues between them and ultimately decide to break up.

### E.J. Caswell

*Main article: Nini-E.J. Relationship*
After a summer romance at camp, they started dating with their relationship lasting for most of season 1 (fall semester). Once Nini found out that E.J stole her phone in an attempt to sabotage Ricky's role in the musical, Nini broke up with him.

### Gina Porter

*Main article: Gina-Nini Relationship*
At first they didn't like each other, but they became friends in the last episode of season 1.

### Kourtney Greene

*Main article: Kourtney-Nini Relationship*
Kourtney starts off as Nini's Designated Sassy Black Friend but as the show goes on Kourtney starts to get a life outside of Nini. Though most of their friendship is still Kourtney supporting Nini like when she invited the Dean of the Youth Actors Conservatory to their production of HSM and Nini never thanked her. In Season 2 Nini starts to become a more supportive friend supporting Kourtney through her boy troubles.

## Appearances

### Season 1

* "The Auditions"
* "The Read-Through"
* "The Wonderstudies"
* "Blocking"
* "Homecoming"
* "What Team?"
* "Thanksgiving"
* "The Tech Rehearsal"
* "Opening Night"
* "Act Two"

### Season 2

* "New Year's Eve"
* "Typecasting"
* "Valentine's Day"
* "The Storm"
* "The Quinceañero"
* "Yes, And..."
* "The Field Trip"
* "Most Likely To"
* "Spring Break"
* "The Transformation"
* "Showtime"
* "Second Chances"

### Season 3

* "Happy Campers"
* "Into the Unknown"

## Trivia

* When Nini and Ricky were in kindergarten, Ricky couldn't pronounce his A's, so he called her Nini instead of Nina. She also gave Ricky his nickname because she believes that no one below the age of 40 should be called Richard.
* Nini's Instagram account is @niniukegirl and @thenew\_nina1.
* When Nini gets nervous, she talks in a British accent.
* Nini is the first main Disney character to have parents of the same sex.
* Olivia Rodrigo, who plays Nini, happens to be half-Filipino both in the show and in real life.
* Due to Olivia Rodrigo doing her *Sour Tour*, Nini has been downgraded from a main character to a recurring character.