Caroline Sunshine

Caroline Mohr Sunshine (born September 5, 1995) is an American political aide and former actress, who previously worked as a White House staffer during the presidency of Donald Trump in 2018. As an actress, she is best known for her co-starring role as flashy, rude European exchange student Tinka Hessenheffer on the Disney Channel series Shake It Up. Sunshine has also appeared in the feature film Marmaduke and the direct-to-video film The Outfield (2015). Since 2026, she has become a frequent panelist on CNN's NewsNight with Abby Phillip.

Early life Sunshine was born Caroline Mohr Sunshine on September 5, 1995, in Atlanta, Georgia, to parents Thom and Karen (née Mohr) Sunshine. She was raised in Orange County, California, and has two younger brothers, Johnny and Christopher. Sunshine began studying ballet at the age of 3 and landed her first lead role playing Goldilocks in a kindergarten play.

Career Acting

In 2004 Sunshine started in theater and her stage credits include Annie Warbucks at the Orange County Children's Theatre, The Nutcracker at the Academy of Dance and South Coast Performing Arts, and Stage Door at the Lutheran High School of Orange County. In 2006, Sunshine began going to professional auditions at the age of 11, and landed her first role in a commercial for Amazing Allysen the talking doll, as well as commercial work for Yoplait Go-Gurt, and Cap'n Crunch. In the summer of that same year, she gained popular notoriety for her role as Barbara Winslow in her first feature film, Marmaduke, based on the comic strip of the same name. The glitzy brother/sister duo of Gunther and Tinka is said to be inspired by Ryan and Sharpay Evans of Disney's High School Musical franchise. She was a recurring cast member during the first season, but was promoted to a regular character for the second and third seasons. The series ended in November 2013. Sunshine appeared on the Disney Channel Christmas album Holidays Unwrapped; her cover version of "All I Want for Christmas Is You" was featured as the tenth song on the album.

In June 2014, she filmed a Freeform pilot called Recovery Road based on Blake Nelson's novel of the same name, in which she co-starred alongside Samantha Logan. Neither Sunshine nor Logan would appear in the actual series, however. Logan was replaced by Jessica Sula and Sunshine's character was removed from the script. During 2015, Sunshine appeared the television film Go Four Broke as Tiffani Brand. Earlier that year, she appeared in the big screen production of The Outfield. Following her appearance in the television film Mommy I Didn't Do It in 2017 as Sylvie Garrett, Sunshine retired from acting to become a White House staffer the following year.

Activism In February 2011, Sunshine became the spokesmodel for the teen fragrance "Puppy Love 4 Girlz". "Puppy Love" Fragrances is committed to helping homeless dogs and puppies, with a portion of all proceeds of the perfume going to local animal shelters.

In addition to her work with "Puppy Love", Sunshine is involved in several other charitable causes including the "Joyful Sewing Organization," which makes blankets for cancer patients, "Working Wardrobes," which provides assistance to underprivileged women and victims of domestic abuse, the Orange County Child Abuse Prevention Center, which offers in-home parenting classes to families to break the generational cycle of abuse, the "Adopt A Hero" program, which provides for the needs of soldiers and their families; the "Loaves and Fishes Ministry" which helps to feed the homeless, and the "Thirst Project," which is dedicated to providing clean drinking water to communities in developing nations.

Politics Sunshine became involved in politics as a White House intern during the Trump Administration in January 2018, receiving a full-time job as a press assistant by mid-March 2018. Prior to this role, Sunshine had interned for the office of Kevin McCarthy, then the House Majority Leader; the College Republican National Committee; and the California Republican Party. In February 2023, Sunshine became the press secretary and communications director for Eric Doden, a gubernatorial candidate for Indiana governor. In December 2023, Sunshine was hired as the press secretary for Vivek Ramaswamy's 2024 presidential campaign. In June 2024, Sunshine was re-hired by Donald Trump, as the Deputy Communications Director of his 2024 presidential campaign.

Media commentary Following the 2024 campaign, Sunshine has appeared as a panelist on CNN's NewsNight with Abby Phillip, where she has discussed topics including the 2020 election and U.S.-Iran policy. She has also made appearances on Fox News programs, including Fox Across America with Jimmy Failla.

Personal life Sunshine is a graduate of Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, California, and Orange Lutheran High School in Orange, California.

Filmography + Film roles Year Title Role 2010 Marmaduke Barbara Winslow 2015 The Outfield Emily Jordan

+ Television roles Year Title Role Notes 2008 What's the Word? Herself Episode: "Johnny Kapahala: Back on Board" 2010–2013 Shake It Up Tinka Hessenheffer Recurring role (season 1); main role (seasons 2–3); 45 episodes 2012 A.N.T. Farm Ella Episode: "Some enchANTed evening" 2014 Fish Hooks Alexis Voice; episode "Algae Day/Bea Saves a Tree" 2017 Mommy I Didn't Do It Sylvie Garrett Television film

Stage Year Title Role 2006 Annie Warbucks Orphan 2005 The Nutcracker Doll 2006 Stage Door Annie

Discography

Promotional singles Year Song Album 2012 "Roam" (with Davis Cleveland, Kenton Duty and Adam Irigoyen) Treasure Buddies

Other appearances Year Title Album 2012 "The Star I R" Shake It Up: Live 2 Dance "All I Want For Christmas Is You" Disney Channel Holiday Playlist 2013 "Afterparty" (with Roshon Fegan) Shake It Up: I <3 Dance

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work Result Ref.2011 Young Artist AwardsOutstanding Young Ensemble in a TV Series(shared with Bella Thorne, Zendaya, Davis Cleveland, Roshon Fegan, Adam Irigoyen and Kenton Duty)Shake It Up 2012