Often said to be the most beloved of all the 1950s Mouseketeers, Anne Funicello died today at the age of 70 from multiple sclerosis. Funicello attracted the attention of Walt Disney after he saw her perform in a school’s rendition of Swan Lake. He was looking for children to star in a new show, and he invited her to the auditions. After two callbacks, she earned a permanent position in The Mickey Mouse Club, where she performed in the opening and closing numbers. After her stint in the club that was “made for you and me,” Funicelllo starred in Disney’s The Shaggy Dog and Babes in Toyland. As she grew up, she would be paired with Frankie Avalon in a swarm of teen beach movies, but she never showed her navel – a promise she made to Disney. Bloomberg highlights Funicello’s career and life, citing she was considered the pinnacle girl next door and a favorite of Disney.