In 1983, Sands starred in the pilot of the hit 1980s musical children's show
Kids Incorporated. It was never released on television, but was released on VHS in 1985. She starred on the show's first four seasons from 1984 to 1987, where she eventually became the oldest female character. She started on the show at the age of 10 and ended at 13. As a child, she also finished second to Scott Grimes on a Boston talent show called, Community Auditions. Sands also opened for acts that include
Wayne Newton,
Bob Hope, and
Debbie Reynolds. She sang in the children's chorus with other
Kids Incorporated cast members on
Martika's hit
"Toy Soldiers". From 1990 to 2003, alongside her former
Kids Incorporated costar (TV sister),
Stacy Ferguson, and her high school friend,
Stefanie Ridel, Sands was a member of the 1990s band
Wild Orchid. She was a member through the band's entirety.
Wild Orchid was an American girl group consisting of
Stacy Ferguson,
Stefanie Ridel, and Renee Sandstrom. Beginning under the name "NRG" in 1990, the group changed their name to Wild Orchid in 1992 and signed with
RCA Records in 1994. The group released two albums, earning
Billboard Music Awards nominations with their debut. In 2001, Ferguson left the group. Sandstrom and Ridel continued as a duo, releasing Wild Orchid's final album Hypnotic in 2003. In 2013,
Us Weekly named the group number 18 of the 25 'Best Girl Groups of All Time'. Sands sang "Just Like We Dreamed It" with Ruben Martinez as the 15th anniversary theme for Disneyland Paris. She had a role in the
Disney Channel Original Movie Camp Rock, providing the singing voice for
Jasmine Richards' character Margaret "Peggy" Dupree, singing the song "Here I Am". She sang "Love from Afar" on the soundtrack for
Just Friends. In 2003, she and her Wild Orchid partner Stephanie Ridel starred in the movie, Pink Ladies. In 2012, she sang "I Think I Like You" with the band Eagle Eye. The song was featured in season two of
Dance Moms. In 2021, Renee sang the theme song for the new Disney Junior show
The Chicken Squad. ==Personal life==