On January 12, 2023, Miley Cyrus released the first single from her eighth studio album, “Flowers.” If you have walked into a retail shop, turned on the radio, or merely existed this past year, it’s safe to assume the upbeat song regarding self love and reliance is, at the very least, vaguely familiar. While “Flowers” was an excellent pop song that drew on decade old musical influences with a futuristic perspective, Cyrus’s strongest work was not released until August 25: “I Used To Be Young.” In this ballad, she strips back her layered persona with reflective, yet compassionate lyrics. Unlike those who scrutinized Cyrus’s mere existence in the public space from the safety of their computers, she was never granted the luxury of being “young and dumb” outside of the microscopic media lenses.
This intense media attention first arrived on March 24, 2006 when Cyrus, only fourteen years old, stepped onto the public stage with a blond wig and her distinct voice. On that day, the pilot episode of “Hannah Montana” aired, projecting Cyrus into fame and presenting Disney undeniable profit margins. By the fourth and final season of the show in 2011, “Hannah Montana” had garnered 20 Hot 100 hits according to Billboard. I knew all the lyrics to “Nobody’s Perfect” or “The Best of Both Worlds” by heart — this skill, as I suppose you could call it, was not the exception but the norm. The issue at hand: who achieved this feat? Hannah Montana or Miley Cyrus? Cyrus had, for over four years of her life, been paid to play a character whose presence was known far beyond the constraints of a TV screen. Teenagers, regardless of the ever-changing world, have always grappled with their identity and how they want to carry themselves in an environment they’re still exploring. Celebrities such as Cyrus are not immune to this universal journey. In fact, I imagine Cyrus’s balancing act behind the bubbly blonde ideal of Hannah Montana and the human, Miley, only further amplified this confusion.
Society has implemented a “child star to rebelling disaster” pipeline, though these harsh accusations are embedded with a severe lack of self awareness. What, or in reality, who, is pushing these public figures to pursue supposedly inappropriate or vulgar paths? Some will argue that rebellion is an overcorrection to offset the strict box these child celebrities had been confined to. In Cyrus’s case, this could refer to ditching the luscious, blond wig in favor of a bleached, spiky hairdo. While a somewhat jarring transformation, Cyrus sought out activities of a teenager, not of an inherently “bad influence.” For certain former childhood stars such as Drew Barrymore and Amanda Bynes, teenage rebellion was taken much farther through drug and alcohol abuse. While I wouldn’t consider such actions as excusable, I do believe misbehavior of this form is in direct correlation to extreme overexposure. When we act out, regardless of how that comes to fruition, it is often an attempt at grabbing someone’s attention: parents, teachers, friends, etc. Childhood stars, I presume, do this as well with one primary difference — they crave the validation of millions rather than a select group of people. Due to this, acts of rebellion are amplified, as well as the repercussions that come from such behavior. Despite serious cases of drug and alcohol abuse, many still found miniscule aspects of Cyrus’s teenage life to criticize and tear apart. Is experimenting with hair, fashion, and sexuality prohibited for young people across the world? Or just for Cyrus and popular figures like her who must maintain a perfect image — one that is then criticized for its artificial nature?
Artists such as Justin Timberlake were granted the ability to explore similar and often more explicit themes regarding sexuality without the scrutiny of parents across the country. Granted, the pressures of childhood stardom apply to all genders, with many actors such as Macaulay Culkin or even Zac Efron falling victim to substance abuse. Women, however, unlike men, are rarely given the same grace or “bounce back” opportunity to rewrite a narrative that doesn’t place their downfall at the forefront. Female celebrities including Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan, and Miley Cyrus could not escape tabloid covers with soundbites like “good girl gone bad” or “off the rails.” This, in part, stems from purity culture and the obsession with female youth. Because the public grasped onto the seemingly perfect, youthful, and happy character of Hannah Montana, they rejected the maturing and sometimes messy Miley. For women, beauty is revered in youth, while exploration of oneself is suppressed. Originality is desired, though confinement is expected.
Miley Cyrus was never a “whore,” a “bad example,” or an “embarrassment”— she was a young girl who is maturing into a wonderful woman. While profound songs such as “I Used To Be Young,” should be a cautionary tale of how harmful scrutiny of young women can be on the affected, Cyrus is unfortunately not the first to speak up. This mistreatment of female celebrities is cyclical and has yet to see an end considering the rise of social media and online presence. Still, I urge you to not feed into mass criticism without serious evaluation, give grace before cancellation, and consider how you would approach a situation if the genders were reversed. Miley, I’m so sorry.
