By TYLER PATRICK
Strutting across the stage in knee high boots and a short skirt, pop star Miley Cyrus climbs onto an ice cream cart with a stripper pole attached. This famous starlet has sparked controversy over the course of the last year causing her to be classified as both endearing and disenchanting at the same time because, despite her talent, she doesn’t follow moral values.
In 2005, when the Disney Channel released Hannah Montana (starring Cyrus as Hannah Montana) they introduced Miley Cyrus to the public. It quickly became one of the most popular shows on TV, appealing to people of all ages. The show made it obvious that the media had found a star that was not only gorgeous but who also had real talent. Cyrus has a voice like a singing nightingale and is a highly talented actress.
On June 26, 2007, Cyrus released her debut album entitled Meet Miley Cyrus in an attempt to break away from her Hannah Montana image. The CD was a success when her song “See You Again” became a huge hit in the pop world. Later in 2008, she released her sophomore album Breakout and recently released her new EP titled The Time of our Lives, which featured the song “Party in the USA,” a secret obsession among many. As one of the top pop artists of today, her music is highly favored in the pop world.
Along with the huge success of Cyrus comes expected gossip because Cyrus has displayed very little moral values in her actions over the past two years.
In 2008, Cyrus posed for a Vanity Fair photo shoot wearing nothing but a sheet over her pale body. Parents and adult figures across the country were outraged at her decision to pose like this, causing Cyrus to wonder what she did wrong. Cyrus should have realized when taking these photos that she was not acting as a role model to young girls and that she could have easily refrained from taking them. Then there was more controversy when Cyrus’ personal photos were leaked by an unnamed source. The photos included shots of Cyrus posing sexually in underwear and a tank top as well as photos of her sucking on a piece of candy with a friend. The photos show an average teenager who enjoys portraying an edgier side at times. However, Cyrus should realize that taking pictures like this will only end badly because she is a role model to young girls everywhere and should refrain from doing such acts.
In 2008, Cyrus started a Web show with her best friend Mandy Jiroux on YouTube called “The Miley and Mandy Show” in which the girls discussed life on the road and made home-made music videos. When teen stars Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez tried to make a video for fun too, Cyrus and Jiroux backlashed by mocking them. In the video, Cyrus and Jiroux imitated each and everything that Lovato and Gomez said with an opposite approach. For example, Gomez showed off her new Power Rangers shirt and Cyrus showed off her “emo” style Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles shirt. The problem rose when Cyrus made fun of Lovato in the video for once having a gap in her teeth. The Cyrus video quickly spread across many Websites, causing many people to question whether she really was a nice girl or not. The Jonas Brothers even got involved when they wore shirts that said Team Demi and Selena. Cyrus later apologized for the video saying that it was all in good fun, but it really raises questions of her true moral values.
Lately, it seems as if Cyrus has tried to push herself onto an older audience. During the 2009 Teen Choice Awards, Cyrus performed her hit song “Party In the USA” in shorts that barely covered her derrière. However, the most shocking event of the performance was when Cyrus climbed onto an ice cream cart with a pole attached that resembled a stripper pole. Cyrus’ decision to do pole-like dancing at 16 years old is not a good example for young girls that look up to her; it sets the example that girls have to be sexy in order to be liked. This isn’t the truth.
Miley Cyrus nowadays is not using her judgment when she makes decisions, which is causing her to come across as rude and overtly sexual.
Cyrus is one of the most talented teenage stars of the decade, and she has to understand that her talent and beauty shouldn’t be misunderstood by her lack of proper judgment. People should be able to see the Cyrus that follows the proper values set by her Tennessee roots.