Wednesday, 7 July 2010

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Is Miley Cyrus out to shock?

Is the teen's controversial behaviour a step too far?

Miley Cyrus has vamped up her act lately

She's made millions out of her clean-cut image, but it seems teen idol Miley Cyrus is now hell-bent on smashing what's left of her wholesome Hannah Montana persona.

Miley, 17, stepped up the raunch factor 
at the MuchMusic Video Awards in Toronto last month 
by wearing six barely there risqué outfits.

One of them 
- a white lace basque - caused an embarrassing wardrobe malfunction that left little to the imagination during her performance of Can't Be Tamed.

The flashing follows hot on the heels of her Britain's Got Talent appearance, during which she pretended to kiss one of her female dancers.

So just what is Miley trying to prove?

Was she trying to out-raunch notorious flesh-flasher Katy Perry, also at the awards in a bum-skimming outfit?

‘What Miley's doing 
is called instantaneous adolescence,' explains psychologist Judi James.

‘What a normal teenager would do over a period of several years, child stars do virtually overnight. Her behaviour seems extreme because she doesn't have the luxury of time to make the transition 
to adult star gradually.'

‘Child 
stars have 
to maintain 
an image of innocence,' explains Judi, ‘even though they're often 
in a relationship - remember the fuss over whether Britney Spears had lost her virginity?'

While most teenagers are forced to go away with their parents, Miley has recently been on holiday with her boyfriend, actor Liam Hemsworth, 20, with whom she starred in The Last Song.

‘Often child stars are forced 
to act younger than they are to create a certain image,' says Judi.

‘Then suddenly they've got to market themselves in an adult world and because it's such an extreme change, it seems really shocking.

'It's like a kid dressing up in their mum's clothes - they're trying to play the role 
of adult before they're ready.

‘Miley's rebelling against everything, including her parents, her managers - even her fans. A lot of what she's doing is her saying: "Don't take me at face value."'

It's a path well trodden by former child stars such as Britney and Christina Aguilera. But it could lead to her downfall, warns Judi.

‘While non-famous teenagers might rebel by trying their first cigarette, child stars often mix with older groups. The real danger lies in them trying to keep up with older influences and people they consider their peers.'

See all the latest news about Miley Cyrus in Now magazine - out every Tuesday?