Anyone else disappointed in MC?

Crystalina wrote: I'm extremely disappointed in Miley Cyrus, or should I say her father. Whenever that pic is on t.v. I try to distract Bella so she doesn't see it. Really, it doesn't show anything but the child is only 15! Very poor judgement on the adults part. I don't get why they (anyone) thought that picture was necessary.

As an adult I'm thinking it's no biggie but as a parent who knows her daughter just loves this girl it is very disappointing. I already make sure she doesn't see Zoey's preggo baby bum on t.v. and now I have to worry about another person she looks up to posing like that. I hope it does't go any further. She already wears dresses that IMO are not age appropriate (at times).

Boys r us replied: Well, I'm not in that whole realm considering the only kid I have old enough to really like hannah Montanna is Tanner and well..he's all boy so he's not exactly into H.M. so I'm sort of in the innocent bistander part of this whole thing..I mean I think it's too bad..but it doesn't really effect me either..
here are my thoughts broken down for you:

1) I think it was a mistake to hire A.L. to do her photographs. I mean whose idea was this? She has NOTHING to lose, nothing..she's made it super big time and made it big time by being a bit racey..i.e. Demi Moore nude pg on vanity fair.

2) I think that she photographed her as her vision in her mind of her..she looks at Miley and sees "lost innocence" and I think that is what the portrait reveals..a little girl who was made to grow up too soon. I don't blame Annie b/c I think she did what any phenomenal photographer would have done..put her vision on kodak paper..after all that is what she gets paid to do!

3) I personally think it was brilliant..jeez..the girl is 15 yrs old and looks 21..she can't be hannah montanna forever..she has to break her disney chains sometime..I think she took opportunity alone with the photographer while her parents stepping out for a bit and did something gutsy!

now, if I had a small daughter who idolized her, I'd be a little miffed!

luvmykids replied: I agree with Nichole, AL is such a notorious photographer and she doesn't exactly specialize in class portraits As far as the actual photograph, I think it's beautiful and, for what it is, very well done.

BUT would I let my 15yo take a pic like that? No way. I don't want Kylie, who adores HM, to see it and want to imitate it.

I think Miley Cyrus is genuinely a good kid who is caught at that weird stage of growing up in the limelight and being a role model to young kids but also wanting to grow up herself....it's not a position I'd want myself or my child in. I'm glad her dad is upset about it but at the same time don't really know how he can be since he let someone else make the call.

Crystalina replied: I happen to love AL's work. The tone and composition of the picture is extraordinary for sure. My problem is that although I've heard it's some sort of robe she has on, if you don't know that, it resembles a sheet. I think MC could have been put in a backless shirt made from the same material as the robe (also using the same color) and gotten the same affect that she has in the picture that was actually taken. A nice soft backless shirt, black jeans and bare feet would have shown just as much innocence IMO. I just don't like the illusion it gives I guess. A young girl, looking vulnerable (albeit innocent) in what appears to be a bed sheet.

And even though her father may or may not have been there (I've heard it both ways) AL got approval from them before pics were published. It may be a nice picture for a family collection but to put in a magazine...it just feels wrong to me. If it were my daughter anyway that's how I would feel.

Kaitlin'smom replied: okay I have yet to see the picture....so I have no idea what tge fuss is about. guess I need to go look at it, Kaitlin does like her.

jcc64 replied: Idk, I saw the pic, don't really think it was all that distasteful. My 5 yo doesn't read "Vanity Fair", and doesn't watch "Entertainment Tonight" or any of that ilk, so I doubt she'll see it anyway.
I've seen far worse on the beach, tbh. Yes, I'm disturbed that we hyper-sexualize our little girls right out of the gate, but that's the American Way. Where there's $$$ to be made, good taste and common sense fall off the chart. I'll do what I can for my dd, but keeping her self image on track is probably going to be the single hardest challenge I'll face as a parent.

Crystalina replied:
Here is a link to it.

Crystalina replied:
I know what you mean. That is my fear I guess. Back when I was a teen or looked up to a certain image we had layered clothing. The problem was not showing skin at all. I grew up in the 80's when it was cool to wear 4 shirts, a pair of jeans and leggings and ankle socks with our jelly shoes. Our arms didn't even show because they were covered in jelly bracelets and bangles.

~Roo'sMama~ replied:
wow. I agree it looks like she's just kind of covering up a little in a sheet - definitely not wearing a robe! Totally inappropriate for a 15 year old IMO.

luvmykids replied:

cameragirl21 replied: Sorry to be the voice of dissent, not that it's anything new for me, lol, but I love love LOVE Annie Liebovitz, she is my hero and I think the picture is absolutely stunning in every way...wish I'd taken it.
Thing is, Miley Cyrus is NOT Hannah Montana, and she's 15...she can't be a Disney diva forever. To me the pic symbolizes innocence and precocity all in one, kind of reminds me of a child prostitute that you might see pics of in foreign nations. Not the wholesome HM image for sure but Annie is an artist and she portrayed her the way she sees her.

Btw, Annie Liebovitz has young daughters, the oldest is about 7 so I'm sure she can see it from both sides of the spectrum. And the pic wasn't taken for children, it's for Vanity Fair.
As for why Annie was chosen to take the pic, she's the primary photographer for Vanity Fair AND I think anyone would literally pee their pants to have their pic done by her, I'm sure both Miley and her family were quite honored by this choice of photog.
JMO of course.

Calimama replied: IMO it looks like she just sat up in bed from DTD. I wouldn't let my 15 year old pose like that.

Kentuckychick replied: It's not the photo itself that gets me... it's the way she looks in the photo --

Honestly, in my opinion she looks like she's dying... dark circles under her eyes, lip stick all messed up and seriously, why is her face 10 times paler than the rest of her body.... I've seen AL's photography and I think it's beautiful, but this is nothing like the portraits I've seen done by her before... this is not by any means a fave.

IDK... that's what's been bothering me about the photo

And then there's one of her and her father that I found a bit um... strange. It just looked like a portrait I would have done with the man I'm in love with (my husband/fiance)... not in a million years my father.

punkeemunkee'smom replied:

I really can't even begin to put into words how badly that statement bothers me....

ANYWAY~ While I think the picture is distasteful, I also think it is just a plain ol' bad picture! She really is a beautiful girl and IMO that picture does absolutely nothing to show that. I completely defended the pics that leaked last week of her flashing her bra with that sideways pucker (who hasn't seen that look on any teen Myspace page ) I know that girls will take silly pictures, try to look sexy and all that fun stupid stuff we used to do BUT in this photo I blame her parents. This is a tacky attempt to sexualize a young teen icon and increase her appeal to an older set before the HM craze bites the dust.

Danalana replied: Disturbing.

Calimama replied:
I agree with that. This picture kind of reminded me of the movie The Grudge.

Sam & Abby's Mom replied: Is it just me??? I dont think the pic is very flattering at all -- she doesnt look that pretty at all

MommyToAshley replied: I don't think the picture is flattering either. She's a pretty girl, but that picture does nothing for her, regardless of who the photographer is.

I also think it was a bad parenting choice, and also not a good one for her career. She may look older, but she IS only 15. There's enough Brittany Spears out there, what's wrong with having an innocent role model for the younger kids. It may not be her ideal of what kind of fame she wants, but it's what made her successful in the first place.

cameragirl21 replied:
I'm sorry the statement I made bothers you, Abbie, but I suspect I didn't make myself understood. The point is not to make her look like a prostitute in the sexual sense but rather it's symbolic--didn't she sell out her childhood and innocence for fame and money? I think that is how Annie sees her and that is the point she was trying to get across. Simply put--I wouldn't want my 15 year old posing like that but I also wouldn't want my 15 year old living the life of Miley Cyrus either.
And I love the picture, it's jmo of course but I absolutely love it. I think Annie captured the innocent precocity of child stars beautifully. I also think that while Miley is a child star and has a young audience, this particular pic of her was not taken for children, it was taken for a whole other audience. Miley and her parents approved the pic before it went to print so it's certainly not Annie or Vanity Fair's fault.
Also, the pic appears to be heavily post processed so it likely did not look anything like the finished product when she took it, in other words, straight out of the camera is not what you're seeing.

mom21kid2dogs replied:
Exactly!

My SIL asked me what I thought about the whole deal. I said
Everybody makes mistakes
Everybody has those days.
Everybody knows what, what I'm talkin' 'bout everybody gets that way.

Hey, if you have to listen to it 24/7 you might as well make it work for you!

mckayleesmom replied: Well...personally I think the portrait is ugly....My child doesn't read Vanity Fair or watch the news...so she knows nothing about it. Mckaylee is not a huge MC or HM fan either...She likes when she sings...and that is as far as her obsession goes. As for the portrait....I do not blame MC at all....There is alot of pressure of what you are suppose to be like in hollywood and to me she just fell victim. I hope her and her parents take this negative event and help her get her feet back on the ground where a 15 year old needs to be. This picture is not the first we have seen of her acting out a bit...Lately she has had alot of controversial pictures leaked, her clothes have gotten kind of risky for a 15 year old and what is with the wacko dancing on American Idol? I hope this events triggers her parents into opening their eyes and bring her back to 15 year old land.


As for me being disapointed in her..No Im not. Its not my place to be disapointed in her. Mckaylee does know who she is and very rarely watches her show, but it is not MC or HM's job to be everything my child should want to be. That is alot of weight to put on a child. If she likes her fine, but it is my job to make sure that Mckaylee knows that at the end of the day MC and HM are character and a performer. They sometimes do things that regular people wouldn't do to make money, yet they are human and sometimes they make bad mistakes. At the end of the day, she is not HM or MC and she is never going to be. She is Mckaylee.

Its my job as a mother to mold her into what she is going to be and who she will become, regardless of who she watched on the Disney Channel this morning.

We all watched Madonna and her cone boobs...and Im pretty sure none of us have those cone boobs yet.....

stella6979 replied:
I agree with you Jennifer and while I wouldn't approve of my 15yo daughter posing for a pic like that I still think it's stunning.

luvbug00 replied:

that's an understatment, the woman is a GENIUS!!!!


Mya hearts HM and MC has 2 of her CD's and all that jazz but she has no idea about the pics, nor will she ever and so while she is blind to that i'll let her go on thinking that MC/HM is still, in fact, a "good girl". We don't read VF or watch ET or AH, she only has access to people mag and in touch mag. at her allergists and That is COVERED with preg. jamie lynn and she knows, heck no to zoey 101. (I'm obviously gonna preview those for next week to avoid the pic but if they are mc scandle free then great) . i read perez hilton on my own time. Will i be shelling out more dough to her products, nahh I'll stick with barbie.

BTW the pic with her dad creaps me out wayyy more.

Crystalina replied:
I do not blame AL Jennifer. I realize she's an artist and I happen to love her. I had no issue when she shot a preggo Demi in all her glory. The difference was that Demi was an adult. At the end of the day it was left in the hand of MC's parents. They are the ones I have issue with. I'm sure MC just did what she was told and she's already said she's embarresed now that she's seen them after all this time. That's what I would expect a 15 yr old to say and feel when a picture like that is posted. I also realize that she can't stay innocent and stay a child but my Lord she's only 15!! Where does it say a 15 yr old should start to grow up so quick? That's the problem with our society and how girls are portrayed. By the time their boobs start to grow it's "grow up or shut up". You got em so you better start showing them. I'm sorry and maybe I'm old school but to me a 15 yr old has every right to test the waters and grow but I can gaurantee I won't be egging her on and contributing to making her grow up too fast. When I was a kid 15 was only 15.

This really, IMO, has nothing to do with the actual picture and everything to do with bad judgement on the parents part. They were the final say.

I'm sorry but I think Billy Ray has been pimping his daughter out because the mullet is no longer in.

Kirstenmumof3 replied: It worries me that kid stars are made to grow up faster. I really was shocked at the photos that were taken and how the adults that were supposed to be looking out for her best intrest let it happen.

Danalana replied: Crystal, I agree with you. It makes me sad that Hollywood wants to sexualize girls as soon as they start developing. And, like you, when I was 15...we were just 15. Yeah, kids are gonna want to "be older", but that's where the parents should step in and say "wait a minute, you're too young for blah blah blah, and it's NOT happening". I would think a parent would want to protect the innocence of his/her child.

Crystalina replied:
Exactly! Adults should think like adults but they only want the money shot. I mean let's be for real, that shot brought in more money then if she would have been fully dressed. The adults aren't worried about anything but the bank roll. If she needs therapy they can afford it. If she turns to drinking and drugs she'll be another Lindsay and go in and out of rehab...they can afford it.

coasterqueen replied: This is what I was talking about HM awhile back with all this idolizing and it wouldn't be long before you started seeing inappropriate pics of all these tweeny kids. I think that picture was completely inappropriate. Isn't there another way to capture her "innocence" than to put her naked with a sheet over her, showing skin? Plain distasteful in my opinion for her career and by her parents. Thank goodness my child doesn't idolize these tween stars.

coasterqueen replied: One thing that I'm confused about when some of you say that your kids don't read Vanity Fair or watch these shows where they would see these pictures - I'm curious, do you not take them to the store ever? I ask because when we are standing in line at the grocery store Kylie has commented on magazines before. I can't imagine that children are completely shielded by these inappropriate things these teen stars do.

luvbug00 replied:

I personally don't read VF and they don't have it at the allergists. Here the "big mags" vouge,VF and Glamor, Elle are all by the books and detergents ( which we get at costco so we don't go by there when we shop) at mya's allergist she "reads" the gossip mags but after i take a peek first.
they do have novel asiles and stuff with other things instead of mags. Also one may distract the child from looking i suppose.

coasterqueen replied:
Yes, one could distract the child I suppose BUT I can promise you it's a task in itself when you are trying to put groceries on the counter for them to scan and you have two munchkins trying not only to help you but to point to mags on the stand and wanting all the candy right out in plain sight.

holley79 replied: I just saw the picture for the first time. It looks nothing like MC. I think it's a horrible picture which looks more like a sick person then a prostitute but that is JMO. I haven't seen the rest of the pictures. Most children don't read Vanity Fair and they don't want ET so what have we got to lose. I'm not impressed with the parents allowing the picture to be taken but who am I to judge.

~Roo'sMama~ replied:
Yeah it does. I'm so tired of sex being glamorized.

I'm pretty surprised by what someone said about her being 15 as if that makes it ok... she's ONLY 15 and there are 12 year olds (and 10 and 8 year olds for that matter) all over America who want to be just like her.

Hillbilly Housewife replied: OMG i hadn't seen the picture in question until now - she doesn't look 21, she looks like a pedophile's dream - Face of a 12 year old, looking like a whore. There is NO WAY I'd let my FIFTEEN year old do that. NONE.

I have just lost the last scrap of respect for that family. Achy Breaky Dysfunction.

My2Beauties replied: Can anyone post a link to the pic with her dad? I have yet to see that one.

Personally, I could care less about the pic honestly. Hanna loves HM and MC because she watches her on Disney and I'll continue to let her watch her show because it's not anything other than G rated. As far as the picture is concerned, my child won't see it and if she did I'd say yep that's her, I mean they are expoed to all types of sexual images on a daily basis, why cover it up. I think sex is something that should be openly discussed. Not necessarily at the age of 4 but if she asks questions about body parts, things of that nature, I'm honest with her. No need to shield them from these things...it's a part of life and is in our faces everyday, I don't want her to be naive! It's up to me to ensure that my daughter does the right thing and has morals and values regardless of what she sees on TV. I was stealing my mom's pornos and watching them when I was like 10 years old, she thought she had them hidden well, and I didn't turn out to be a porn star nor do I look up to them and strive to be anything like those women...no harm done, I wasn't messed up because of what I saw! I was just curious!
My point is, at the end of the day MC is not my daughter so I could care less what she does, it's up to her parents to shape and mold her into what they want her to become. The pic isn't that bad anyways IMHO I've seen far worse.

stella6979 replied:
Here's a link. Hope it works.

http://gothamist.com/attachments/jen/2008_04_mileybilly.jpg

Crystalina replied:
I understand what you're saying. It is our job as parents to raise our children the way we would like them to be and of course I don't think Izabella seeing that picture will push her to grow into a hoochie but at the same time I don't want her to think that a child (which is how she sees MC) posing like that is okay. It is not okay in my eyes. If she were to see an adult pose like that that would be different. I showed her pics of Christina Aguilera when she was pg. It was a pic similiar to the Demi pic. It was a well posed picture that showed the baby belly (this was after I found out I was pg). The difference is that she looks at CA as an adult and not a child such as herself. There are things that adults can do that children can't and I want her to realize that. Now if MC was older and her shows where done (where she was not playing a child for children to watch) I would say to Bella that she is a grown up now so she can do things like that and it's okay. 15 is not an adult.

I do not shelter my children by any means but there is a certain way I expect my daughter to dress and act and I'm not sure it would be sending the right message to her if I expected her to do one thing but thought it okay for another child to do different. IMO that sends mixed messages. Bella can continue wathcing HM since the show is nothing like the picture. I just don't agree with the picture.

And for anyone who thinks that their child is not seeing certain things because they don't allow it or they don't watch that show, just remember that kids at school talk to each other and share pics. I tried like heck to hide the fact that Zoey was preggo (again, because she looks at Zoey as a child) and she heard it at school.

coasterqueen replied:
I couldn't have said it any better. I completely agree.

Oh and you wouldn't believe the things these kids here in school. I am shocked what Kylie comes home telling me. I wonder what some of these other parents are doing. Kylie came home from school the other day saying "Megan, don't be a pussycat (without the cat being said). I was floored. I asked her where she heard it and she said from a kid at school. Just because we "shelter" our kids from certain things doesn't mean they will be sheltered from it while they are not with us. If I believed my kids wouldn't learn stuff about MC or Zoey or whomever, I'd be naive because they will - just not from me.

ETA: I will teach my kids about sex - I'm not trying to shelter them from things like that they should learn BUT I sure as heck am not going to teach my children that posing naked with a sheet covering most of my body is OK at 15 years old.

mckayleesmom replied: karen...just to answer the do I take them to the store question....I take them, the magazines are there, but so is the candy and that is what my kids are more concerned with. They have honestly never mentioned anything on a magazine before...Its usually...can we have this, can we have that....etc.

punkeemunkee'smom replied: The thing I wonder is this:

If this picture was not taken by someone who is supposed to be a famous photog. Would there be anyone who saw it as art OR would people be saying WTH? That is one sucky picture!

Better yet:

What if a picture like this had been taken of a 15 year old girl in West TX. ,found by the police raiding the FDLS compound and then splashed across the newspapers?

Can you imagine the public outcry and outrage? Why then is it OK or art because it was taken for a 'fashion' mag that I dare say 90% of readers have never or will never wear a stitch of clothing out of......

jcc64 replied: Completely shielding my kids from "the evils" of the world is not possible, nor is it part of my parenting style. Should Corey happen to see the picture in question, whether it be at school, on a tabloid at the grocery store, wherever, I would take the opportunity to have a basic conversation with her about this very subject. I would use it as a way to differentiate between real life and the whirl of pop culture. I would use it as a way to convey my own values. I don't believe that shielding children from the unfortunate realities of their own culture does them any favors. They need the strength to be themselves in spite of what's going on all around them. It's easy to be a zebra around nothing but other zebras, it gets harder when you have to make your way despite being out of step with those around you. If I can teach her tha in a meaningful way, she'll be in good shape.

Maddie&EthansMom replied: I think if Maddie were to question it, I would use it as an example that people make mistakes, no matter who they are. Any human is capable of disappointing us and letting us down. In every relationship we ever have, there will be a time when the other person will let us down. The only relationship that won't is the one we have with Christ. Miley made a bad decision. Unfortunately her decisions were made public b/c she is a public figure. My child does not idolize her, nor will she idolize any star. I've never had any idols...I just don't believe in them. Sure, she watches her on TV and that won't change. She still watches Zoey 101 and is completely unaware of what she does outside of the Disney studios. The shows aren't about teenage pregnancy and nudity. She sings the songs from the show, but she doesn't desire to be "like" this person. If she gets anything from any of these characters, I hope she learns to follow her dreams and believe in herself. Other than that, they aren't teaching her anything...that's MY job. We are surrounded by bad things...that's what this world is. It's just our job as parents to teach our children and make a lesson of these things. We shouldn't accept it and turn our cheek. We bring it to light and let our children know it isn't moral. But seriously, who holds that much faith in a celebrity to never do anything wrong? They are human. She is young. Her parents aren't perfect either. I will teach my kids to put their faith in a person who will never steer them wrong. But that's just me.

More than likely if Maddie sees that picture she won't know it's Hannah Montana. I'm sorry, but the girl looks horrible!! And if she does recognize her, I can tell you she would never want to dress in a way that would show her entire back. But she's not that impressionable. She would probably just assume that she did just wake up or something..... Not sure that she would connect the whole nudity/front cover thing since it's so widely publicized anyway. Everytime you turn around there's a half nude person on a cover. It's ridiculous. Don't get me started on what they air on public television. Ugh.

My2Beauties replied:
Beautifully stated

holley79 replied:
If it had been any other photographer they would be screaming it was a sucky picture.

mom21kid2dogs replied:
Because my daughter doesn't see most mainstream media, she doesn't recognize most of those "featured" on the covers of the mags in the checkout line. She likes the kids section mags at the library~including the now defunct Disney magazine~but the pics and articles are just more of the same that she sees on Disney. Quite frankly, she's more worried about bugging me for gum than checking out the rag mags.

5littleladies replied:
We were just at Target and Meg saw a magazine cover with Miley on it from 3 aisles away. If it is something that interests them it will definitely catch their attention-even if it isn't right next to them.

Our Lil' Family replied: ITA that the picture makes her look horrible. I think it was an awful parental decision. Many of y'all are saying that it's not something a kid would see because it's for Vanity Fair, well guess who will see it....child pedophiles! Did they not think of that when they decided to let her pose this way? How disgusting to think that some guy is going to get off on this.

Crystalina replied:

Good point.

Maddie&EthansMom replied:
It's not normal to me. Consider me sad.

Our Lil' Family replied: Crystal,
I'll try to explain idolizing as Aimee and I both see it. One definition of idolize is to worship as a God or idol. We, as Christians, are taught that any form of idolatry is a sin. When one begins idolizing someone they are putting that someone (or some thing for that matter) before God. So yes, it is possible for someone to never have idolized anything, I haven't either. Did I LURVE Kirk Cameron and have posters all over my walls? ABSOLUTELY but never did I idolize him.
HTH you understand what Aimee meant.

Crystalina replied:
Uh... yeah but you guys are getting deeper then what I'm meaning. I'm also a Christian and when I use the term idiolize I don't take it quite as literally.


Thanks for explaining it to me but I never thought in a million years the word "idolize" was being taken to that level in this thread. It's HM for crying out loud.

Crystalina replied:
Let's get rid of the word idolize since we are on seperate pages on that term. Did you never want to grow up and be like anyone at all when you were younger? Your mother even? Am I that off course to say little girls (kids) do this? And that it's normal??

stella6979 replied:
Nah, I don't think you're off course. Heck, I would have given anything to be Punky Brewster or to marry Kevin Arnold when I was a kid.

Maddie&EthansMom replied:
Not so much as I just think it's silly. True, it's considered a sin to some degree. I've just never been one to idolize a celeb. There are people I admire and people that inspire me, but it's not usually someone I'm going to see on television or hear on the radio. It's going to be someone I know IRL. That's not an idol.

ZandersMama replied: umm that pic with her dad is pretty creepy, looks like an engagement photo or something.....

the one for VF wow. when I was still doing modeling I did one like that at a photo shoot, but i was 21. holy crap. I agree that she looks like a pedophiles dream. Her parents should be ashamed of themselves. and for such a (so called) great photographer, well, its not done well, she looks sick and its really a disturbing pic of someone 15, wow

jem0622 replied: The bulk of my disappointment falls on her parents. I will say, I have seen a lot of comments about the pic with her Dad. I find nothing offensive or wrong about that picture at all. Scantily clad and by herself? Yeah that is not appropriate for her age. If she was 18 it would be a non-issue.

Plus...it's all in an adult centered mag...but leave it to the press to share it in other ways for younger kids to get to it.

my2monkeyboys replied: Jennifer pointed out that it reminded her of a picture of a young prostitute from a foreign country... unfortunately it's a young prostitute from America. That's what this was about - they are selling their underage daughter in a sexual way to make more money. HM will be gone by the wayside shortly and if they don't pull in the adult crowd soon it will be too late. And yes, I think if this were a pic taken from the FDLS compound there is no doubt it would be called pornography and people would be in an uproar.
Her parents are a huge disappointment, but I can't say I didn't see it coming. Her strutting around in cat suits and the like lately were just the beginning. She is only 15 for Heaven's sake. She is still a child, regardless of any thing else.

Maddie&EthansMom replied:
You are EXACTLY right!!!

Mom2jak replied: Okay, here is my take on the MC photos. I think they are distasteful for a 15 y/o. Period. The bedsheet image makes her look like she just finished having a romp in the hay and besides that she looks like an anorexic junkie. And, the photo of her and her dad is just plain wrong.

Who is to blame? Not MC. She has completely lost her identity. She is no longer MC. She is now officially a billion dollar enterprise which makes a great deal of money for lots and lots of people. These people with whom she is making money for want to make sure that this money continues to roll in. So, they decide this is the way to do it. I believe it was a complete media blitz orchestrated by the people running the HM enterprise to move her along to her next level of money making. (trust me, Disney was well aware and approved of these photos even though they are playing dumb). I believe she was even told what to say in her press release once the backlash of these photos began. This did not happen by accident, it was well thought out. It is a fact that if she does not break her Disney-image and make the necessary transition within the next few years, she is done. Take a look at the long line of fallen child stars and you will see what I mean.

Back to the who is to blame question? Without a doubt, her parents! They SHOULD NOT have allowed this. They should have stepped in to protect their 15 y/o child. Did they? Nope. They want her career to continue as well. That is more important to them. I wish her luck and pray for her, but my gut feelings tell me she is not going to make it. I hope I am wrong.

As far as her staying grounded? I have my doubts. She will reportedly be worth a billion dollars by the time she is 18. How can she possibly stay grounded??

Crystalina replied:
Yes! An adult centered mag! Why put a half naked 15 yr old in there???

She should be posing in Teen Beat...do they still have that or am I showing my age?

jcc64 replied: Wow, interesting thread. About the idolizing thing, let's remove the religious component for a second, b/c I don't think that's the context in which it was intended. Charles Barkely, who once upon a time was a mega NBA basketball star (during the Michael Jordan era), once said, "I don't want to be anyone's idol. We (athletes, celebrities) shouldn't be anyone's idol- parents, grandparents, teachers, coaches, preachers, those are the kinds of people your kids should be looking up to." I'm paraphrasing- but you get the idea. I did and I didn't agree with what he was saying. I do believe children should get their values from their parents, not a pro athlete or a celebrity. Most kids do manage to do that, if and it's a big if, the parents are providing the kind of environment where that's possible. Kids from good homes can differentiate between fantasy and reality, between superficial Hollywood gobblegook and the right way to behave. Unfortunately, LOTS of kids aren't being raised that way, aren't getting the right messages from their parents about the parts of themselves they should cultivate, and that's when they get into trouble.
I'm not worried for my own kids. I worry for the kids who don't have anyone pulling them back in the right direction.
As far as Mylie and Billy Ray and Disney, they're laughing all the way to the bank.

cameragirl21 replied: Here's the thing--successful art and photography these days is usually edgy OR it's perfectly innocent like Anne Geddes and she's taken some rather edgy, provocative pictures that many of you would probably consider distasteful, they just weren't sold as prints or notecards for the same reasons that all of you find this pic disturbing. I can promise you the pic is heavily post processed--her skin was made to look ghostly white, her eyes and lips were color enhanced and the lighting was set up to achieve that ghostly look...I bet Annie shares your distaste for this "whoring" of child stars by their parents and that is how she expressed it, and I agree, imo, if a 15 year old needs to be topless for a photoshoot then something is wrong, for the most part. I recall some of you complaining about my pic of the cherubs where 2 five year old girls appear to be topless and there's an obvious reason why I did that and I couldn't take the pic any other way, I don't think it's exactly the same as the MC pic but I recall some of you also complained about that pic. Art is edgy, it's meant to push the envelope and stimulate thoughts and discussions just like this one. Miley is not supposed to look beautiful in the pic, it's supposed to be the raw reality that her life and the life of other child stars is, plain and simple.
ETA--call her a prostitute--she is being whored out by her parents imo, she's aware of it, they are aware of it and Annie is aware of it, that is why everyone agreed to this pic. Personally, I would not be even a little uncomfortable taking a pic like this of a 15 year old, as long as the set was closed and her wares were covered from prying eyes throughout the entire shoot, and of course, as long as she and her parents approved, I don't think I'd take this same pic of a younger girl though, the thing is, 15 is a child teetering on the brink of adulthood and that too, I think, is portrayed here. As for the pic with her dad, I'd not be comfortable taking that pic but that too is jmo and I'm certain Annie has been around the block quite a few more times than I have so is probably much less susceptible to that sort of discomfort.
Simply put--I think what Annie is trying to say is that a child celeb IS a whore...a whore on the edge of adulthood so time to drum up some media attention to keep the green coming. It's nothing against Miley or her family, it's simply the reality that is...how many child stars can you think of that did not fall prey to trouble when they got older...can you think of any?

bawoodsmall replied: I may be repeating what someone has already said but here goes. The pic is totally pathetic imo but i am not shocked at all. The father daughter one was creepy though imo. What bothers me is society in general as far as children(mainly girls) growing up way early. I read and know that many of your children watch High School Musical and stuff. It kinda bothers me that 6 and 7 year olds are watching shows that are about high school and high school relationships. What is up with that? I seriously dont remember trying to act older than my age when I was like 6. 12, yeah probably. Here is an example that I have seen in my fam.

My niece will be 6 in July. Her and the next door neighbor boy were over one night playing with Em and they were sitting beside each other and she had her arm around him(like boyfriend girlfriend). I let that slide but then he sat in a chair and she was trying to sit on his lap like an older couple would all lovey dovey. I was like ...no! Freaking creepy!!!!!!!!!

Just my 2 cents...maybe i am the only one that feels this way but I want my 4 year old watching shows that a 4 year old can relate to and 4 year old stuff.

Cece00 replied:
I've never idolized someone....and I dont idolize anyone right now.

Cece00 replied:
I thought the one of her & her dad was creepy too.

& I think she looks like crap in her solo pic.

I admit, though...I CAN NOT get what is so popular about her. I dont think she is pretty, I dont think she cant sing, and I've seen the show- the girl cant act. Her dad's acting is even worse than hers. Her voice annoys me too.

Obviously you can tell we dont watch that show in this house

jcc64 replied: I think both she and her show are adorable. Her dad's not bad on the eyes, either. My dd adores her, my 12 and 15 yo sons and all of their friends think she's "hot". She has a big presence in our lives.

stella6979 replied:
I agree. Avery is only 2 but she does love her and even knows all the words to the theme song. Dh and I both enjoy the show as well (he'd kill me if he knew I told anyone) and I agree about Billy Ray.....he's not too bad to look at at all.

Crystalina replied:
I said the same thing about my kids. Izabella is only 7 but she's now in school where the kids love HSM and HM. The clothes are geared up with the images of these shows. I've watched these shows with her (we haven't seen HSM2 though) and I didn't see anything wrong with the material they covered. Before she started school there was none of this stuff in our house. It was Barbies, My Little Ponies and Strawberry Shortcake. School changes all of that. They become "too big" for princess stuff halfway through Kindergarten. Believe me, unless you homeschool you can't stop the changes. I don't like to think that my kids can be influenced by their peers but all kids can be. If all the girls in class are talking about HM then it's just a matter of time until all the girls **just have** to be into it. Bella does not walk around dressed like HM or anyone but who she is but when her friends are over or they are together then it's all about HM and "being like" her.

Boo&BugsMom replied: Holy long thread! I'm not going back to read everything, because I'm lazy , and I just don't have the time. I think the pic was distasteful and way too mature for her age. However, because of her career her mistakes are always going to be in the limelight. I bet if all of "our" mistakes were in the limelight we'd be pretty chastized and critisized left and right for them as well. Everyone makes mistakes, and she made one...it happens, such is life. When people make mistakes it's also our job to forgive. I think she is sincere and knows she/her parents made a bad move...I think that is what is most important.

On a side note...I'm with Crystalina on the idolizing part. When I use the term idolize I use it pretty losely...and I think everyone here knows that I am a pretty head strong Bible-believing Christian. I put idolizing in a seperate category as "worshipping"...two totally different things to me. I LOVE Snow White and collect figures and have a whole trophy case full of them on display in my living room...but I don't kneel down and worship it. When someone asks me "who do you idolize", I think of it in terms as "who are your heroes or who do you admire most". I suppose some people just take the term more literally than others. I don't.