Over the past ten years, the singer known for her hit song “Wrecking Ball” has gone through multiple phases in her career.
During the late 2000s and early 2010s, Miley Cyrus was viewed as a positive role model for young girls due to her wholesome, Southern image on the Disney Channel. Although she briefly explored more adult themes with her 2010 album “Can’t Be Tamed,” her previous squeaky clean Hannah Montana persona remained intact. Fast forward to August 25, 2013, and Miley Cyrus, now 20 years old and nominated for four awards at the MTV Video Music Awards, shocks viewers with her provocative performance wearing a glittery teddy bear leotard that reveals a flesh-colored bikini.
Miley Cyrus, during her Hannah Montana era, performed her hit song “We Can’t Stop” with some dancing teddy bears. After that, Robin Thicke joined her on stage, the man behind the controversial and lawsuit-triggering single “Blurred Lines.” The performance included twerking, a giant foam finger, and tongue action. It’s safe to say that the audience knew what was going to happen next. Social media blew up with over 300,000 tweets per minute, surpassing major moments from other performers like Justin Timberlake, Katy Perry, and Lady Gaga that night.
The moment that shocked audiences around the world during Miley Cyrus’ MTV VMAs era caused an uproar among parents and censorship boards. The incident helped boost record sales for her latest single, “Wrecking Ball,” and cemented her place in VMAs history alongside other scandalous performers such as Madonna, Britney Spears, and Michael Jackson. Fast forward ten years later, and Miley is now 30 years old and embarking on a new era of music with her upcoming single, “Used to Be Young,” set to release on August 25th. The introspective track explores her experiences in the limelight and references lyrics from her past hits like “Party in the USA” and this year’s biggest hit, “Flowers.”
Miley Cyrus, a singer-songwriter and former Disney star, has faced many highs and lows since her infamous performance at the VMAs. Her career kicked off with the massive success of her album “Bangerz” which was released in September, just a month after the VMAs. Miley’s signature cropped blonde hair, daring fashion choices, and tendency to stick out her tongue became emblematic of a new generation of young listeners who embraced sexuality in a new way. Dolly Parton even admitted that her goddaughter Miley helped inspire her own risque new look.
During the Bangerz Tour in the subsequent year, Miley’s fashion sense remained daring and tight with spandex, and she started incorporating more psychedelic themes. Even though she was viewed as a “woman on the edge” at that time, we can now recognize it as her bold endeavor to shed her Hannah Montana image, which she carried forward into her 2015 album Miley Cyrus Her Dead Petz. Additionally, Miley made a rare comment about her boyfriend Maxx Morando recently.
Miley Cyrus once collaborated with Wayne Coyne, famous for his work with The Flaming Lips and Yoko Ono, on an experimental album that received mixed reviews from critics and failed to make an impact in terms of sales. During this time, Miley’s overall aesthetic centered around glitter, with plenty of it being used. However, after a brief stint as a coach on The Voice, Miley moved towards country pop and left her twerking days behind. Her family is also quite famous, including Dolly Parton and Noah Cyrus.
Miley Cyrus, in her younger now era of 2017, took inspiration from her father Billy Ray Cyrus’ country roots. This was evident in her clothing choices, which included spangled Elvis-style jumpsuits and longer, more naturally curly hair. Her look was a perfect match for rekindling her relationship with ex Liam Hemsworth, as she sported a “country girl next door” vibe. This fresh appearance remained for her following project, the EP She Is Coming in 2019. Here, Miley blended her Tennessee roots and Los Angeles style, seen in her crop tops, wide-legged pants, blunt bangs, and natural highlights. Unfortunately, the artist also experienced a dramatic house fire with ex Liam Hemsworth, which caused her to lose $800k.
It would be remiss not to mention Miley Cyrus’ portrayal of Ashley O in a 2020 episode of Black Mirror, which satirized her pop star image with a dystopian, candy-coated twist. After her separation and divorce from Liam, Miley evolved towards a rock persona reminiscent of Stevie Nicks, Joan Jett, and Debbie Harry. Her platinum blonde mullet, black and blue leather outfits, and occasional shimmery blue eyeshadow exuded an 80s meets Thunderdome vibe.
Miley Cyrus has made a comeback with her album Plastic Hearts, which has been well-received by audiences. The success of the album was further enhanced by her appearance in Endless Summer Vacation earlier this year, where she flaunted her new chocolate brown highlights and showed off her toned body in the “Flowers” video. Miley seems to be more comfortable with her celebrity status now, combining the relatable charm of Hannah Montana with the sensual appeal of her VMA persona. This combination is truly the best of both worlds for her.
In this particular picture, Miley is shown during her Endless Summer Vacation era.
