Miley can’t stop – but should she?

I have a problem. I’m kind of in love with Miley Cyrus.

I never liked Hannah Montana, I wasn’t a fan of “Party in the USA,” and I hated The Last Song. It was all too cute for me. Miley has obviously grown up a lot since her days as Hannah Montana, and while this seems to be the reason why some people are upset with her at the moment, I think it’s also the reason why she’s become more appealing to me.

People talk about “the old Miley,” as though she was supposed to retain the young, innocent, Southern girl next door image her entire life — grow into an adult Hannah Montana. With this expectation, people were bound to be disappointed. By changing her image, Miley hasn’t done anything wrong. The only thing Miley has done wrong is allow herself to grow up in the public eye. Think about this: would people be as shocked by Miley’s behavior if they didn’t have a preconceived notion of her as Hannah Montana? If they didn’t know what she was like as a child?

Why is it that Rihanna can have a song called “S&M,” and sing about “yellow diamonds” (she’s talking about ecstasy, kids, not actual diamonds), and yet when Miley Cyrus throws “molly” into one of her songs, everyone shakes their heads in disappointment? It’s because Rihanna was never a Disney Channel star. We didn’t watch Rihanna grow from a child into the adult she is now. For the public, Rihanna has always had the same image. However, I think we can safely assume that Rihanna didn’t always dress or act the way she does now.

Of course Miley has changed. She’s 20 years old. As college students, we should understand better than anyone that when you’re in your 20s, you’re still trying to figure out who you are as a person. You try new things in order to determine what you like and what you don’t like, what style you prefer, what you believe, and what you feel most comfortable with. I don’t think Miley is pulling an Amanda Bynes. I think Miley is just struggling to figure out who she is. Admittedly, she is being a little bit of an attention-whore about it (for lack of a better word). I mean, what else would possess someone to get frisky with a foam finger, twerk on a little person, and light up a joint on stage, all in front of millions of viewers? I suppose when you grow up in the spotlight, public attention becomes something you crave, a way of measuring your worth, however unfortunate that may be. However, if it’s publicity Miley’s striving for, she’s certainly doing it right.

My point is this: if Miley wants to twerk, dress edgy, and smoke pot IN AMSTERDAM (when in Rome?), let her. She’s not hurting anyone. Some people have argued this point with me, saying that she’s become a bad role model for kids. But Miley isn’t the only celebrity to dress provocatively and reference drugs, sex, and partying in her songs. Kids are exposed to hundreds of celebrities like this. Katy Perry’s candy-covered costumes and positive attitude appeal to young girls, for example, but the singer has songs that include suggestive lyrics such as “I want to see your peacock,” and “skinny dipping in the dark, then had a ménage à trois.” Furthermore, her costumes, although bright and colorful, also leave little to the imagination. So why is Miley the one being singled out?

I think everyone needs to calm down and let Miley be 20. Let’s stop focusing on what she’s wearing or doing and start focusing on her music. She is a singer, after all, and if you weren’t aware, her new album, Bangerz, is killer. Seriously, I can’t stop listening to it. Her voice is powerful, and if you don’t think “Wrecking Ball” or “FU” proves this, listen to her cover of “Lilac Wine” on YouTube. The girl can sing.

Miley’s not the first artist to push the limits in order to get a little publicity, and she certainly won’t be the last. Does no one remember that time Madonna and Britney made out? What about when Christina Aguilera released “Dirrty” and basically writhed around in a bikini in her music video? Britney and Christina have turned out okay, so let’s give Miley her moment of rebellion. Let’s allow her to experiment, figure out who she is, and make mistakes like all 20 year olds do without judging her. After all, she can’t stop. And she won’t stop. And now that song is going to be stuck in my head for a week. It’s just so damn catchy.