If Britney Spears' fate is anything to go by, we can all pretty much deduce that there's a (rather ugly) downside to being a (Disney) young American teenage superstar. One the one hand, there's the whole "no childhood, always on the road" part, which can be managed by the teenager's parents, if they're sensible, experienced and patient enough to handle the out-of-control temper tantrums thrown by a hormone-high adolescent who - on top of everything else - is idolized by millions of fans and fancies herself a teenage goddess. The truth is, with thousand of screaming fans chanting your name and stopping you in the street for autographs, it's difficult to keep a sense of perspective at any age. And then there's the burning issue of over-sexualization, as both Britney and the current tween pop idol Miley Cyrus have found out at their own expense.
Miley performed at the "Idol Gives Back" event over the weekend; you can check out some stills of her performance. She's young, pretty and
American teens love her. However, what with her overly mature haircut and hair color, ultra-trendy outfits and lascivious dance moves, it's very easy to sometimes forget the young daughter of country crooner Billy Ray Cyrus is a good seven months away from turning 16. What's dangerous in over-sexualizing a 15 year-old? Have a close look at Britney Spears and you're bound to get some first-hand answers. The resemblance between the two pop icons is uncanny: squeaky-clean image, brilliant careers as singers and actors, international superstars at an early age, midriff-bearing outfits and a clever, all-powerful PR machinery that successfully sells her image to hordes of enchanted fans.
What will happen when all this gets too much for Miley, or when she finally reaches that age when she's keen to make her own choices rather than allow others to decide for her? Admittedly, in Britney's case, she only had her mother close at all times, while daddy was mostly out of the picture. But, in the end, Miley is a talented, good-looking young girl with a bright future and a nice, long career ahead, provided that at one point, someone in her entourage stops the roller-coaster ride of adulation and international fame, the provocative performances and the "queen of the world" aura around Miley and allows her to be a relatively normal and down to earth teen. Just for a little while.
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