Miles to Go

Miley Cyrus: Miles to Go

            In the same fashion as the Justin Bieber juvenile biography, reading and writing about the life of Miley Cyrus seemed like another biography that needed to addressed, particularly for tweens sake. Before Hannah Montana, Miley Cyrus was virtually unknown. She was the daughter of a famous country singer and enjoyed her home life in rural Tennessee before she got her break with the out of this word popular Disney Channel Original Show, Hannah Montana. Miley gets up close and personal in this honest ‘memoir’ of life and growing up in the spotlight. From the girl next door to mega pop star and actor, Miley’s story from then and now is one unique wild ride. As we look at Miley from her early days becoming a star on the rise to now being somewhat of a mess, what are the consequences with too much fame for someone so young and still finding herself in the world as a teenager and celebrity? Do young actors really have the chance at a normal life, or are they forced to grow up too young?

            If every young girl who grew up watching and listening to Miley Cyrus had the option of becoming Miley Cyrus, they would jump at the opportunity to become a Disney Channel star and the next big thing in Hollywood. Now as Miley is entering her early twenties we’re seeing the consequences of growing up under the spotlight. Do these young stars have a chance at being a little girl and growing the normal way? Are they forced to grow up in a life that is unrealistic to most people? Is someone like Miley really that great of a role model to little girls? The audience that Miley/Hannah Montana appealed too was young middle school (even elementary school) girls who dreamed and wished they could live a life just like Hannah, her TV personality that launched her career. Miley ultimately kick started this obsession with fame for young minds, now as we look back is it safe to say, maybe she was not the greatest influence little girls need at such a vulnerable age?

Jut Getting Started

Justin Bieber: Just Getting Started

A little old for Justin Bieber, the importance of keeping up with who (and what) is popular in the media plays an essential part in our kids world today, not knowing someone like Justin Bieber makes you sound like a fool to any middle school girl. Therefore seeking out material that focused on specific people and getting to know artists like Justin Bieber and other young pop stars and actors, it seemed like the way to go. In 2008 when Justin Bieber was discovered on YouTube by mega pop star, Usher, YouTube became the place to be discovered. He was talented, an instant heartthrob and it was the perfect time for entertainment to turn to the next big thing, Young Stars. What happened was our kids became obsessed with stars like Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez and Miley Cyrus and knowing intimate details about their lives, creating a whole culture of the celebrity lifestyle and how to get it. Turning to juvenile biographies, Getting Started opened my eyes to how much the celebrity lifestyle has become of a part of the average American’s tween’s life. This book primarily focuses on Justin Bieber, his rise to fame and life on the road. In a nut shell, it’s expanding the brand ‘Justin Bieber’ and screams self promotion.

      A hundred years ago the American Dream was defined by immigrants coming to America to find a better life and doing whatever it took to provide a happier and healthier life than back at home. It meant time, effort and lots of hard work. In today’s culture and society, we continue to go school, get jobs and continue to become successful. But somehow within the last few decades, the American Dream and success is measured by fame, money and independence. Sure young kids look up to Justin Bieber as a talented artist, hot and a bad boy but he is no Benjamin Franklin, so how is this healthy for our kids to want to aspire to be people like Justin Bieber? This idea of fame and the role it plays in our children’s lives is an important topic to bring to the table. What we see on TV and the news is influential in a family’s home, it’s time to change, it’s time to consider that celebrity lifestyle isn’t the most important thing happening in the world.