In the teenage world, Britney Spears was the hottest star of 1999 and the few years thereafter. Today, Miley Cyrus, daughter of country singer Billy Ray Cyrus, is the hottest.
Both entered the entertainment world thanks to the connections of their parents - and the Disney entertainment empire, always hungry to keep those childhood customers even into their teenage years. Britney was a Mouseketeer, and Miley is Hannah Montana. Both sing very catchy, sugary songs that have a very short shelf life - Miley sings "See You Again" which is the top hit today at teen-oriented radio stations.
And here is where these factors get troubling, as these teenage stars get pulled from different demands and directions. Britney and Miley both present very sexy images, because, well, sex sells - to girls who want to look attractive, and to boys who want attractive girls. Yet, the social conservatism of their southern families demand that they sign virginity pledges - a routine that was propagated during the years after Bill Clinton's sex scandal, by the ascendant Religious Right and its consumer groups ever casting a cloud over Disney and similar corporations. Of course, everyone knows that Britney Spears couldn't keep her pledge, sleeping with fellow Mouseketeer Justin Timberlake - and even Jessica Simpson, the squeaky clean daughter of a Baptist minister, couldn't. Miley will be under tremendous pressure to lose, or keep, her virginity.
And this pressure has proven to be devastating to Britney. Miley will be lucky to do any better. Fame and fortune at a young age is never an easy thing to manage. And by the time Miley starts to be forgotten, another teeny bopper idol will come along, for the new generation of teens. Then the cycle starts again.
And to think about it, all of this is just too pathetic anyway, destroying the stars involved, sending the wrong messages to the young fans, and more. Can't the entertainment industry do better than this? Disney's own Hilary Duff was a better example of raising a teen star, IMO.
Here's an MSN Movies article dealing with Miley and Britney.
