Miley Cyrus Pole Dance – Britney Spears Wannabe?
Miley Cyrus did a pole dance during a performance at the 2009 Teen Choice Awards in early August. Picture the 16-year-old singer on top of an ice cream cart (I’m not making this up), hanging onto a pole, grinding away like a stripper in front of a live studio audience full of teens.
My reaction to Miley’s pole dance was pretty straightforward – huh?
Miley Cyrus is younger than my own teen daughter. I enjoy keeping tabs on the celebrity, and seeing how my daughter reacts. For the record, my daughter could care less on this one. Miley Cyrus isn’t even on her radar anymore.
Problem is, Miley doesn’t seem to be on anyone’s radar right now. I’m just now hearing about the pole dancing prop she used – and the show was taped 3 weeks ago. Which means I didn’t see anything about it in the supermarket tabloids. I didn’t hear about it virally on the internet. I happened to stumble across the pole dance youtube video, and found the whole thing incredibly odd.
If Miley Cyrus wanted a controversy, it seems her stripper pole dance fell flat.
I get that Miley Cyrus would like to break free from her good girl image. Forget that Miley has a billion dollar franchise from her music and Hannah Montana TV show. At some point, she wants to be seen more like an adult. When she loses fans like my daughter, she has to gain new fans somewhere else.
Disney celeb Britney Spears (former Mouseketeer) did her own risque stuff at age 17. The thing is, Britney Spears didn’t come across as awkard. She pulled off her transformation from girl-next-door to sexpot, in spades.
Remember the music video “…Baby One More Time”? There was Britney in a school girl outfit, teasingly showing a bare midriff and hint of dark bra. I imagine any teen boy, or young-twenty-something man, would see Britney in that school girl outfit and think she was hot. They can relate to her in those clothes. What boy wouldn’t want a teasing peek beneath a school girl’s outfit like that? (Did it send a good message to teen girls? Not sure, either way. I imagine every school girl has a bad girl inside, itching to get out. I’ll leave it at that.)
Miley Cyrus, on the other hand, wore the shortest of short shorts for her performance. Way too short to be allowed on any school campus. (Trust me, my daughter knows the dress code.) I give Miley props for being confident enough with her body to wear that outfit. But…
What teen boy, or young-twenties man, sees an ice cream cart and thinks “I wonder what some girl would look like pole dancing on top of that?” Heck, how many teen boys have been to strip clubs and even know what pole dancing is?
I’m not trying to objectify women here. I’m merely pointing out that Miley’s peers maybe can’t relate. (And old guys like me don’t want to relate.)
Second, Miley looked awkward as heck trying to move her hips in a sexy way. She looked like a sixteen year old girl trying to mimic the moves of an adult. (Which is appropos, I suppose.) Seems Miley is too young to realize that hips don’t lie. Miley is no Shakira. Why pretend?
In short, the Miley Cyrus pole dance isn’t a controversy. It’s a teen girl trying way too hard to act grown up, and ending up out of her league.
Miley Cyrus’s stripper pole dance is just plain embarrassing.
Miley Cyrus Pole Dance on Youtube starts 1:10 in
Now then, let me drop this Miley Cyrus pole dance topic and get back to something my teen daughter actually cares about.
- Miley Cyrus Sexy Vanity Fair Pics – She’s Younger Than My Daughter
- Miley Cyrus Nude Photos Not a Mistake
- Marisa Tomei – Sexy Stripper and Single Mom in The Wrestler
- Scarlett Johansson in a Sexy Threesome
- Hot, Sexy, Single – Law of Attraction
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Comment by Ginger Magnolia
| September 1st, 2009
That IS awkward. My question is: why did her parents let her do this? Blech.
Ginger Magnolia´s last blog ..Totally Music Tuesday
Comment by justrun
| September 1st, 2009
I have no idea how, but I saw it. It was the Teen Choice awards, right? I thought it was ridiculous, but I think the reason it didn’t stir up more chatter is that this sort of thing is becoming par for the course for her now. And sadly, it’s looking like most people are over it. Except the young girls, who will continue adoring her/Hanna Montana for a long time, I think.
Comment by Just Me...
| September 1st, 2009
Yeah, saw this performance and wondered simply why would her parents (after the photo brouhaha) let her do this?
Oh, yeah.. I forget!! Can you say ‘gravy-train’?
Luckily, my daughter isn’t so much a Hannah fan as she is an iCarly fan.. Makes me a little feel better…
Just Me…´s last blog ..Getting there!!
Comment by CJ
| September 1st, 2009
My daughter still watches the show, but is not particularly interested in what Miley does otherwise, so she’s not aware of the pole dancing either (yet). But I agree Miley’s trying way too hard in just about everything these days. Even her acting is getting more “fake” in my opinion. Maybe it’s just the typical teenage-to-woman shift and things will improve once she sheds some insecurity and matures into a woman, but for now there’s a definite trying too hard to be something/someone else vibe coming from her. It may be time for Billy Ray to have a heart to heart with her and help her with this transition.
CJ´s last blog ..Notice to my ex…
Comment by annie
| September 1st, 2009
My 7 yr old and her friends can tell the difference between Hanna and Miley and prefer the former.
annie´s last blog ..Things in The Night Pt. 1
Comment by krn
| September 1st, 2009
It’s an awkward transition for nearly all girls becoming women and almost all of us get to do this in a more private way. Though it certainly feels anything but private–even when it’s just school mates, friends and family witnessing the transition.
Maybe her audience is somewhat comforted that even Miley, who has a STAFF to advise her (perhaps this is where the problem lies?). Someone, maybe a female role model in the biz in addition to mom and dad, needs to take her aside and suggest that she not rush it for career purposes, in time it will happen naturally. Otherwise, there will be more of this to come. Awkward for everyone.
Comment by Paula
| September 1st, 2009
I saw her on Ellen- when she was dating a 20 something year old. Rolled around giggling and covering her face talking about her boy toy. The girl is obviously a little girl. Why anyone allows their kids -toddler, tween, whatever, to dress like a hooker is beyond me.
Comment by Barry
| September 1st, 2009
Let’s have a contest – At what age will she enter Re-Hab?
Barry´s last blog ..An Outsider’s Perspective
Comment by Danielle
| September 1st, 2009
She sure does have a rockin body. Holy cow, can you say legs!
I guess that says it all right there. She is 16 and that is what I notice. I just hope that when my daughter makes her millions, it’s not by showing off her body. :)
Danielle´s last blog ..Here we go again!
Comment by MindyMom/Single Mom Says...
| September 1st, 2009
Awkward, yes. Dancing? Not from what I saw. There were many dancers on the stage around Miley Cyrus but she herself barely made a move, which made the pole thing even more awkward.
What’s sad is that it’s the younger kids who look up to her, those who are WELL below the age of dressing like that but want to emulate her all the same. Seems like she hasn’t quite found her niche.
MindyMom/Single Mom Says…´s last blog ..Four Years Ago Today…
Comment by dadshouse
| September 1st, 2009
Mindy – I noticed that too. Her support dancers were dancing, and Miley was just sort of standing there. Even her pole dance, when she tried to get down and dirty, wasn’t all that dirty – which prompted my huh? reaction. There’s a point where she wiggles her butt for the audience, and that comes off strange, too. It’s like she’s trying to be a grown up sexy woman, but has no idea what that means or how to pull it off. The Miley Cyrus pole dance video makes me cringe.
Krn – I agree kids this age need to experiment with adult behavior, and try things out for themselves. So why would someone like Miley try it out in public when she’s clearly not ready? If all this is due to her handlers giving advice, I feel sorry for her even more.
CJ – apparently, Billy Ray approved of the pole dance performance. Me thinks he’s part of the problem.
Comment by Honey
| September 1st, 2009
Well this is timely – just heard this morning that she’s getting an “early homewrecker” moniker as well:
http://www.popcrunch.com/miley-cyrus-steals-liam-hemsworth-from-girlfriend/
Honey´s last blog ..A Love Styles Exercise
Comment by ZenMom
| September 1st, 2009
I think I would be even more concerned if her pole dancing was NOT awkward. But, seriously, this is disturbing.
ZenMom´s last blog ..Misdirection
Comment by ilinap
| September 1st, 2009
Embarrassing on so many levels. And why would her parents let her do this?! Blech.
Comment by Kristy
| September 1st, 2009
I hope you type fast…because otherwise you spent a lot of time on a topic you say you weren’t impressed with.
Comment by notasoccermom
| September 1st, 2009
I may be an old fuddy duddy but I really like Mylie, I like that she is a girl who loves god. And although this is the first I have seen this pole dance,,, I had real hopes that she would move into stardom without becoming the next Britney or Lindsey…
So sad, I am glad she looked awkward.. she should not be good at it. and the Britney school-girl outfit? I know more dirty old men who have school girl fantasies than teen boys or twenty somethings.
I am so sad for the way she has been forced to – well grow up is not really the word i am looking for.
I hope my beautiful girls can get as much attendtion in a turtleneck as they do in short shorts
notasoccermom´s last blog ..One whole year already?!
Comment by Vinomom
| September 1st, 2009
To her defense, she didn’t dance with the pole so much as hold onto it and make a couple moves. She didn’t hang upside down on it or anything. Like other commenters my 9 year old watches the show but seems to pay little attention to anything else Miley does. I did have high hopes she wouldn’t go down the same paths Britney and Lindsay L did.
I just think it’s an almost impossible transition to make. Either you are a child star or an adult actress. I’ve yet to see anyone go from one to the other without making a mess of themselves.
Vinomom´s last blog ..All Things Centered
Comment by Keith Wilcox
| September 1st, 2009
It’s embarrassing to even watch. I didn’t even know about her until my cousin started saying how her daughters just loooooved her. Well, I actually listened to her music. I’m not ashamed to say that I thought it was catchy. Ok, but to the point. She’s got a really good thing going now with Disney and her show and, well, everything. Don’t know why these teenage girls are in such a hurry to grow up. Don’t then know the track records of other girls who tried it with bad results?
Keith Wilcox´s last blog ..How to Not Save Money
Comment by MommaSunshine
| September 2nd, 2009
What makes me uncomfortable is the fact that there are little girls, some as young as 5 or 6 (not *my* 6 yr old yet, thankfully) who are looking to her as a role model and as an example of “good” behaviour. I can’t believe that her parents allowed this. It’s simply in poor taste, in my opinion…
MommaSunshine´s last blog ..New Motivational Tool
Comment by QTMama
| September 2nd, 2009
It is. It’s Awkward. Very very awkward.
QTMama´s last blog ..And Life Moves On
Comment by Lance
| September 2nd, 2009
I don’t have a problem with it. Tasteless, yes, but when you’re in the multi-billion dollar entertainment biz anything goes. My guess is someone or someone(s) designed the set and Miley just went along with it.
Lance´s last blog ..Couple Use Emoticons To Replace Intimacy and Affection In Their Relationship ;-)
Comment by kaylen
| September 2nd, 2009
Ick.
“pop” stars these days are just trash, really…they are not role models. Not in any way.
Ick.
kaylen´s last blog ..Random Thoughts Tuesday: Larry King Edition
Comment by Kat Wilder
| September 2nd, 2009
Uh, in case no one’s noticed, pole dancing is now considered exercise, with people owning removable poles in their own homes and their daughters — and sons — swinging around on them.
It’s no longer just the domain of strippers — even exercise clubs have them.
So, is what she’s doing any worse than the stuff kids are watching on TV? Or, in the movies? Or, video games? Do you know what women look like in video games? Or, heck, even in Disney movies?
This is the world all 16-year-old girls are growing up in; don’t just single out Miley — who is a celebrity, not your everyday girl next door. She has handlers, and they obviously know their audience. If they don’t, well, she’ll be a has-been soon enough.
I remember when parents were horrified over the Spice Girls and then the Pussycat Dolls, and then let their 7-year-olds dress like them for Halloween. Wanna bet how many Mileys there will be this year? I’m just saying …
Kat Wilder´s last blog ..Two women, one man — can this end well?
Comment by dadshouse
| September 3rd, 2009
Sorry Kat, I disagree – pole dancing is not a world either of my teens is growing up in. They don’t see it on TV, and they don’t play video games that feature it. (Yes, I know what women look like in some of the video games, and my kids don’t sit around playing those games.) No one I know has a pole in her house for exercise purposes – most of my neighbors run or cycle or walk the dog for exercise. Do you know anyone who installed a pole, or did you simply read about it in the media? Maybe Marin is totally different than Silicon Valley. I’m sure my teen daughter sees some grinding at teen dances she goes to. But they aren’t pole dancing like strippers.
Comment by Kat Wilder
| September 3rd, 2009
Sorry if I was confusing — there’s no pole dancing in video games (although, I don’t know for sure; I don’t play them!)
What I meant was, look at what’s on TV ; any of those programs has way more offensive things (like sex, infidelity, drug usage and violence) than a half-a-minute clothed pole dance).
And, there are lots of pole-dancing places in the South Bay, evidentally: http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=pole+dancing&find_loc=San+Jose+CA
And, yes I did meet a gal who had a portable pole in her house, and her kids exercised on it, too. Great workout …
Kat Wilder´s last blog ..Two women, one man — can this end well?
Comment by dadshouse
| September 3rd, 2009
Kat – I still don’t get your point. My 17 year old daughter and her friends don’t do pole dance classes, or want to. Whether some middle aged mom they don’t know is doing that to feel sexy and young (and get a workout) is totally unknown to us! I think your data set sample of one friend isn’t enough to back up the point you were making.
As for TV shows, is there a particular show you know of teens watching that have all those things? The shows my kids watch don’t have those things in them. Without mroe specifics, it seems we have a disconnect here.
Comment by Stephanie
| October 11th, 2009
For all of you who think Miley is “grinding on the pole like a dirty stripper,” are morons. She wasn’t even dancing on the pole, simply using it to hold herself up while people are pushing her on an ICE CREAM CART. It’s not a condom cart, or a stripper pole. Secondly, Britney spears is wearing a “naughty school girl” outfit, dancing provocatively with her shirt rolled up. I don’t even see how the two seem to compare. All of you are crazy. Hit me baby, one more time.. and There’s a party in the USA.. really people? Wow.