Oh My, Oh Miley....

So unless you live under a rock, you are familiar with the mini-mogul that is Hannah Montana aka Miley Cyrus. She's 15, cute as a button, little girls love her. And for a while there, she had a pretty spotless repuation as Disney's little darling. However, in the last year or so, particularly the last few months when Britney has actually started flying under the radar, the paparazzi and entertainment media in general have taken up following Miley and her family around, trying to find the "dirt" that for awhile did not seem to exist. Might we actually have a good role model on our hands, an anti-Britney-Lindsay-Olsen Twins?

But lately some cracks have started to show. Various "scandalous" photos began cropping up on the internet-Miley in a bikini (because no one else wears those), having a sleepover with girlfriends (again, totally un-teenager-like activity), and more recently, showing us a peek of her green bra and laying up against a boy (they are both FULLY clothed). I do feel sorry for her, because she's 15, and when I was 15 I took stupid pictures with my friends (although, we used FILM back then and you did not really take photos that were too crazy because you know someone had to look at them at the photo lab-aaahhhh, the digital age has made us so much more free). I have defended Miley for awhile now, because my friend and I did randomly meet her in the mall one day and I was sooo impressed by how down to earth she was, how NORMAL she seemed for a 14 year old gazillionare, and by how well she carried herself as hysterical little girls followed her around. She was nice to everyone, from the sales associates to the moms and girls that came up to her asking for autographs or just to say hi as a fan. We did not approach her, she approached us to comment on my friends' bag; she was covered up, had on little makeup, and just seemed like such an average teenage girl. No way will this girl end up like Britney, I thought. She's just too well behaved. Not to mention, her dad, Billy Ray Cyrus, has seen all sides of fame-the good, the bad, the mistakes, the comeback...surely they will be smart about this and keep her head on straight.

Cut to April 28, 2008. One of the leadoff stories on Good Morning America this morning as I am getting ready to leave the house-Miley Cyrus poses topless for "Vanity Fair" magazine. I heard that sound of the screeching record in my head. What? So naturally I run out of the bathroom to see what the heck is going on. Sure enough, my little Miley, our hometown Tennessee girl, so well behaved, is shown in a photo covered by a blanket, bare back showing, "smiling with her eyes" for all of you Top Model fans, into Annie Leibovitz's camera.

Miley pleads innocent, saying she was manipulated and tricked and is now embarrassed. "Vanity Fair" says that Miley and her parents approved of all the shots and thought they were "artistic."

I don't care how artistic they are-she is 15. And not almost 16. Or 18. She's 15, 3 years from being able to legally consent to do that kind of photoshoot on her own, so clearly her parents had to approve this. Trust me, no magazine-or reputable photographer like A.L.-is going to go foward with a photo shoot with an underage girl without a parent's signature. There are plenty of laws about that kind of thing. Obviously, Billy Ray and/or his wife approved of Miley taking her top off for the cameras. And that is my main concern here. What were her parents THINKING? Who thinks it is ok for their 15 year old to pose topless-or insinuating that she is topless, as some have suggested that she might have something on under that sheet? Well then why didn't she pose in whatever she was wearing underneath? This is not a case of snapshots that may or may not be intended for public consumption as some of the other photos, nor was this for a private family photo session to be hung on the wall at home-this was for a major magazine, to be seen all over the world. I am so disappointed in the lack of good taste here-on Miley's part, her parent's part, the magazine's part, and the photographer as well.

Now, on one hand, if you forget that she is UNDERAGE, the photo is not that bad. The only skin you see is her back, she is not overly made up, and its very natural. But, everyone involved should have known better-she is only 15 and a role model for girls as young as 4 years old. I know plenty of actresses have posed for "artistic nudes" for magazines-an adult Britney for one, Jen Aniston, Demi Moore, the list goes on. They are old enough to decide for themselves what kind of pictures they want to take. But Miley's parents failed to protect her by making a bad decision on her behalf, which may very well end up costing the entire family a lot in the long run. Disney is sticking by her for now. And judging by the folks calling in to the radio this morning, a lot of parents are pulling the "Hannah Montana" brand from their home for good.

Miley, get it together. You could have said no to taking those pictures. So while most of the blame should be laid on your parents, who could have refused to consent, you also should have stood up for yourself, thought about all those little girls who follow you around at the mall, and thought better of it.

I'm all for second chances, so don't screw this one up. You might not get another one.