Guess what the German edition of Vanity Fair is calling Disney’s teen darling Miley Cyrus (aka, Hannah Montana) following her controversial photo shoot and feature for the magazine - the new Britney Spears. Not a moniker I’d want my 15 old daughter saddled with, but one that seems befitting considering the nature of some of those photos. (And it’s not the first time such controversy has brewed either.)

The 15-year-old actress was featured in a two-page spread for Vanity Fair and was photographed by acclaimed photographer Annie Leibovitz wearing nothing more than a blanket wrapped around her bare chest. What makes this even worse is that her father Billy Ray was not only on the set, but was included in some of the photos!  

It’s worth noting that the feature article in the American edition is entitled “Miley Knows Best.” Apparently, she didn’t, but her father should have and put the quash on anything even resembling titillating eroticism…and her photo with the blanket certainly qualifies. I mean, my God, the girl is 15 years old! Billy Ray, what were you thinking?! After all, don’t you adhere to a higher moral code? So does Miley for that matter.

Miley and Co. have apologized, and rightfully so, saying, “I never intended for any of this to happen and I am truly sorry if I have disappointed anyone. Most of all, I have let myself down. I will learn from my mistakes and trust my support team. My family and my faith will guide me through my life’s journey.” As would be expected, both the photographer and magazine have defended the shoot.

OK, so Miley’s apologized, but what are the consequences of this very bad decision?

• Miley’s image is tarnished to the point where, as is the case with VF’s German edition, she’ll be compared to Britney.
• She joins a line of child stars associated with eroticism. Do you recall Brooke Shields in Pretty Babyand The Blue Lagoon? OK, it’s not that bad, but you get my point.
• *Disney gets egg all over its face and has a PR firestorm to quell. Which begs the question, where were they when the photo shoot was taking place?
• Since Miley is a professing Christian who does everything for Jesus, she has some ’splainin’ todo where her fellow believers are concerned.

I don’t have a 15 year-old daughter, but I do have a 12 year-old niece who is a huge fan of Cyrus/Montana. (Tweens are Cyrus’ core fan-base.) This is not an image of Miley that I’d care for her to see.

*Keep in mind that Britney began her career with Disney as well.

Article Tags: Hannah Montana | Miley Cyrus | Vanity Fair
Filed under: Industry Gossip, Industry News, Personal Opinions