Miley Cyrus, At That Awkward Age?

Photo "Scandals" Reveal Phenom's Growing Pains

(AP)  "You get the best of both worlds," Miley Cyrus sings in the theme song of her hugely popular Disney Channel show, "Hannah Montana." It's a reference to her character's secret double life as both a rock star AND a normal schoolgirl.

Offscreen, though, this 15-year-old phenom is starting to learn how hard it really is to have the best of both worlds: as a G-rated Disney superstar AND a real-life, growing teenager with an eye on a long career.

Cyrus, whose fresh, easy charm and down-home southern appeal have catapulted her to an astonishing level of celebrity, especially in the past year, found herself having to apologize Sunday for some entirely un-Miley photos in Vanity Fair magazine.

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Photos: A Look At Miley Cyrus

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At a moment when she otherwise would have been relishing an amazing week - a deal for her memoirs (reportedly seven figures), the cover of People magazine and a feature in Vanity Fair - she issued a statement saying how embarassed she was. This came almost certainly at the behest of worried executives at The Walt Disney Co., for whom she will reap a reported $1 billion this year.

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Photos: Miley Cyrus' "Best Of Both Worlds"

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For the record, only Cyrus' back and shoulders are bare in the most controversial shot by Annie Leibovitz, the renowned celebrity photographer. Many an Oscar-night gown would show as much skin. Cyrus herself told the magazine in an accompanying article that she found the photo, in which she gathers a sheet around her, "really artsy. It wasn't in a skanky way. And you can't say no to Annie."

But Cyrus IS 15, with a fan base that begins in preschool. And it's what the photo suggests rather than shows - the idea that she might be nude, perhaps even in bed - that bothered some parents who poured their feelings onto blogs over the weekend. She wan't nude during the shoot, nor in bed, but she does have a subtle come-hither expression.

Leibovitz said Monday that she and Cyrus had discussed the photos beforehand, and Vanity Fair said "Miley's parents and/or minders were on the set all day ... everyone thought it was a beautiful and natural portrait." As for Disney, it accused editors of creating a situation "to deliberately manipulate a 15-year-old." Disney declined to make anyone connected with "Hannah Montana" available to speak for this article.

Unfortunately for Cyrus, the photos, taken in February, might not have made nearly such a splash but for a bit of awkward timing: They emerged just days after some attention-getting amateur shots of Cyrus hit the Web. In one, she tugs down a tank top to reveal a bright green bra. In another, she lies languidly on her back across a male friend, shirt raised to bare her midriff.

So the timing was terrible. But some celebrity watchers saw the developments as an attempt by Cyrus and her handlers - while not necessarily calculated - to look ahead a few years, beyond the tween audience.

"She has to find a way to gain a new following," said Peter Castro, deputy managing editor of People magazine. He likened her situation to that of a butterfly still trapped in the cocoon. "She began as a caterpillar, and made a lot of money that way, but now she doesn't know which way to go. She's thinking, soon I've got to be a butterfly."

Biological analogies aside, Cyrus' predicament evoked plenty of references to the cautionary tale of Britney Spears, who started on the Disney Channel about the same age as Cyrus and had her first huge hit, "Baby One More Time," at age 17.

"Britney was in a Miley place," said Castro. Then she decided to break out, making her persona in "Baby One More Time" a sexy schoolgirl, and doing a provocative photo shoot for Rolling Stone. "She alienated parents, but gained a whole following of older kids," says Castro.

But, he added, "I don't know that Miley could get away with that. I think her dad and management team are closely following Britney's career, saying, 'Don't let this ever happen to you."'

Unlike the 26-year-old Britney of today, for whom the phrase "train wreck" has become an unwelcome cliche, the self-possessed and upbeat Cyrus has worn the title of "role model" easily. She has been utterly scandal-free until now, unless you count her failure to wear a seat belt during a car ride in her concert movie (her dad apologized for that, too).

"Miley's at the very top of our celebrity list," said Joanna Saltz, executive editor of Seventeen magazine, whose average reader is between 16 and 17. While Spears never appears in Seventeen, readers love Cyrus, Saltz said, because she seems genuine, unproduced, comfortable in her own skin.

"And she's just exploded," said Saltz. "A year ago she was the queen of tweens, and now she's a favorite of our readers. She's crossed all age groups."

[avigil2]

Miley is NOT a fox. And she should get her BUCK teeth fixed. The less we see of her, the better.

[binkybarnes]

Hmmm..let''s see. If you are a member of a crazy sect that marries their children off at 13 to 40+ year old men, the children are taken by protective services. If you are a rich, young performer and your parents photographically prostitute you, that''s ok. The difference? A billion dollars for the Cyrus'' and Disney.

[leesa429]

It''s not even close to porn and who really cares what route her and her parents choose to take in advancing her career. It''s not like she really needs all that much help...she''s worth well in to the millions.

That''s one good think about the U.S....you have choices; you can choose to remain a fan or you can choose not to either way, she will survive.

[drivelphobe]

This girl has no looks and her "career" is obviously short-lived. This is a desperate attempt to add a few days of life. Disney should cut her off and send a message. Another child star down the drain, but so well deserved.

[stn_sage]

The picture of her holding the sheet over her bare chest looks like CHILD PORN! Shame on you Disney for not denouncing this young golddigger and her parents! It''s disgusting!

[fabrat1]

Honestly, if she were in her bathing suit she would have been showing more skin than that. This really isn''t all that bad. My 11 year old son says she''s gonna be his wife when he''s older.

[usmcgeorge]

I think that any and all pictures of a 15 year old should be previewed by someone other than the gal/guy taking the pictures. I wonder if Hanna''s patents looked these pictures over before letting anyone else see them?? If not then I think whoever released them must be held accountable.
It is sad that this had to happen to a popular and very likeable young women.

[extremophil]

Uh huh....she''s at that "awkward age" when she realizes that the more clothes she takes off, the more attention she gets.

[libh8er]

Yes, I remember that awkward age, as well.....I had to decide whether to pose semi nude for photos that would get plastered all over the internet. Pahleeeese.

[nishaboston]

Brain no one is saying anyone should dress like a muslim woman. Your way out of context.

[brianbwb-2009]

So the American Taliban insist that all women be covered from shoulder to below the knee.

[jsilver2th]

I am absolutely shocked that this woman has a back- very startling and upsetting to think America''s children will have to look at her back- backs should be covered at all times.

[johnshaft4]

Who cares? Get a life...

[shanev137]

She looks like her dad without a goatee.

[docadams3]

This shot is nothing. So what!