Nowadays, when people hear the name Miley Cyrus, they think of this:
But today's twenty-somethings grew up with a VERY different Miley. A Miley/Hannah combo that we came to know and love. Regardless of what you may think of Miley Cyrus right now, you can't deny that she was wildly popular in the decade leading up to now. We grew up alongside her as she played international pop sensation Hannah Montana while trying to navigate friendships and relationships all while balancing family life and academics. This television show gave all of us hope because if Miley could do all of this at once, why couldn't we? Disney channel shows of old were all about being true to yourself and helping audiences navigate their own lives by providing relatable scenarios along with solutions to predicaments at the end of the segment. Hannah Montana was one of the last great shows of our generation, and here's why it was THE BEST SHOW EVER:
It taught us that being honest with our friends was really important. Remember the first episode, when Lilly (Emily Osment) is super excited to take Miley to a Hanna Montana concert, but she couldn't go because SPOILER she was gonna be up on stage? Well, when Lilly found out she was upset but over the course of the episode, she and Miley made amends and this only made their friendship that much stronger.
It stressed the importance of family. Miley lived with her father and brother, while her Aunt Dolly (Dolly Parton) and her "Mamaw" (Vicki Lawrence) would drop in occasionally. Overall, the sibling relationship between Jackson (Jason Earles) and Miley was portrayed as both playful and caring with underlying normal rivalries. Miley's relationship with her father, who was played by her real father, gave us all the feels and it was great to see familial matters discussed between family members who care about each other and are trying to be happy and work together with a strong foundation of honesty and morality.
We learned that through it all, it is important to stay true to yourself. Even though she wore the wig and became a different person, Miley always stuck up for her beliefs and friends and family. Even in the first episode, when Amber and Ashley are portrayed as the popular girls, Miley and Lilly are quick to separate themselves because they knew that they were happy with their own friendships and lives. Nobody on this show pretended to be someone that they were not.
When Miley had to choose between Jake or Travis or Jesse...she learned that boys don't matter, as long as you have your best friends. "You're a truuuuuueeeeee friend, (ooh ooh) you're here 'til the enndddddd." 
But overall, the coolest thing about this show was the BANGING soundtrack. We learned that Nobody's Perfect and you just gotta work it again and again 'til you get it right. Over the course of four plus albums with collaborations that include the Jonas Brothers, David Archuleta, Corbin Bleu, and of course her father Billy Ray, she taught us through her uplifting lyrics all about what it means to grow up and how to love ourselves more.
Miley Cyrus continues to make an impact today as an LGBTQ+ supporter and icon as well as founding the Happy Hippie Foundation, which is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping homeless youth, LGBTQ youth, and other vulnerable populations.This starlet has taken homeless individuals to award shows as well as spoken up for the wellbeing of women and is a strong advocate for animal rights. Her career as Hannah Montana is what really skyrocketed her to fame and ever since then, she has been making a positive impact in both the acting and music industry. Girlfriend can't be tamed.
Keep on slaying, Miley! We love you!
