Why We’re Smiley for Miley

Behind the funky clothes, unique personality and extremely liberal attitude, Miley Cyrus can teach us all something. Whether you like Cyrus or not, there is no denying that she is a role model for not only being yourself, but loving every aspect of yourself –especially your body.

In September’s issue of Marie Claire, Miley Cyrus opens up about her time on Disney Channel’s show, Hannah Montana.

Cyrus says, “I was told for so long what a girl is supposed to be from being on that show. I was made to look like someone that I wasn’t, which probably caused some body dysmorphia because I had been made pretty every day for so long, and then when I wasn’t on that show, it was like, Who the (expletive) am I?”

It’s no shock that Miley Cyrus doesn’t, shall we say, connect with her once admired alter ego.

No, most of us have not starred on a famous TV show, but that does not mean we haven’t felt the same way Cyrus has. However, it’s problematic that we continuously justify these feelings again and again in our heads, saying that we should hate our bodies because that’s what the media and pop culture has told us to do from a young age. Cyrus did something about this by transforming into who she really was, something confusing and maybe weird to outsiders, but nonetheless, freeing for herself.

Cyrus is quick to shut down body shaming.

When comedian Jason Earles accused Cyrus of looking like a boy on Twitter, she responded saying, “…I LOVE being shaped like a WOMAN…”. She is an advocate for embracing curves no matter how small or large.

“By calling girls like me fat this is what you’re doing to other people. I love MYSELF & if you could say the same you wouldn’t be sitting on your computer trying to hurt others,” Cyrus says through another tweet.

Cyrus wants her followers and fans to know that any body type is irreplaceable, special, and beautiful.

Aside from scorning body shamers, Cyrus has also participated in other forms of body positive movements that especially to uplift women. Just from scrolling through her Instagram (mileycyrus), you can see her participation in #FreeTheNipple, undertaking the taboo that women should not be able to express themselves like men. Miley has also paraded around with full force armpit hair, largely making a statement that women’s’ bodies need not be disgraced for being different.

“I’m probably never going to be the face of a traditional beauty company…but my dream was never to sell lip-gloss. My dream is to save the world,” Cyrus says.

Cyrus wants to save the world from the ignorance that so many people hold of a person’s body. She does it loudly and with a statement –her cause cannot be ignored.