AMERICA is highly sensitive about its female child stars, with good reason. Think Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan and, in another era, Judy Garland.

It was in that context that the country heaved a collective sigh of "Oh no! Not another!" when its latest hot young thing, 15-year-old Miley Cyrus, became embroiled in a spat over sexually suggestive photographs.

What has made the row so poignant is that until now Cyrus, who plays an ordinary kid with a secret life as a pop star in the Disney TV show Hannah Montana, has avoided any whiff of wild-child rebellion. Her off-screen image has been as wholesome as her smile.

But in the next edition of Vanity Fair she is portrayed by celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz draped in a satin sheet, most of her back exposed, giving the impression she is topless.

In the accompanying article, interviewer Bruce Handy asks Cyrus about the photographs.

Wasn't she, or Disney, at all anxious about the shot? "No, I mean I had a big blanket on. And I thought, this looks pretty and really natural. I think it's really artsy," she is quoted as replying.

But when news of the shoot broke, it caused a hostile reaction from bloggers such as Lin Burress, a morality crusader who called on parents to burn Hannah Montana accessories.

Cyrus changed her tune. She had supposed the pictures to be artistic but on seeing them, she said: "I feel so embarrassed. I never intended for this to happen and I apologise to my fans."

Hannah Montana — in which her TV father is played by her real father, country music star Billy Ray Cyrus — is watched by more than 3 million people, most aged six to 14.

Vanity Fair pointed out that Cyrus' parents were on the set of the Leibovitz shoot.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/people/child...9234861942.html

na crazy people are overreacting.. they call that a sexually suggestive photo?? wtf
they were even going apesh!t because she dared to take pictures with her daddy, hugging her and giving her a kiss on the forehead.. omg the immorality

I agree! also, I kinda think she looks manly there so it doesn't even look sexy to me

I think that particular picture is too racy for a 15 year old. Especially one under the Disney brand. And, having watched her show with my daughter, it is completely against the tomboy that she is.

I do not think the one's with her father are projecting what people are ripping on. I think her look is adoration for him, not sexual.

You know, I'm actually torn on this issue. I don't think it's overtly sexual and I don't think she's showing too much skin (as was pointed out on another site, she's worn dresses with lower-cut backs). I also don't usually side with the prudes.

On the other hand, I think it's more sexually suggestive than if they'd just shot her straight-up front in her underwear. The lighting, pose and make-up all say 'seductress' and make her appear far older than she actually is. I do think children and young teens are overly sexualised (I can't stand young beauty pageants, for example) and I think this photo is in very poor taste.

She looks fresh from a romp in bed, which I think for a 15 year old is inappropriate. My daughter is 8 and loves Miley. I wouldn't want my daughter thinking its OK to look like Miley does in that pic. Its a big deviation from her wholesome Disney image. I wish she would be unique in the teen Hollywood arena and avoid controvery, so I hope she doesn't end up following in the trashy footsteps of other Disney teen queens. I hope the negative feedback from this photo is a wake up call for her.

I'd have to agree with you there. I can see Miley's point in that it is an artsy shot ( I mean, holy crap, I'd do a shot like that if Annie Leibovitz is taking it!) .....but she has to think with the big picture in mind.

And I hate young beauty pageants too.

if this kiddo won't be too cautious with the kind of career that she would pick...she's another britney/paris/slutty hollywood stars in the making

i agree. i think those pics with billy ray are very cute

I agree that it's kind of racy for a 15 year old Disney star. I think that's the big issue, that she is a Disney figure and has gotten so popular and part of it is because of the clean persona she has portrayed. So I can definitely see why parents would be upset to see this picture if their little kid loves Miley. She's not just a pop star, she's a Disney Channel kids star. And they are held to a different standard usually. I do really hope she doesn't just become like a lot of the other young stars.

agreed with the overall sentiment of this thread....I think the pics are OTT for the image she's portraying.

Much tamer than her recent performances on American Idol, IMO. And at least she's not pregnant like Jamie Lynne Spears.

Oh yeah and then there was Vanessa Hudgens and her nekkid pic. What's with the Disney stars?

I think it's too racy, not because of what she's showing, but because she's only covered by a sheet - suggesting that she could be nude. In addition, she has fans as young as preschool age, and I wouldn't want my ten-year-old sister to think that's ok.

so far it's a tie between not racy and too racy. interesting

I bet you the votes for not racy are men

I personally could not care less. Another child star flirting with the dark side, oh well... it all comes with the territory. I just do not have much sympathy for celebrities and, even less, overpaid professional athletes, sorry.

too racy!

no. jeez, what will people say if she ever wears a bikini.

for the ones that think it is not racy... would you let your 15 year old daughter take a picture like that?? just curious...

I would.

I think it's too racy for her age and for her fanbase.
I understand that the pic is artsy and of course, Liebovitz is amazing.
BUT my nine year old love Miley Cyrus and I think she's a good role model for teenage girls.
I'm far from a prude, but I think if your fans are pre-teens....be a good role model.

see that is my problem with the pic.. her age... if she were older then yeah that pic would be fine... but I can see all the older men drooling and slobbering over her pic and she is underage....

i agree. that pic is very pretty.....for someone 18+...


gosh i never thought i'd hear myself say things like that! i'm pretty open minded but *shrug* i find it inappropriate!

I agree

I don't agree

Saludos,
Caro

It's difficult to find anything decent for my anak to watch on TV anymore. Hanna Montana is her idol. I figured Disney was pretty safe!!
Now the dumb little ###### pulls this stunt.
Getting to the point where I'll get rid of our TV.
Back to radio and reading!!!

I don't care for that picture of her at all.

We need more racy pictures of 14-year-old girls.

I must be the only one here who thought: "Who's Miley Cyrus?" and "Who's Hannah Montana?" I've never heard of either. In fact, I feel that I was better off having not known about them and I will now pretend I lack any knowledge of their existence.

Yes - I don't see the photo as sexual. I don't think nudity should or does necessarily imply something sexual. I don't think her pose is suggestive.

For the men even talking about underage girls in a sexual way...you need help. YOU are the problem.

yup...

I think the picture is pretty nice, but the messed up hair, flushed coloring and red lips with just a rumpled sheet around her is created to be suggestive. I can apreciate that its an artpiece, but its the whole package that makes it evocative.

too racy sorry but 15 year olds should be busy with school and hanging with the girls yup im old fashion but don't believe in flaunting it just cuz u got it kids these days grow up to fast and get into relationships that are way too adult for them.....taken a pic like that is just too suggestive

I thought her latest song release "can't wait to see you again" was inappropriate for a 15 year old. Now she is semi-clothed in the Vanity Fair photographs. It all runs contrary to the image Disney has cultivated, packaged and sold to children. Are we about to hear that her and Billy Ray have been attending a White Nationalist Church since birth and didnt know about her Pastor's beliefs? Will she disavow the photographs but not Vanity Fair?

How so?

Times have changed, Jenn. You'd be hard-pressed to find a 15-year-old virgin these days.

The age of consent should be lowered to 15, or at most 16.

Racy? No, cutesy and twee? Yes, definitely! Is it just me, or does she have a 'character' nose?

Mawilson, I don't think you know very many 15 year old girls.

Maybe so, but they should be having sex with 15-year old boys, not being ogled by pervy old men.

Agreed.