Why we still think Miley Cyrus is a bad role model: Her pole dance

Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Kevin Winter/Getty Images

For a while now, "Hannah Montana" star Miley Cyrus has made some unsettling career choices. Her racy MySpace photos were seen by all, she posed topless for "Vanity Fair," and her overall persona seems way too mature for her 16 years. At last night's Teen Choice Awards, Cyrus was the big winner of the evening, taking home six awards, including Choice Movie Actress Music/Dance, Choice TV Actress Comedy, Choice TV Show Comedy, Choice Music Single, Choice Summer Song and Choice Movie Hissy Fit (ugh). Miley can apparently do no wrong in the eyes of teens, and this really frightens us. Cyrus is their biggest role model, yet continues to act inappropriately.

This photo is of Miley Cyrus pole dancing on top of an ice cream cart during a performance of her latest single., "Party in the U.S.A." Let us reiterate: Cyrus is 16 years old and pole dancing at the Teen Choice Awards.

Sure, Cyrus isn't the first of her kind. Parents were up in arms when former Disney stars like Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera broke on the scene in the late '90s. The difference is they were older than Cyrus, and upon reviewing their old acts, were not nearly as racy.

Britney Spears just worked a pole in her "Gimme More" video, but she's 27. Her first performance on the MTV Video Music Awards in 1999 showcased her bare midriff, yes, but also pants and sneakers--not a see-thru tank top, high heels and shorts with 1" inseam like Miley. The focus of the performance was her awesome choreography, not her sexiness. Don't believe me? Check out the routine below, where Britney was 17--one year older than Miley is now.



Do you think teen idols have become increasingly inappropriate? Do you think Miley Cyrus is a bad role model?