Miley Cyrus: Hannah Montana ?Caused Some Body Dysmorphia?

Miley Cyrus has spoken about how her breakout role as Hannah Montana affected her body image as a teenager constantly in the public eye. The singer is on the cover of Marie Claire this month and gave an interview where she spoke about how the character was written and the speed at which her career developed didn’t help her teenage self.

?From the time I was 11, it was, ?You’re a pop star! That means you have to be blonde, and you have to have long hair, and you have to put on some glittery tight thing,?? she said. The character of Hannah Montana was a teenager who led a double life. In her downtime she was the ordinary Miley Stewart, and one wig change later she was a tween singing sensation who performed to stadiums around the world. The Disney show spawned soundtracks and actual tours, propelling the real Miley to intense superstardom. She worked 12-hour days when filming the show and in one part of the interview revealed that her work schedule was so intense she got her first period wearing white pants on set. She had to beg her mother to put the tampon in so she could get back to shooting.

?Meanwhile, I’m this fragile little girl playing a 16-year-old in a wig and a ton of makeup. It was like Toddlers & Tiaras,? Miley said. The Wrecking Ball singer also spoke very intelligently about what the role of Hannah Montana did her understanding of gender and body image: ?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 fuck am I??

While it’s awful Miley’s teenage years were so difficult, we’re glad she’s speaking out about how fame can mess up a young person’s life. This kind of blunt honesty is an antidote to the Instagram picture perfect life these young starlets and their agents would like you to believe. Thank god Miley is in a much more kind-to-oneself place.

Via Marie Claire