Miley Cyrus Attempts Risky Image Makeover
Miley Cyrus was a perky 12-year-old at her audition for the role of Zoe in "Hannah Montana." She got the part, and became a tween queen to millions of fans, like 13-year-old Natalie.
"She's just a normal teen, like everyone else," Natalie said.
Between the TV show, movies and record sales, the "Hanna Montana" franchise earns the 17-year-old $25 million a year and makes hundreds of millions for Disney, reports CBS News correspondent Anthony Mason.
"It's the biggest teen brand that's ever been invented by Disney" said Bonnie Fuller, the editor-in-chief of Hollywoodlife.com.
But something has happened to Hannah Montana. On her new album, out next week, Miley is auditioning again to graduate from teen idol to pop diva.
"She's doing everything the opposite of what her brand was. She's becoming highly sexual," Fuller said.
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But with photos in Vanity Fair two years ago, Miley was already headed for a breakout.
"I think of you as a kid, but you are more than a kid, but you are a kid, aren't you?" David Letterman asked her.
With Letterman last night, Miley said she's just growing up.
"I don't think I've missed out on anything, but I think it is hard," she said.
Disney stars have declared their independence before. Mouseketeer Britney Spears did it in hot pants. Another Mouseketeer, Christina Aguilera, just got "Dirrty."
Becoming a pop star, in the age of Twitter-length attention spans, means generating buzz. If Miley wants to play with the big girls, she'll have to compete with the likes of Lady Gaga and Katy Perry, who know how to make people talk. It could be a risky move for Miley, because next to them, her video "Can't Be Tamed" looks, well, tame.
