very disappointing as a parent...it's not like she needs the money or any more publicity - she is the biggest child star ever (fan base)

...how do I explain this one to my 10 year old

In my opinion, this is not too racy, unless published, for example, a video she aired at the end of her show on the Disney channel. Nor, for that matter, are the other photos that have surfaced all that disturbing.  She is, after all, 15.  I would be disappointed to see her open-mouth kissing (as one photo shows her w/ a boy) with the girl she is sharing licorice w/, mouth-to-mouth style; or to see this nature of photos taken by friends, impromptu party style; but, to see that there is a halter-top tied around her neck (looking closely) and know that it was done by a professional studio – big whoopidy-doo!

At fifteen, she should be toying, a bit, with her sexuality; and, if the press wouldn’t make such a big deal of it, it is actually healthy.  A 15yr-old hammed it up for her friends’ camera by cracking a smile and raising her shirt past her belly-button?  OoooOOh!  Let’s alert the emergency services every time this happens – then they won’t have time to give me one of those annoying speeding tickets!

Admittedly, I was a bit over-the-top at her age; but I learned the hard way and still, to my eyes, there is nothing here that should make anybody but her parents even pause – and then it does not necessarily become an issue, depending on the level of trust and the relationships within the home.  

Sadly, the issue has been brought to the forerunning by the media.  Hey, disturbed parents:  In today’s world, if your kid is “pre-teen” and you’ve not at least started speaking of the issue of sexuality, you are putting their very lives at risk.  Take all this hub-bob as an opportunity to discuss everything from modern art to sex, maybe toss in where your tolerance for this kind of stuff begins and ends.

Wow what a society ,we're drawn to the titalating then act appaled ,these were provocitive photos shot by a world renouned photographer while her family was present sensual yes pornographic  only in the mind if that where you take it....jeez with all the other real issues that we should be addressing out there ,get off the puritanical white horse and get a life.....

Hi Geist,

Nice observational commentary on the UFO sighting.  I appreciate that you give it its due without dismissing it as something it isn't.  Skeptics get my ire up.  So; just wanted to say thanks!

I can see more on any beach or any community pool in the summer. Who let the prudes take over America?

Dear TODAY,

I am overwhelmed by this Miley Cyrus witch hunt.  How prude has our nation become, that we must completely squash the creative process.  I have been to countless museums and university art shows where there is the inevitable gradeschool tour coming through.  The children giggle as they are hustled past the “inappropiate art” like Picasso and Cezanne simply because there is a painted rendition of a nude figure.  At one university show, an exchange student from Sweden began to cry because children were laughing and pointing at her painting that showed part of a breast.  I had the unfortunate duty of explaining American culture to her.  We are teaching our children early in life to be ashamed of the human form.  I am a father of a seven year old girl, so I am hyper-sensitive to the things she watches, reads, and listens to.  She has enjoyed the Hannah Montana show for a while now and listens to the music and I listen right along with her.  To think that Ms. Cyrus should always be a goofy little girl on a TV show is both short sighted and juvenile.  To be offended by the beautiful photographs that Annie took (with an adult guardian’s consent) is to say that girls aren’t allowed to grow up and no one should show any skin besides the face and hands.  The media’s insane over emphasis on this issue only perpetuates the idea that our bodies are naughty and should be covered at all times.  I feel it’s time we all evolve into the wonderful nation of thinking people that I know we can be.  

Jonathan Elmore

I really can't believe that people are getting worke dup abotu this. It's not like she's Lindsay who's become a straight up freak along with the fact that she's now a lesbian. And it's not like she's coked out like Britney Yes, Miley is 15 and she 's in a business which is very adult and her parents are okay with that sne is okay with that. Those photos aren't that bad. Certainly nothing X-tina would since they are Dirrty enough. Get off her jock strap. If parents have a problem with what their little darling's human role models are doing perhaps they should stop turnnig to secular entertainement of any kind for them to be inspired by. let them listen to some old school Amy Grant or Jaci Valesquez so they can get down with G O D. But don't ruin for the rest of us who think that Miley is coming along nicely. This is the kind of stuff that makes them act out in the first place when they are being accused of behavior they really aren't showing.

the photos of her with her dad kinda make me squirm.....oooooogggggiiiiieeeee!  
I put myself in that position in my mind and ask..."would I have EVER posed in a photo with my dad like THAT one?"   YUCK!!  

For once i thought i could expose my 11 year old daughter to someone i trusted will not do anything wrong. I am very disappointed and will have to watch Miley's moves closely.  In fact i was encouraging my child after i watched the movie of Hannah Montana as there was nothing vulgar in it. I'm afraid i will have to take and dump all the Hannah Montana posters from her room if this keeps getting worse.

Honestly who really cares.  She may be 15 but for crying out loud, mothers need to back off.  Yeah your children watch her on the disney channel but for the girl has to grow up sometimes.  She is a teenager and not a 4 year old!  She should be allowed to live her life and grow in age as well as in style.  She won't be Hannah Montana forever!  She is 15 and growing up, worry about your own children.  If the mothers choose to not allow there children to watch her as Hannah Montana that's there problem. Just because she decides that she wants to step up and possibly grow up somewhat doesn't make her a bad person, it's just showing them that she is growing up.  

The Vanity Fair photos show a lovely young woman.  By contrast, a Miley Cyrus slideshow found elsewhere on this website shows Miley in a stage costume - short kilt, torn t-shirt, etc. - that makes her look like a well-heeled teen prostitute.  Clearly, Disney's not opposed to selling sex - they just can't abide a nude back.  The hypocrisy is breathtaking.

The photo looks creepy to me.  Looks like she is posing for the Grudge 3.

Miley looks ok to me. She and her parents knew what the photo shoot was going to be about. I didn't see any sense in her complaining and apologizing to her fans about it afterwards. At least she didn't do it on her own and her parents were with her.

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