Imitation is the biggest form of flattery...

The Mis-Education of Miley Cyrus
*this by no means was written by a Rihanna fan* (Stans, stay calm.)

2013 brought about many accomplishments for Miley Cyrus, her album “Bangerz” debuted at #1, her name is now synonymous with the word “twerk” and she was named the most goggled person of the year (Go Miley.)  With a nipple baring photo shoot with famed photographer Terry Richardson and twerking her way through songs, there’s no wonder her name was searched that often. This was the year that most child stars dream of; the year where you shed that good girl/boy image and catapult yourself into an adult career. Cyrus did what took Britney Spears years and a breakdown to do in less than 2 months. She looked in a few magazines, found a new stylist and “reinvented herself”.

It started with a haircut, a blunt bob style cut that screamed “ I’m Grown I can do whatever I want”, something many fans and media outlets thought was a cry for help; this was only the tip of the iceberg. Later the Pop Princess decided to rid any thoughts or ideas about bringing Hannah Montana to life when she cut the bob shorter and decided to shave off one side. With a new haircut and  tongue always out of her mouth, Miley was declaring her adulthood. You know that phrase “there’s nothing new under the sun”, Miley Cyrus and many others are walking testimony of that phrase.

For years now Rihanna has been the leader of the Bad Girls Club, with her “I don’t giva a f---” attitude and her ever evolving style, BadGalRiri has also made her mark on the industry as a force to be reckoned with. Similar to Cyrus where they both lack in the  voice department, they make up for in Style and outlandish behavior. I won’t blame Miley for her new Rihanna-ish look, she( just like most artist ) has a stylist in her ear saying “this is what I pulled for you." However,  it’s up to the artist ultimately to say “you know Rihanna just wore that at the EMTV Awards” or “that’s not really how I want to look.  Miley’s current stylist Lisa Katnic in fact has worked with Rihanna on many occasions, and maybe saw a little of the Bajan beauties personality in Cyrus.

After her makeover, she released a summer time anthem “We can’t stop” (which was originally written for Rihanna) but  Rihanna and her  team had already put out “Diamonds" as her first single for her new CD.  Cyrus claimed the song and made it her first single instead. With a visual following closely behind, Mileys reinvention plan was in full effect. This "re-inventment"  is common with female singers though. Back in 2011 Madonna started a “beef” with Lady Gaga over her “copying” things that she has done in her career (I.e the born this way video, and the pointed bra) but two (2) artist in the same genre, in the same period almost being identical style wise is somewhat of a new phenomena. In today’s industry emulating the black culture has gotten  many Caucasian artist an advancement withing their careers.  Justin Bieber for example, who was taken under Ushers wing has morphed himself into what can arguably be described as “the white Chris Brown”. He’s hired Chris’ current stylist Ugomozie -- coincidence? 

Why is it that if another African American artist comes out and is somewhat inspired by another artist of the same ethnicity, is it referred to  “jocking” ? But when a Caucasian artist takes from the urban artist it’s “reinventing." Miley Cyrus has found herself in Rihanna style wise, attitude wise and nobody has noticed it (or openly spoke out about it.) She say’s in interviews that “this is who I am, I want the world to know the real me”. Now, I’m not saying that you cant be the daughter of Billy Ray Cyrus, have a incredible child hood, and a successful tv show before you were 16 and the real you be a twerking black girl trapped in a rich white girls body, that’s not my point. 

Miley Cyrus is a phenomenal artist with a voice all her own, but this “New Miley” is a milked  down version of what Rihanna has been for the last 4 years. We all know celebrites  go through phases, they have to continuously change up their looks to stay relevant.  In Mileys case, she  had to change it up and give us something to constantly talk about (great PR.)

 imitation is the biggest form of flattery, and Rihanna definitely should be flattered.
 

-Markess B.

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