“She’s too wild.”

“She sure is strange.”

“Everything she does is for attention.”

“Can’t she put some clothes on??!!”

“I miss the old Miley.”

These are the most common reactions I get when I mention that I am a loyal Miley Cyrus fan. I’ve been a fan since Hannah Montana premiered when I was eight years old. That was over ten years ago. That’s a long time. Despite that long time, and despite the fact that many of us who watch Hannah Montana have grown up, a lot of people wish that Miley remain stagnant. Like most child stars she has to deal with a public who's been brainwashed to believe that she would never grow up. A public who is partly responsible for the hardship and tragic lives of many former child stars. She’s had to deal with a public who believed-crazily-that she would remain picture perfect. When she decided to explore, when she decided to try and figure herself out, she was ridiculed. I however, defended her through most things.

Remember when she went through that barely clothed, sticking out her tongue, and cutting her hair stage? Yeah, I was there too. At the time, I couldn’t explain why but, now being the same age as Miley was when she went “ludacris” I completely understand. Not saying that I would do everything that Miley Cyrus did when she was exploring, but I understand. If I could get away with half the stuff she did, I would possibly do it. I would love to go a tad bit crazy for a couple of years and then have the chance to buckle down and get serious. Actually, that sounds like the life of most 18-22 years olds. Sounds like most people in college. (That was meant to be read with both irony and sarcasm.) It just seems she was so dramatic because of the context of her behavior, one cannot look at Miley Cyrus’s life in the context of Disney or normalcy. Her situation is so foreign but at the same time so similar to ours.

The reason I bring this argument is up, because Miley recently dropped a single from her untitled upcoming album called Malibu. The song is receiving amazing reviews. But, the constant comment about the album is that she is simply going through a “phase.” People can’t seem to be able to believe that this girl singing about finding love in Malibu is the same girl who sung about getting high and partying all night four years ago. Why is that so hard to believe? What’s wrong with phases? Doesn’t everyone go through phases? Doesn’t everyone go through a party animal phrase? Don’t expect someone to remain stagnant in their life. Whether that be a celebrity or not. There is nothing wrong with Miley determining that a lifestyle she once admired when she was nineteen, isn’t for her at the ripe age of twenty four.

“She seems happy.”

“She’s learning.”

“She’s growing as a person.”

These are the comments that I would love to hear about Miley Cyrus in the next few months as she releases her new album. Let’s not crucify someone for simply evolving as a person.