Image via Complex Original
Although she didn't invent twerking and Rihanna is now somewhere wondering whether or not she has become the Mary Kate to her Ashley Olsen, Miley Cyrus has effectively won 2013. Much of her successful transition from Disney teen star to millennial "White Mike" has a lot to do with her use of social media. Sure, it's annoying as all hell to see a girl who couldn't name a Jay Z song if you paid her three years ago suddenly behave as if she grew up Third Ward Trill, but you can't deny that she's gotten away with it one tweet, Instagram upload, and YouTube clip at a time. To wit, here's a look at Miley's memorable socia media moments. Some of these are great for her, while others are great for those who find her utterly phony. Don't worry about the latter, though, Miley. Consider it the ying and the yang. That should make it better, right? After all, aren't you besties with the Ying Yang Twins now?
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Miley's Unicorn Twerk Video
Back in April, Miley Cyrus uploaded a YouTube clip that featured her donning a unicorn suit where she proceeded to twerk. The video gained immediate national attention and inspired legions of copycats, who like Miley, apparently didn't know much about black culture (given twerking has been a thing for damn near 20 years if not more). That resulted in school suspensions across the country. The same can be said of vintage twerkers nationwide, who all suffered from headaches watching all these surburban kids dance off beat. That said, Miley collected her cool points for the stunt and never looked back.
Miley Goes Minaj For Halloween
An apparent member of #TeamMinaj, Miley Cyrus decided to dress up like HB, otherwise known as Nicki Minaj, for Halloween. Part of Miley's allure in the last two years has been her ability to utitlize Twitter and Instagram to give the people a stunning visuals. This is a sillier example of that, but hey, you get it.
Miley Cyrus vs. Tyler, The Creator
Say what you will about Billy Ray's daughter (I sure will in the next couple of slides), but Young Miley does not back down when someone's shade gets into her light. Case in point: Tyler, The Creator being Tyler, The Creator and Miley popping back in return. Oh yeah, the P.S. about liking his music: Classy move.
Miley Loves Hov
Although Miley Cyrus was pretty much nothing more than a symbol to make a point when she was named dropped on Jay Z's Magna Carta Holy Grail album, Miley's attitude was, "F**k it and you. You're not the one being cited on a Jay Z track." Which is exactly why she's also tweeted comments like, "Somewhere in America a Jay Z song is onnnnnn. That's a win win forrrrrr me." Fair enough, culture vulture. Fair enough.
Miley Ain't Worried Bout Nothing
In her first InstaVideo, Miley Cyrus previewed her verse on the remix to the French Montana hit "Ain't Worried About Nothin." A sample of the verse goes as follows: "I'm all white like French Montana, oh shit there goes Hannah Montana, acting like a little southern girl now I'm twerking like I grew up in Atlanta." This is the part where I want to say "Make it stop," but as her Mike Will Made It-produced lead single makes clear, she can't be stopped.
Miley Making Friends
As bad as it is to see minorities used as glorified props in Miley Cyrus recent video, to her credit, she's not exactly forcing people to come on set and shake their asses something proper. After all: Team work makes the dream work.
No Beefing With Bynes
While the world watched Amanda Bynes tweet out her mental instability, some of her victims, like Miley Cyrus, refused to engage. Why? 'Cause their mamas taught them better than that. That's why when Amanda Bynes called Miley ugly, she didn't bother to clap back. When asked about the incident in a radio interview, Miley said, "I won't even entertain that thought. I think it's all so sad, and I don't want to add any fuel to that fire." You see, you don't really have to curse out everyone who gets out of pocket on Twitter or in life. I know, I know: mind boggling, but true. Teach the children, Cyrus.
Miley, Juicy J, and More Twerking
In June, Miley Cyrus joined Juicy J on stage as she proceeded to twerk to the massive hit "Bands A Make Her Dance." The crowd went wild, but critics noted that real twerkers don't need to hold anything. That is, unless they're a little older and less limber.
Miley Pays Homage
When Britney Spears decided to go "urban" with The Neptunes-produced "I'm A Slave 4 U," it felt natural given Britney has always pretty much come across as a southern white girl with a Janet Jackson obsession. Whatever the differences in their approaches, though, at least Miley Cyrus paid homage to Britney after she gave her a compliment about the "We Can't Stop" video. However, as for that dance off between the two: These days one just learned how to shake her ass six months ago and the other hasn't shaken her ass something proper-like since she shaved her head. Can't see that working unless Ciara is called in to show them both the light and the rhythm of the night.
Miley Knows She's White, Yo
Am I surprised that someone who has gone out of her way to use aspects of black culture to separate herself from the "clean cut" image she had as a Disney kid? Not at all. Is it shocking to see her throw a bit of a fit when people call her on it? Second verse, same as the first. But hey, she can always go back to being a princess when this schtick goes stale. Don't worry about it, Miley. Just twerk! Before you know it, there will be another former child star just like you doing the same old two-step and being called on it, too.