Today's Ypulse Guest post is from reader Amy Sondova. Amy is a writer and counselor who comes from the Christian teen media world (see her bio at the end of this piece). If you work in youth media or marketing and would like to write a Ypulse Guest Post, just email me with your idea.

Hidden Identity: Why Girls Love Hannah Montana

Debuting in March 2006, "Hannah Montana" the Emmy-nominated TV show launched Miley Cyrus (and Hannah Montana) into instant stardom, both on-screen and on-stage. There's the "Best of Both Worlds" concert tour (and movie) starring Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus. Hannah Montana merchandise lines the shelves of retail outlets and news of Miley Cyrus dominates the headlines.

The TV show features Hannah Montana, a huge pop sensation in the world of celebrity living secretly as Miley Stewart, typical teenager. Playing Miley Stewart/Hannah Montana is real-life star, Miley Cyrus, daughter of country singer Billy Ray Cyrus, who also plays her dad on the show. Yes, it is a confusing breeding ground for identity issues.
But it begs the question — what's up with all the Hannah-mania?

Tweens like to have their own stars. Gone are they days of 30 year-old actors playing high school students. Tweens and teens want to see teenagers played by teen (or young adult) actors. Fifteen year-old Miley Cyrus plays 15 year-old Miley Stewart/Hannah Montana — not too complicated. Tweens feel "represented" when a star close to their age appears on the screen. They can identify with Miley as an actress, but also as a character.

In fact, it is also the reason why fans tend to blur the line between Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus, unable to fully accept Hannah Montana is a fictional character. Then again, when a fictional character goes on a very real world tour, it does get complicated. It's like when my parents took me to see Sesame Street Live as a child — Big Bird was in front of me in his yellow feathery glory; therefore, he was real.

Hannah and Miley are appealing characters. Both Hannah and Miley deal with things in a manner that tickles the funny bones of Disney viewers. In true sitcom fashion, Hannah's life has a problem that impacts Miley's life and hilarity ensures. For example, one of the character's main goals is to keep her Hannah identity separate from her Miley identity and vice versa, which can be a challenge. Miley Stewart wants "the best of both worlds," meaning she wants to live her rock star life but also go to school as a normal teenager. When one secret threatens the other, Miley/Hannah does whatever she can (usually with the help of her friends and family) to ensure that her secret is kept safe.

Hannah/Miley deal with the regular stuff, too. In one episode, Hannah Montana discovers her other celebrity friends have hip new cell phones, and she has yesterday's popular model. Despite being oh-so-famous, she frantically tries to get the cell phone to "fit in" with the popular celebrity crowd. Miley worries about boys, gives in to peer pressure, and sneaks out to go to a party. These are very normal teen issues presented in a unique format which appeals to the younger crowd, even when it seems silly to parents and other adults.

Tweens secretly dream of living the best of both worlds, too. Miley Stewart is not one of the popular kids. Constantly dealing with the taunts of two popular girls, Miley shows girls how to stand up to bullies in sitcom fashion. At times, she expresses frustration over her treatment realizing that if these people knew she was really Hannah Montana, she would receive more respect. Then again, she understands it would cost her the normal life she so desperately wants.

Tweens and teens are undergoing an identity formation process — they are still developing who they are, what they believe, and what they will become. Latching onto the hidden identity seems natural, because so many girls desperately hope that they are more than what meets the eye. They hope they can one day unleash their inner Hannah Montana and let the world see how talented, lovely, and captivating they really are.

"Hannah Montana" is storyline that allows girls to vicariously live out their starry-eyed dreams. Being the secret celebrity in homeroom or the hidden teen rock star in gym class, girls long to escape the confines of their ordinary, sometimes difficult lives, and dream of a hidden identity — something far beyond the imaginations and limitations of their very normal lives. Almost every girl wants just that — the best of both worlds — people to love them for who they are and people to love them for their celebrity. But in the end, girls just want to be valued and loved — no matter which world they live in.

Amy Sondova is a writer specializing in media writing, including interviews and reviews, as well as blogging. Having interviewed over 30 of the top musicians, writers, and speakers in the Christian media, Amy has also written countless columns, reviews, and articles on various topics including mental illness, self-injury, working with teenagers, and Christianity. As well as holding a B.A. in communications, Amy holds a M.A. in biblical counseling, and has worked as a professional therapist. You can visit Amy's blog or check out her online e-zine, a faith-based site focusing on God, culture, music, counseling and photography.

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