This document discusses the concept of constructed celebrity images using Miley Cyrus as a case study. It argues that Miley's image and persona have changed dramatically over time in response to influences from the music industry and changing trends. Her image was initially wholesome under Hollywood Records but became more sexualized and provocative after she signed with RCA Records. Throughout her career, Miley has shaped her public persona through strategic use of social media and by cultivating an image that appeals to target audiences.

1. Yousef El-Badri

2.  Constructed, artificial images -
advertising, magazines, films and
music. Good if they have a Unique
Selling Point which makes them
different.
 Record companies groom starts
(artificial constructions) - we have
more respect for them if they groom
themselves.
 We want to believe that stars convey
their real emotions to us.
 Stars - manufactured to make money
from audience for record labels.
 Forms of media dedicated to celebrity
gossip where fans can catch up with
the lives of favourite stars.
 Stars are representations of the
contradictions/reinforced ideas of the
music industry.
 Pop stars can be seen as actors -
images are constantly changed to
match ideologies of the time - getting
publicity (whether negative or positive)
enables them to remain in the spotlight

3.  A prime example of the Star
Image theory is Miley Cyrus.
2007 2014

4.  Richard Dyer believes that ‘Pop stars’ are constructed, artificial images -
advertising, magazines, films and music. Good if they have a Unique Selling
Point which makes them different. So they are seen more as an image rather
than a person.
 Miley Cyrus portrays a sex appeal to her audiences which may draw jealous
females too her and it will inevitably draw males to her bringing her into the
limelight more. However, this backs up Dyer’s theory because she will be
seen as more of an object rather than a human being.
 This image was represented of her at the VMA’s in September 2013 when
she was ‘Twerking’ on stage with Robin Thicke. This act from Miley gave her
more of a Unique Selling Point so in a way it made her more of a ‘pop star’

5.  It could be argued that Hollywood Records changed Miley’s appearance to fit
her audience. Miley first signed with Hollywood Records in 2007 when the
second season of Hannah Montana was released, this was also a big time for
Miley because her song ‘The Best Of Both Worlds’ was released as well. So it
could be argued that Hollywood Records had an influence on the way Miley
dressed and looked because as she was increasingly becoming a star the
Industries wanted to use her USP for their own gain, so you could say that
Hollywood Records influence on her gave us the impression of a young,
sweet and innocent Miley Cyrus.
 When Miley signed for RCA records in January 2013 it could be argued that
this had the biggest influence on her appearance, later on in the year she
released her single ‘Wrecking Ball’, in this video she is shown to be a more
wild with her new hair style and revealing dress choice. It could be argued
that RCA records changed her appearance to make her seem more adult like
but still a party animal at the same time. This was a drastic change from her
sweet innocent look under Hollywood Records.

6.  Miley Cyrus constantly tweets about her
adopting dogs, she encourages her
followers to follow in her footsteps and
save homeless dogs and give them
homes. She is a big advocate for
homeless dogs and promotes adoption by
plastering twitter with pictures of herself
and her adopted pets; this is creating a
star persona for Miley.
 Miley is also an avid Gay Rights activist,
she often takes to Twitter to tweet about
Gay Rights, she also has a Gay Rights
tattoo which she defends.
 Miley has been shaped and developed
her image throughout her life and every
change is due to the fact that times are
changing and she needs to fit in with
what the audience expects and what they
want to see. Her personality has changed
from being a sweet, innocent Miley who
led a double life as Hannah Montana, to
being this sex symbol and a teenage
rebellion then ending up becoming a punk
idol who creates trends and keeps up
with the latest fashion. Although she has
changed her appearance and her
personality, she has always been the
stereotypically pop star which is thin and
beautiful, this has allowed her to keep
audiences interested in her.

7.  After doing research on Richard
Dyer's theory, I will use it to
construct the image of my own artist
because it will help to make my artist
to become well known and having
the right star image, which is what I
want to achieve. To construct the
correct image, my artist will need to
be featured in different media such
as music videos, TV, magazines. That
way, audience will pay attention on
him and he will get the recognition.
 My artist is involved in the house
music genre, therefore his image
should be created conventionally so
his image targets to a specific
audience (Teens – Young Adults). The
most common way for an artist to
become well known is to have their
own unique fashion and style,
because it will stand out from the
others, so therefore the image of my
artist will be created to have an
unique hairstyle to make his star
image unique.