Miley Cyrus: Hannah Montana caused body image issues

Miley played Hannah for five years

Miley Cyrus has spoken about how growing up as Hannah Montana led to body image issues.

"I was made to look like someone that I wasn't," Miley told Marie Claire, "which probably caused some body dysmorphia."

The 22-year-old explained: "I had been made pretty every day for so long and then when I wasn't on that show, it was like, who ... am I?"

Miley starred in Hannah Montana TV series from 2006 to 2011.

Miley as Hannah Montana in 2006

The hit Disney show was about a schoolgirl who led a double life as a pop star.

"From the time I was 11, it was, 'You're a pop star! That means you have to be blonde, and you have to have long hair, and you have to put on some glittery tight thing.'

"Meanwhile, I'm this fragile little girl playing a 16-year-old in a wig and a ton of makeup."

She compared her experience to Toddlers & Tiaras, the controversial reality show about the world of child beauty pageants.

"I was told for so long what a girl is supposed to be," Miley added.

Miley shed her good girl image with her twerking performance at the MTV VMAs in 2013

After Hannah Montana finished, Miley's dad Billy Ray Cyrus said he wished it had never been made.

Body dysmorphia is, according to the NHS, an anxiety disorder that causes a person to have a distorted view of how they look and to spend a lot of time worrying about their appearance.

For advice and support on body image and other issues, visit the BBC Advice pages.

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