on self-discovery and demonstrating her unbelievable talent through music. Numerous fans take this as a sign of her being in a happier, healthier place than ever before. Of course, not everyone was pleased with her sudden genre shift. Cyrus is no stranger to accusations of cultural appropriation, and her comeback tracks didn’t sit well with many who believed that she profited off of hip hop culture for years only to throw it away for a new country sound. For someone who had an era of music fueled by hip hop beats and tracks featuring notable rappers, she was quick to imply that the genre is misogynistic in a recent Billboard interview. Many found fault with her utilizing black culture
when it’s convenient and failing to use her position of privilege to speak out on issues facing the black community. Cyrus has had her fair share of highs, lows, and complete turnarounds in her career, however, it’s obvious where she stands on her personal evolution. She’s insistent that the bizarre Bangerz era—and all of the shenanigans and controversies that came along with it—was not a phase. In fact, in a recent interview she claimed that she’s always her most authentic self, whether she’s wearing a sundress and singing about love on the beach or partying in a barely-there ensemble: “I’m always the most me, really.”
17