Miley Cyrus on being “so proud” of past “mistakes” and what she would change
Miley Cyrus has opened up about being “so proud” of her past mistakes and revealed what she would change.
The ‘Flowers’ pop star spoke to Pamela Anderson about Gia Coppola’s new film The Last Showgirl, in which Anderson portrays Shelly Gardner. Cyrus’ recent single ‘Beautiful That Way’ was recorded for the movie’s soundtrack.
When speaking about the song – co-written by Cyrus, Lykke Li and Andrew Wyatt – Cyrus explained that she “wanted to be a showgirl” when she was growing up, and said she was inspired by Anderson in her younger years.
“When people would ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I would say you,” the singer continued. “And the whole thing – the tattoos, the hair… all of it. That’s all I wanted to do.”
Cyrus then recalled the “many pivots and different evolutions” across her own career. “One might say ‘detours’,” she added. “But it always ends up coming back around to make the next stage of who we are. Something that’s more potent, something that’s more real.”
The star then responded to Anderson saying she wanted to “just let everything go – all my past, everything I’ve ever done”, and that she had been advised to “bring it with [her]” instead.
“That’s exactly what I need to do… I’m not ashamed of my life. I don’t need to let anything go,” Anderson said.
Cyrus replied: “Funnily enough in my life, when I look back, all the mistakes, anything that I was unsure of or I didn’t understand, I am so proud of every moment and every stage of my life.
“I would not go back and change anything. Except [for] a couple of things I was wearing.”
She said: “The thing that upset everyone else wasn’t the thing that upset me.” When Anderson told Cyrus that “you learn from your mistakes”, the latter replied: “And you know what? That’s what life is.”
Cyrus’ ‘Beautiful That Way’ earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Original Song at the 2025 awards. The singer said it was “an honour” be receive the nod, writing: “I am continuing to root for [Anderson], it’s so fun to watch her shine.
“Thank you Gia Coppola for inviting me to be a part of your gem The Last Showgirl.”
In 2023, Cyrus reflected on the “upsetting” controversy around her 2008 Vanity Fair cover when she was 15 years old.
“This image of me is a complete opposite of the bubble gum pop star that I had been known for being, and that’s what was so upsetting,” she said. “But, really, really brilliant choices looking back now from those people.”
When the cover was first released, Cyrus issued a statement apologising for the photoshoot. In 2018, however, she marked the 10th anniversary of the image and walked back her apology. “I’m not sorry…fuck you #10yearsago,” she wrote.
Elsewhere in 2024, Cyrus admitted that she had felt “guilt and shame” over controversies earlier in her career. “Now that I’m an adult, I realise how harshly I was judged,” she said.
The artist faced particular scrutiny in her early 20s when promoting her 2013 album ‘Bangerz’, which was seen as an attempt to radically shake off her Disney star image. She infamously twerked against Robin Thicke at that year’s VMAs, and appeared naked on a demolition ball in the video for her hit single ‘Wrecking Ball’.
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Tom Skinner
NME
