"Why Selena Gomez isn't the next Miley Cyrus"

"Why Selena Gomez isn't the next Miley Cyrus"
By Michael Aaron Gallagher of StayFamous.Net

Is Disney star Selena Gomez really the next Miley Cyrus?

Sometimes the media can get ahead of themselves, trying to create a story when there isn't one. Often, entertainment correspondents draw preposterous conclusions from celebrity gossip, scripted responses from publicists and meaningless paparazzi photos, because they are more concerned with television ratings and magazine sales than delivering a story with any real substance. Meanwhile, the public is left to figure it out for themselves.

When I first learned of the supposed feud between superstar Miley Cyrus of the hit Disney show "Hannah Montana" and Selena Gomez of "Wizards of Waverly Place," I immediately wondered if it was a publicity stunt orchestrated by the Disney Channel to increase TV ratings for both stars' shows, an off-screen extension of the rivalry played out when Gomez first guest-starred on "Hannah Montana" in 2007.

Of course, after watching the YouTube video by Cyrus, in which she mocks Gomez (for which she later apologized) and learning of Selena's reported relationship with one of the Jonas brothers (forgive me for not knowing which one, or at least not admitting it publicly), something she coyly discussed in a radio interview with Ryan Seacrest, I found the situation childishly amusing.

Now, several months later, it seems everyone is still referring to Selena Gomez as the next Miley Cyrus.

True, in the grand scheme of things, the "next" Hannah Montana isn't one of the world's most pressing discoveries, but when so-called entertainment journalists get the story wrong, someone needs to step up and set the record straight. As a TV Critic, I would ordinarily sit by and leave it to the fans to draw their own conclusions. But the fact is Selena Gomez is not the next Miley Cyrus, and here's why:

Although both girls share several things in common, namely a hit Disney show in which both stars sing the theme song, and enjoy a faithful fan following, there are a few notable differences that separate the two.

 At age 16, Selena Gomez is already older than Miley Cyrus was when "Hannah Montana" became an international sensation, a part Cyrus began auditioning for when she was 11 years old. As a result, Gomez's "Wizards of Waverly Place" character, Alex Russo will soon outgrow her younger television audience.

 Second, Selena Gomez already has the potential to play an edgier, more mature character than Miley Cyrus can believably pull off. As the star of "Another Cinderella Story" (2008), a sequel to Hillary Duff's "A Cinderella Story" (2004) Gomez clearly has her own style and her own unique attitude.

 Third, Miley Cyrus has a superstar alter-ego. What makes her so popular is that her Hannah Montana character is as big of a celebrity as the real-life Cyrus, which is part of the reason that both her music CDs "Hannah Montana 2" and "Meet Miley Cyrus" were Billboard chart-topping hits in the same year. The Walt Disney Company has not yet created a character for Selena that is larger-than-life like the "High School Musical" franchise or has the broad appeal of the multi-million dollar Hannah Montana Empire.

 Finally, Miley Cyrus has star power behind her. I often joke that Miley recently broke up with her boyfriend Billy Ray (they weren't seen together quite so close after the controversial Vanity Fair photo shoot by photographer Annie Leibovitz). All kidding aside, their relationship and family bond is something to be admired and respected, regardless of the criticism it may endure, and it is a large part of her success both on screen and off.

In a recent telephone conversation I had with a friend, I discussed the media's constant obsession with Miley Cyrus and her apparently growing ego. "Sometimes I wonder if she thinks the world revolves around her," I said, referring to her conspicuous display of self-confidence in front of the camera. To which the person I was speaking replied, "I'm not saying I like it, or agree with it…. but it does."

So is she right? Does the world of entertainment really revolve around "Hannah Montana?"

From being featured in Entertainment Weekly and Forbes Magazine as a top-earning young celebrity to attending the Academy Awards, the American Music Awards, and being a presenter at the Country Music Awards, the MTV Video Music Awards and even the Grammy Awards shows, Miley Cyrus is an unstoppable superpower on the red carpet. And it seems that as long as the world revolves around her, there is no room for Selena Gomez to steal the Disney spotlight away from her.

Regardless of whether the on-going drama between the two girls is real or man-made, one thing is certain: there is only one Hannah Montana, something that will be proven at the box office when the much anticipated "Hannah Montana: The Movie" hits theaters April 10. And though Selena Gomez is not the next Miley Cyrus, with 208,453 friends on MySpace and an upcoming album to be released this summer, don't count her out just yet. After all, she may just be able to become a superstar on her very own.

Selena Gomez can be seen in "Wizards of Waverly Place" airing Sundays at 8:30/7:30c on the Disney Channel and Miley Cyrus stars in "Hannah Montana" airing every day at 7:30/6:30c on the Disney Channel and Saturday mornings at 11 a.m. on ABC.

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