Superstar, style icon, musician, model, self-confessed ‘hot mess’ and 24-7 motormouth – whatever you think of Miss Miley Cyrus you definitely can’t ignore her.
Ever since she clambered astride a wrecking ball in nothing but boots and a buzz cut, she’s become as famous for what she doesn’t wear as what she does.
There’s one thing you can count on seeing the 22-year-old in this season though, and that’s her new lippy for M·A·C’s now-legendary Viva Glam campaign.
Following in the stilettos of everyone from RiRi and RuPaul to Pammy Anderson, Nicki Minaj and Lady Gaga (yup, M·A·C’s definitely got a type...), Miley’s the latest sexy, super-controversial megastar to lend her Twitter firepower to a great cause.
In an exclusive chat for The Sunday Mirror's Notebook magazine, she says: "I want people to know they’re not just buying a lipstick from me.
"In the UK, 100% of the price goes towards helping women, men and children everywhere affected by HIV/AIDS. I’m super honoured to be able to help."
Go Miley!
Growing up, did you always have a strong sense of who you are?
I used to have the hardest time feeling good about myself physically. A lot of it started when I chopped my hair off and it was the first time I didn’t listen to anybody.
Because for once, I said I didn’t care and I really didn’t care! From that moment on, I decided that if I want my fans to be themselves, then I have to fully be myself all the time.
How do you define your relationship with your fans?
Any time I do an awards show, I thank my fans first because they’re the most important – without your fans, you’re nothing! I couldn’t do something like this and be any help to anyone without my fans.
I don’t think people understand how personal our relationship is. I can drive past them and know who’s who, from Instagram and Twitter and all that.
Why do you think it’s important to try and push a different idea
of beauty?
I just think I can’t look like everybody else. When something gets popular, that’s when I distance myself from it – I hate blending in and feeling regular.
That’s what I tell my fans, too. Half of them come to my shows in hot dog costumes and stuff – I’m telling them not to care or be the typical ‘sexy’.
How does it feel to be the new VIVA GLAM girl?
I’m excited – it’s important for my fans to be able to see me doing something I love. And when you’re in the position I am, it’s important to give back and find things that you are passionate about, so I’m so happy that M·A·C asked me.
Why is it still so important to raise money to fight HIV/AIDS?
Part of this is education. And helping people who need support. But it’s also about how to prevent this. My fans are so young it’s essential they think about this kind of stuff and if it comes from me it’s less embarrassing than talking to friends or parents.
So many people are scared to talk to their kids and if I can be the one that speaks up and educates young people, I will.
M·A·C celebrates the individual – is that a good fit for you?
That is why I picked such loud colours, because I’m loud! Your hair, clothes and make-up are all a working art piece and you can do you want. That’s why I was so particular and annoying about this shade. It had to be the one that was the most ME.
What’s fun about lipstick is if you have the right colour, you don’t really need anything else. I don’t put much make-up on but I put on crazy lipstick because it makes you feel good, but it doesn’t cover up who you are.
Miley on her best and wildest moments
The Wrecking Ball video...
"You can talk about the sexuality all you want but… you have to respect the fact that it’s art, you have to respect the fact that when you watch the video it makes you feel something and gets you choked up at some points."
The Hannah Montana years...
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"I was told for so long what a girl is supposed to be from being on that show. I was made to look like someone I wasn’t, which probably caused some body dysmorphia because I had been made pretty every day for so long, and then when I wasn’t on that show, it was like, 'Who the f*** am I?'"
Her favourite pose...
"I just stick my tongue out because I hate smiling in pictures. It looks so cheesy. But there’s also something about it I think is cool. Every other girl is so serious — like, ‘This is my moment on the red carpet, I’m in my ballgown, looking pretty.’
"There’s something empowering about what I’m doing. Especially the ‘short hair don’t care'. It’s empowering for girls. There’s not one thing that defines what beauty is."
On getting her boobs out... (but setting a better example than Taylor Swift)
"I don’t get the violence revenge thing [in Taylor Swift’s Bad Blood video]. That’s supposed to be a good example? And I’m a bad role model because I’m running around with my titties out? I’m not sure how titties are worse than guns."
M·A·C Viva Glam Miley Cyrus II bright orange lipstick, £15.50, and Lipglass in bright orange with sparkling pearl, £14.50, are out now at all M·A·C locations, 0870 034 2676 and Maccosmetics.co.uk.