In 2008, People magazine asked Miley Cyrus how she would describe herself.

“Coolest. Person. Ev-er! Really, I think I’m chill. I am very hyper but I’m very carefree. That’s something that I definitely inherited from my dad. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve noticed I’ve gotten more like that.”

Three years later, Miley seems to have become even more “carefree” and that must be why she called her latest album Can’t Be Tamed (released locally by MCA Music, Inc., which portrays her in a “more sexualized image”), in the press release for which she has been quoted as saying, “On every project I learn and change. As I’ve gotten older, my image has changed a little bit. I’m more of a woman now than the kid that started on Hannah Montana. I’ve grown up. I’ve learned a lot along the way.”

It must be tough for Miley, who’s turning 19 on Nov. 23, to be growing up in a very public family like the Cyruses whose patriarch is country-singer/actor Billy Ray Cyrus. Miley was born Destiny Hope Cyrus…Hope, because her parents (mother is Leticia “Tish” Finley) were convinced that she would accomplish great things in life. Miley is short for Smiley, the nickname her parents gave Miley because she was said to be always smiling when she was a baby.

Miley’s siblings are, understandably, also into showbiz — Brandi is a guitarist, Noah is an actress and Trace is a vocalist/guitarist of the pop band Metro Station.

When Miley was nine years old, her father took her to watch Mamma Mia! at a theater in Canada where the family moved while Miley’s father was filming the TV series Doc. Miley was awed by what was going on onstage, and she grabbed her dad’s arm and said, “This is what I want to do, Daddy. I want to be an actress.”

She has become not only an actress but also a singer, author, entrepreneur, fashion designer, songwriter, musician and dancer. And a big star, too, ranked No. 13 on Forbes’ 2010 Celebrity 100 and, last April, voted the 64th hottest woman in the world by Maxim’s Hot 100.

And what a colorful life she leads, highlighted by both landmark concerts and albums, and headline-making romances that linked her to, among others, Nick Jonas (the diabetic youngest member of the Jonas Brothers) from 2006 to 2009 and Australian actor Liam Hemsworth (Miley’s leading man in the movie The Last Song) from 2009 to 2011.

On Friday, June 17, her Filipino fans will have a chance to see how “sexy” Miley has become and listen to her sing “live’ selections (among other numbers) from herCan’t Be Tamed album during her first ever concert in Manila, The Corazon Gitano (Gypsy Heart) Tour at the SM MOA Concert Grounds, presented by Smart, Olay Natural Beauty Bar, Whisper and GMA, in partnership with Futuretainment Inc. (the company owned and managed by Marvin Agustin) and Music Management International (MMI).

Rhiza Pascua, who heads MMI, arranged an exclusive phone interview with Miley forConversations last Tuesday, June 7, while your Conversationalist was in Los Angeles to cover the blessing of Dr. Vicki Belo’s first clinic (more on that in tomorrow’s issue) in the US, located at Suite 201, 1160 North Central Avenue, Glendale, California.

A few reminders (from the MMI guys and Miley’s “handler”): No questions about Hannah Montana or about politics. Focus on Miley’s concert tour. Shoot!

The phone at my Thompson Hotel Beverly Hills room rang at exactly 12 noon, the appointed hour. It was Miley’s “handler” calling. She promptly put Miley on the line.

Hello, Miley!

“Hi, how are you?

I’m okay except for a little jetlag. How are you this sunshiny Tuesday morning?

“Hmmmm. I’m okay.”

Oh good, even if you sound a bit sleepy.

“Hmmmmm.”

Anyway, your current The Corazon Gitano (Gypsy Heart) Tour has brought you to Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama, Mexico and other Latin countries. How is it so far?

“It’s been amazing, you know. I spent so many times working but also not working. This is the first tour that I actually enjoyed the countries that I’d been to, so it’s been amazing!”

This is your third world tour after Best of Both Worlds and Wonder World, isn’t it?

“Oh yes, it is.”

How would you compare this tour to the previous two?

“Sure, it’s different. Kind of a different audience. The songs are the ones that I really love to do, not songs that I’ve grown out of. The songs cover topics that I love and artists that I love. I can feel that the audience(s) are touched by those songs, that’s why the tour is amazing.”

And how different are you now as a person and artist from you were during the first two tours?

“I think that I just continue to get better and I think I know myself more. I’m more comfortable with what and who I am, and I connect even more effectively with my fans now. So, it’s…good!”

It’s a back-breaking schedule. How do you prepare for a world tour?

“You know, that shouldn’t really be awful because after South America, I took three weeks off. And then I go to Australia and then on to the Philippines. The thing is that, I get some time off between shows. During those three-week rest periods, I go home, get together with friends. It’s a good way of re-charging.”

It’s your first time to perform in the Philippines…

“…yes.”

What have you heard about the Philippines?

“Quite a lot. My brother Trace and his band have actually been on tour which covered Asian countries. I’ve heard good things about the Philippines.”

What can we expect from your concert in Manila on June 17?

“I’ve never been there, so I guess my concert will be something special.”

I’ve noticed that you communicate with your fans via social networking. Recently, you posted this entry in your Twitter account: “Honestly, I can’t believe my first show is already over. Amazinnggg. The crowd was beyond incredible. I cried my eyes out. So touched, ILY.”And this: “From bottom of my heart, THANK YOU BRAZIL. Shows like these are what inspire me to get going when the going gets tough.”

“Oh, you read them!”

Some celebrities find “social networking” very risky. How do you feel about it?

“Yes, they do. I guess you just have to be careful with what you enter in your Twitter.Since I’d been away from home, I haven’t really had much time to do it. The first day I got home, I wrote messages for my fans. When I’m on tour, I write about what happens on the road but when I’m not on tour I usually don’t. You just got to make sure that no one intrudes into your private life and you, you know, you keep it to yourself.”

How else do you communicate with your fans? Do you answer fan mails?

“They can simply communicate with me through my Twitter.”

I read an article about Paul McCartney saying that your popularity (and that of Justin Bieber) reminded him of Beatlemania. How do you feel about that?

“I don’t think anything can ever compare with Beatlemania or anybody can ever compare to the Beatles.”

What type of music do you go for? And who are your role models?

“You know, I go for all types.”

As a role model yourself, how do you live up to that responsibility?

“You know, you can never put so much space on yourself. At the end of the day, you have to be able to shut up and stop entertaining at some point. It’s amazing how people look up to me. But you know, my job is not to be perfect because I don’t have a happy life. You have to be happy with yourself first and foremost.”

Any message for your fans in the Philippines?

“Hmmmm. I’m looking forward to seeing you. See you at the concert.”

(Note: The Philippine STAR is among the sponsors of The Miley Cyrus Corazon Gitano [Gypsy Heart] Tour at SM MOA Concert Grounds on June 17, starting at 8 p.m., presented by Smart, Olay Natural White Bar, Whisper and GMA in partnership with Marvin Agustin’s Futuretainment Inc. and Music Management International. Ticket prices are P7,640 for VIP, P4,670 for Gold A, P4,670 for Gold B, P3,500 for Silver, P1,844 for Bronze and P650 for General Admission. Call Ticketworld at 891-999, SM Tickets at 470-222 or Smart at 0947-39MILEY [64539] or Futuretainment at 577-3265 or 586-7275.)

Source: philSTAR.com