Miley Cyrus has gone from an apple-cheeked preteen to a confident singer/actress with the whole world watching. As Cyrus celebrates her 20th birthday on Friday, November 23, we recount her transformation in 20 photos.
Happy 20th birthday, Miley Cyrus —
Miley Cyrus has gone from an apple-cheeked preteen to a confident singer/actress with the whole world watching. As Cyrus celebrates her 20th birthday on Friday, November 23, we recount her transformation in 20 photos.
Michael Kovac/Getty Images/File
Seen here at 13 in May 2006, Miley Cyrus was the star of the Disney Channel's "Hannah Montana" series, playing a teen with a secret pop star alter-ego.
Miley Cyrus, age 13 —
Seen here at 13 in May 2006, Miley Cyrus was the star of the Disney Channel's "Hannah Montana" series, playing a teen with a secret pop star alter-ego.
Marsaili McGrath/Getty Images/File
The role turned Cyrus into a singer as well as an actress. Here, she performs at a Radio Disney concert held in Anaheim, California, in July 2006.
Miley Cyrus, age 13 —
The role turned Cyrus into a singer as well as an actress. Here, she performs at a Radio Disney concert held in Anaheim, California, in July 2006.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images/File
The urge to perform must run in the family. Cyrus, of course, is the daughter of country star Billy Ray Cyrus.
Miley Cyrus, age 13 —
The urge to perform must run in the family. Cyrus, of course, is the daughter of country star Billy Ray Cyrus.
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images/File
Cyrus' fame spilled over from the Disney Channel into mainstream pop culture. Here, she arrives at MTV's "Total Request Live" in 2007.
Miley Cyrus, age 14 —
Cyrus' fame spilled over from the Disney Channel into mainstream pop culture. Here, she arrives at MTV's "Total Request Live" in 2007.
Evan Agostini/Getty Images/File
Before she turned 15, the young star was selling out concert stops as "Hannah Montana" and as herself, which <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2007%2FSHOWBIZ%2FTV%2F10%2F12%2Fmontana.tickets%2F" target="_blank">she did in the fall of 2007</a> with the "Best of Both Worlds" tour.
Miley Cyrus, age 14 —
Before she turned 15, the young star was selling out concert stops as "Hannah Montana" and as herself, which she did in the fall of 2007 with the "Best of Both Worlds" tour.
Gerardo Mora/Getty Images/File
Cyrus is a frequent guest at the American Music Awards. Here, she arrives at the 2007 show just days before her 15th birthday.
Miley Cyrus, age 14 —
Cyrus is a frequent guest at the American Music Awards. Here, she arrives at the 2007 show just days before her 15th birthday.
Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images/File
In 2008, Cyrus starred in the 3-D concert film, "Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds." Here, she and Ashley Tisdale embrace at the film's premiere after party.
Miley Cyrus, age 15 —
In 2008, Cyrus starred in the 3-D concert film, "Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds." Here, she and Ashley Tisdale embrace at the film's premiere after party.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
At the 50th Grammy Awards in February 2008, Cyrus debuted a more severe look than fans had seen in the past. In April of that year, <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2008%2FSHOWBIZ%2FMusic%2F04%2F28%2Fcyrus.photos%2Findex.html"> Cyrus came under fire</a> for an infamously suggestive photo in Vanity Fair that implied she was topless.
Miley Cyrus, age 15 —
At the 50th Grammy Awards in February 2008, Cyrus debuted a more severe look than fans had seen in the past. In April of that year, Cyrus came under fire for an infamously suggestive photo in Vanity Fair that implied she was topless.
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images/File
Pushing her acting resume beyond "Hannah Montana," Cyrus teamed with John Travolta for the 2008 animated feature "Bolt." Here, the co-stars arrive at the film's Los Angeles premiere in November 2008.
Miley Cyrus, age 15 —
Pushing her acting resume beyond "Hannah Montana," Cyrus teamed with John Travolta for the 2008 animated feature "Bolt." Here, the co-stars arrive at the film's Los Angeles premiere in November 2008.
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images/File
Cyrus' 16th birthday coincided with the American Music Awards in 2008, and she celebrated with a cake and friends backstage.
Miley Cyrus, age 16 —
Cyrus' 16th birthday coincided with the American Music Awards in 2008, and she celebrated with a cake and friends backstage.
Michael Buckner/Getty Images/File
Cyrus had a box office success with 2009's "Hannah Montana: The Movie." Here, she arrives at the film's Los Angeles premiere in April 2009.
Miley Cyrus, age 16 —
Cyrus had a box office success with 2009's "Hannah Montana: The Movie." Here, she arrives at the film's Los Angeles premiere in April 2009.
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images/File
Cyrus stirred up more controversy at the 2009 Teen Choice Awards when she hopped on top of an ice cream cart and danced around a pole while singing her hit single "Party in the USA."
Miley Cyrus, age 16 —
Cyrus stirred up more controversy at the 2009 Teen Choice Awards when she hopped on top of an ice cream cart and danced around a pole while singing her hit single "Party in the USA."
Jason Merritt/Getty Images/File
At the Grammy Awards in 2010, Cyrus showed off a more adult look and a new hair color.
Miley Cyrus, age 17 —
At the Grammy Awards in 2010, Cyrus showed off a more adult look and a new hair color.
Gabriel Bouys/Getty Images/File
Cyrus began dating her "The Last Song" co-star Liam Hemsworth in 2009, and the two went on to have a closely chronicled relationship. Here, the couple embraces at an Academy Awards party in March 2010.
Miley Cyrus, age 17 —
Cyrus began dating her "The Last Song" co-star Liam Hemsworth in 2009, and the two went on to have a closely chronicled relationship. Here, the couple embraces at an Academy Awards party in March 2010.
Larry Busacca/Getty Images/File
Cyrus stole the show with her costume when she took the stage at the Rock in Rio Madrid Festival in June 2010.
Miley Cyrus, age 17 —
Cyrus stole the show with her costume when she took the stage at the Rock in Rio Madrid Festival in June 2010.
Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images/File
Cyrus turned 18 two days after attending the 2010 American Music Awards on November 21. Not long after she celebrated her big day, a video leaked of Cyrus taking a bong hit of salvia.
Miley Cyrus, age 18 —
Cyrus turned 18 two days after attending the 2010 American Music Awards on November 21. Not long after she celebrated her big day, a video leaked of Cyrus taking a bong hit of salvia.
Jason Merritt/Getty Images/File
In December 2011, still dating boyfriend Liam Hemsworth, Cyrus made headlines when she walked the red carpet at the CNN Heroes event in Los Angeles. The singer/actress later had to refute gossip that she'd had a breast augmentation.
Miley Cyrus, age 19 —
In December 2011, still dating boyfriend Liam Hemsworth, Cyrus made headlines when she walked the red carpet at the CNN Heroes event in Los Angeles. The singer/actress later had to refute gossip that she'd had a breast augmentation.
Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images/File
After plenty of rumors, <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2007%2FSHOWBIZ%2FTV%2F10%2F12%2Fmontana.tickets%2F" target="_blank">it was confirmed in June 2012</a> that Cyrus and Hemsworth were engaged.
Miley Cyrus, age 19 —
After plenty of rumors, it was confirmed in June 2012 that Cyrus and Hemsworth were engaged.
Toby Canham/Getty Images/File
When Cyrus chopped off her hair and styled it as a bleached blonde pixie in August 2012, it was the haircut heard 'round the world.
Miley Cyrus, age 19 —
When Cyrus chopped off her hair and styled it as a bleached blonde pixie in August 2012, it was the haircut heard 'round the world.
Christopher Polk/Getty Images/File