"Miley Ray Stewart is the central character of the Hannah Montana media franchise, portrayed by Miley Cyrus. The character was originated in the currently running Disney Channel series Hannah Montana and also appeared in the feature film Hannah Montana: The Movie. Miley is a normal teenage girl who, as her alter ego Hannah Montana, secretly leads a double life as a world famous pop star. 

  

  
 The character was originally named Chloe Stewart but was changed to Miley Stewart.[2] 

 CastingCyrus learned about the casting for a new Disney show at the age of eleven through a Nashville talent agent. She sent in a tape auditioning for the show's best friend role, but received a call asking her to audition for the lead. After she sent in a tape and was flown to Hollywood for further auditions, Cyrus was told that she was too young and too small for the role. However, Cyrus' persistence and ability to sing in addition to act caused the show's producers to invite her back for further auditions. Producers eventually narrowed the large pool of candidates down to three actresses, including Cyrus and Taylor Momsen, and gave the part to Cyrus, then twelve.[3] According to Disney Channel president Gary Marsh, Cyrus was chosen because of her energetic and lively performance and was seen as a person who ""loves every minute of life,""[4] with the ""everyday relatability of Hilary Duff and the stage presence of Shania Twain.""[5] 

 Cyrus' casting also led to the casting of her real life father, Billy Ray Cyrus, as the father of her character on the show. Cyrus was initially wary; according to her mother and co-manager, Tish Cyrus, ""Miley's concern at the time was, oh my gosh, people are going to think I only got this part because of my dad.""[3] However, worried that her family would otherwise have to be separated as they had been when her father first landed the lead in the television series Doc, Cyrus relented and helped audition her father for the part.[3] 

 Character backstoryMiley was born in the fictional town of Crowley Corners in Tennessee on November 23, 1992 (Cyrus's real birth date). Her family consisted of her parents Robby and Susan Stewart and an older brother named Jackson. She also has many relatives in her extended family including her grandmother Ruthie Stewart, Aunt Dolly (played by Dolly Parton), Uncle Earl and Aunt Pearl, and a cousin named Luanne. The characterizations given to most of her family members poke fun at country bumpkin stereotypes. She also had a pet pig named Luanne and a pet hamster named Leslie. She has a horse named Blue Jeans, who came from Tennessee to Malibu to live with Miley and her family. 

 Miley received a love for music from her father, who was a popular country music star. Her parents recognized Miley's potential and gave her a guitar on December 25, 2000.[6] 

 Miley's mother Susan (Brooke Shields) was born April 12, 1969 and died about the time Miley was 10.[citation needed] It was at this time that her father retired from his music career and moved the family to Malibu, California where they live in a four bedroom beach house.[citation needed] 

 By the time she was 13 years old, Miley had become a famous pop star under the stage name ""Hannah Montana."" She goes to great lengths to disguise herself as Hannah in order to keep her true identity a secret, except to those closest to her. However, in the episode ""Hannah Montana to the Principal's Office"" it is shown that the President of the United States knows her secret. 

 Personal lifeApart from her life as a pop star, Miley leads a very normal life. She is fond of camping[7] and hanging out at the beach, but is not at all athletic.[8] She has a fear of spiders[9] and visiting the dentist.[10] She also occasionally struggles with her school work and her self confidence. She often goes through over-the -top schemes to deal with her problems. 

 SchoolIn the first season, Miley is an 8th grader at Seaview Middle School, and in the second season she enters Seaview High School. She became a sophomore in early episodes in Season 3 and later, a junior during the season before the beginning of Season 4. Despite her father offering her the option of homeschooling, Miley decided to attend Public School in order to be a ""normal kid,"" a decision she sometimes finds herself regretting.[11] Due to her double life, she is often in awkward positions and is forced to lie in order to keep her secret. 

 Miley's best friends are classmates Lilly Truscott (Emily Osment) and Oliver Oken (Mitchel Musso) who both learn her secret and help her keep it from their other classmates. 

 RelationshipsMiley is especially close with her father, from whom she receives much good advice and emotional support. She also values her relationships with her best friends Lilly and Oliver. However Miley is shown to be ve