The internet is abuzz with rumors of Miley Cyrus from the show Hannah Montana being photographed in her underwear. Not too long ago, "racy" photos of Miley sharing candy, Lady and the Tramp style, with a girlfriend at a sleepover, prompted her to fight rumors that she was out of control.

After searching the websites and newsgroups thoroughly I have concluded that the rumors are indeed rumors. No one had absolute proof of Destiny Hope (Miley) Cyrus in anything less than a swimsuit or her boy shorts and a t-shirt, and the few photos that exist are hardly salacious. My 11-year-old daughter runs around the house in her swimsuit and skivvies all the time and no one takes a second look. If anything, this child is oblivious to any sexual appeal that she has. The adults trying to impose this bad-girl sexualized label on her should be ashamed.

Of course, I am outside of the situation and could be wrong about whether or not Miley has been rolling around on the floor sans clothes for the camera. However, whether the rumors are true or not, we have to wonder if young teen icons are being paraded as sex objects before they even have breasts.

As a mother of a tween girl, I am acutely aware of all of the teen idols and their exploits. In fact, I saw the most recent Disneyland disappointment, the pregnancy of Jamie Lyn Spears coming. Can someone tell my why a kids TV show would do a scene where girls in lingerie-looking evening dresses end up in a mud fight? I was not at all surprised to hear one week later that the young Spears sister was pregnant when Disney had her sexing it up for the camera.

As for Miley Cyrus, she is probably the least exploited teen on the Disney Channel thanks to the strong presence of her dad. Speaking of Dad's, it is the parents who need control the image of their teen idol children. I am constantly appalled when I see parents managing the careers of their children who allow them to be paraded in public in clothes that resemble ace bandages. Fortunately, there are still some teen idols who manage to keep their wardrobes in tact.

In an unrelated story entitled Miley Cyrus Fulfils her Destiny, published in USA Today, by Ann Olenberg, when Billy Rae was asked if he was worried that his daughter would start doing "nutty Britney Spears-eque things, like not wearing underpants" Billy Ray replied "She's never wore underwear" to the shock of his mortified daughter.