OK, first things first: How has it been 20 years since we met Miley Stewart and her blonde wig-wearing alter ego Hannah Montana? How? Despite the baffling passage of time, it has indeed been 20 years since the beloved Disney show premiered, and Miley Cyrus is celebrating by returning to her Hannah roots—literally.
As you probably know, the premise of Hannah Montana is that Cyrus plays a regular girl with a big secret: she’s a massively successful and famous pop star. Miley Stewart is brunette, Hannah is blonde; as the song says, they’re the best of both worlds. Cyrus herself has worn both hair colors many, many times in the past, oscillating from a bleach-blonde platinum crop in her Bangerz days to a Debbie Harry-esque halo to warm brunette. But as the Hannah 20th anniversary approached, we noticed that Cyrus was getting blonder and blonder—perhaps in preparation for the occasion?—and now she’s as blonde as Hannah herself, not to mention the blondest she’s been in quite awhile.
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For the world premiere of the 20th anniversary special in Los Angeles, Cyrus gave her iconic Hannah wig an update with a fresh cut and style by hairstylist Bobby Eliot and a bright blonde by Kenny Reed. Though the blonde and bangs combo does give Hannah Montana, Eliot tells Allure that the inspo was less pop star and more “rock and roll, but still gorgeous and luxurious”—an evolution of Hannah as she might look in 2026, if you will.
Cyrus’s hair, which currently hits just below her shoulders, has been cut in swingy layers hear her face, with her bangs parted in the center and falling past her brow bone. “For Hannah Montana 20 we really leaned into honoring Hannah completely and we cut a classic Hannah Montana iconic fringe,” Eliot shares. “Now, coming out of that, we wanted a more layered fringy shape that’s lighter and has a ton of movement with a much shorter, heavier outline.”
Cyrus’s new blonde is a springy, creamy blend of butter, sand, and honey blonde, bringing a soft warmth and lightness to her overall look. Prior to this, the musician had been blonde, but a darker golden shade. We know Cyrus loves to change things up and doesn’t stick to one hair cut or color for long, but we’re really hoping she keeps the nostalgic vibes alive with this shade for awhile.
