January Cover Star Miley Cyrus Talks Social Media, Caitlyn Jenner & Being A Role Model...

Meet Miley Cyrus 2.0: Social activist/singer/no-nonsense role model

To say our January cover star has achieved a lot in her 23 years would, frankly, be quite the understatement. From her Disney pop princess beginnings through foam-fingered twerking to, most recently, becoming the unconventional role model for a generation, Miley Cyrus shows no signs of slowing down. Looking glamorous on our January cover with a newly-cropped hairstyle, in a structured Marc Jacobs dress (she did front a campign for the brand earlier this year, of course) and Sixties-inspired graphic eyeliner, Miley discusses everything from body confidence, her friendship with Caitlyn Jenner, Taylor Swift's #squad, why she released her album free of charge, and what she really thinks of uploading nude pictures.

But it is, perhaps, her most recent incarnation as a straight-talking, accomplished and passionate social activist that might just have thrown her critics through a loop more than anything else she has done. Speaking out about being gender-fluid and gender neutral, Miley observes: ‘Some people snarl at that. They want to judge me. People need more conventional role models, I guess. But I just don’t care to be that person.’

The 23-year-old singer also opens up about the industry, releasing her latest album for free and speaks candidly about money-making: ‘People in this industry think “I just gotta keep getting more money” and I’m like “What are you getting more money for? You probably couldn’t spend it all in this lifetime.” People get more famous, so that they can make their brand more famous, so that they can sell more shit, so that they can make more money. It’s a never-ending cycle. Getting more money, having more hits, being the lead in the movie – those things might stimulate you, but they don’t make you happy. I’ve experienced it all already, and I’m telling you first-hand, it doesn’t.’ Cyrus also touches on the unrealistic body standards being set for women and the crucial role social media plays in it all, even drawing on her own experiences.

‘When you look at retouched, perfect photos, you feel like shit. They lighten black girls’ skin, they smooth out wrinkles. Even I get stuck on Instagram wondering: “Why don’t I look like that?” It’s a total bummer. It’s crazy what people have decided we’re all supposed to be.’

To read the full interivew with Miley Cyrus, pick up the January issue of Marie Claire which hits newsstands today.