By Tashfia AnjumWhile I am no pop star, I have never resonated more with a character growing up than I did with Hannah Montana.
As a young girl who grew up in the early 2000s era, I lived vicariously through TV show personalities – and I particularly gravitated toward the show “Hannah Montana,” a television series that aired on the Disney Channel. It was about a girl who led a double life as a famous pop star named Hannah Montana (played by Miley Cyrus.) She was your average teenage girl who faces the struggles of school, relationships, and adulthood while keeping up with her pop-star persona in front of the world. Throughout the series, the ultimate challenge Hannah Montana faced was the struggle of accepting and balancing her identities.
Learning that balance of traditional cultural expectations with my now-adopted Western home traditions was new territory.
As a first-generation immigrant coming from Bangladesh to the USA, I felt as if I was living two lives just like Hannah Montana. Having to adapt to a completely new culture and navigating different customs and traditions while still trying to stay grounded in my roots was difficult. Learning that balance of traditional cultural expectations with my now-adopted Western home traditions was new territory.
Growing up I was always torn between two perspectives of my identity. For this reason, I immediately felt a connection with Hannah’s character. In the series, she persistently strives to stay true to herself and her core values while pursuing her goals regardless of the adversities she faces. I related to the challenges she went through, from trying to fit in, to navigating school, family, faith, and friendships. I found comfort and inspiration in knowing I wasn’t the only one feeling lost and out of place. In fact, at one point I started to think of myself as the Brown version of Hannah Montana.
It’s easy to become overwhelmed and lost when adapting to a new culture. I felt pressured to conform to societal expectations because I didn’t fit in, and neither did I feel a sense of acceptance from those around me. Watching Hannah Montana navigate her life as a pop star and still stay true to herself gave me hope that I could do the same.
My cultural identity and multicultural background were qualities that made me unique and special.
Instead of allowing the pressures of adjusting to a new culture discourage me in my own personal growth, I decided that I could have the best of both worlds just like her. I learned to embrace my identity, and that meant all that came with it. Realizing that I didn’t have to sacrifice my values, beliefs, and cultural heritage made me feel great. My cultural identity and multicultural background were qualities that made me unique and special. When I recognized the immense hardships immigrants like myself have to endure to assimilate into a country like America, it made me reflect on the reality that I have so much to bring to the table. My unique experiences, driven by my cultural background and ethnic heritage, are my prized possessions – and I should flaunt them with pride.
Hannah Montana taught me that I should find strength and comfort in my identity. Her confidence in showcasing to the world that she was a pop star and also your average teenager allowed me to not be afraid of accepting my dual identities. I believe we all have a Hannah Montana inside of us. We are the pop stars in our own lives trying to fit into the society around us in the best way possible.