Miley Cyrus sparked conversation once again, but this time not because of her music or a controversy, but for speaking with complete honesty about a personal decision: not becoming a mother.
During an interview on The New York Times podcast, the singer compared motherhood to having a makeup line. She recalled that her stepfather asked her why she was the only one in the family who didn’t have a cosmetics brand.
“Because that’s not my passion. I’m not a makeup artist”, Miley replied.
And then she explained that she feels similarly about motherhood: “It has never been something I’ve been particularly passionate about”.
The artist added that having children involves “a lot of responsibility, dedication, and energy”, as well as sleepless nights and years of commitment. For that reason, she said she doesn’t understand how someone can take on that role if they genuinely don’t feel the desire to do so.
Her statements were widely celebrated by people who also chose not to have children. Some users pointed out that it’s better to acknowledge it in time than to become a father or mother because of social pressure.
“Why be a mother if you don’t want to raise them?”, one person wrote. Another commented that many people enjoy the idea of having children, but don’t necessarily enjoy caring for them.
The conversation also sparked reflection on women who feel they have to become mothers simply because “it’s what comes next” in life.
And although a comparison between motherhood and makeup prompted some jokes, Miley’s message was clear: having children should be a conscious decision, not a social obligation.