I could tell that each aspect was carefully crafted by Cyrus, who was the driving force behind the entire program.

     From an appearance standpoint, I felt Cyrus did a commendable job of fusing Hannah Montana's original character with her current style and appearance. With outfits like a fashionable denim ensemble and a stunning dark blue dress, she effectively meshed the eclectic, youthful style of Hannah Montana with her own personal taste. While in the past she’s gotten hate for her often scandalous clothing choices, everything she wore was modest, and it complemented her natural beauty.

     The reason much of the public knew about this special before it even existed was Cyrus’ shift from her natural brown hair to the signature Hannah Montana haircut: blonde hair paired with short, stylish bangs. What was different this time was that this hairdo was not a wig, but rather Cyrus’ natural hair with a few clip-ins, highlighting how much she truly embraced the Hannah Montana persona for this event. 

     One aspect that I didn’t love was the choices for the guest appearances. Throughout, her mom was a very present figure, which I thought was a good inclusion, since Cyrus attributes much of her success to her mom's help along the way. However, I felt some people were included who didn’t fit the vibe, while prominent “Hannah Montana” characters were excluded. Chappell Roan was one of these individuals. Since I’d been awaiting a sweet reunion between Cyrus and Emily Osmet or Michel Musso, the interview with Roan fell very flat. While I understand that she’s a very popular artist and a life-long fan of “Hannah Montana,” since this piece was supposed to be about reminiscing on the show itself, I thought her incorporation was unnecessary, and I would have loved to have seen more of the cast get together.

     What touched me the most was the fans in the crowd who got to witness performances of some of her most iconic songs from the “Hannah Montana” franchise. While traditionally, a Disney Channel audience would consist mainly of children and teens, all the fans appeared to be in their 20s and 30s. They had grown up alongside Cyrus, supporting her professional career over the last 20 years and reliving their childhood memories as they sang along in the crowd. 

     Before this special was released, rumors circulated that Cyrus would be doing a “Hannah Montana” comeback concert. During an interview in the special, she addressed these rumors,  and I think her reasoning for pivoting to a streaming special was a very mature move. She highlighted that by doing a special, anyone, anywhere, at any time could watch, whereas at a concert, only those who could afford to attend would have this privilege. By giving up a tour and the potential to earn significantly more money, Cyrus was allowing everyone who had grown up with “Hannah Montana” to reminisce on childhood memories. 

     Over the past few years, Cyrus has gone through significant hardship, with a divorce from long-time partner Liam Hemsworth, the loss of her home in a wildfire, and the separation of her parents. Additionally, she’s previously struggled with drug and alcohol addiction, replacing the Miley every little girl wanted to be when they grew up with an unrecognizable superstar. However, through the Hannaversary special, it was easy to see that Cyrus is turning a corner and that getting to be Hannah Montana again, to revisit the memories of her childhood, is finally allowing her to heal and move forward. I hope that through this journey, Cyrus will continue to be confident in who she is and let the world see more of the Miley that we know and love.