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Gen Z TikTokers are escaping to the countryside as an endearing ode to 'Hannah Montana' movie nostalgia

Charissa Cheong   

Gen Z TikTokers are escaping to the countryside as an endearing ode to 'Hannah Montana' movie nostalgia
  • Some TikTokers are escaping to the countryside for the summer to relax and unwind.
  • They're calling it a "Miley Stewart summer," a reference to the plot of the 2009 film "Hannah Montana: The Movie."

Gen Z TikTokers are escaping to the countryside to have a "Miley Stewart summer," or a callback to the 2009 Disney film.

"Hannah Montana: The Movie" is based on the Disney Channel hit series "Hannah Montana," which stars singer Miley Cyrus in the role of Miley Stewart, an ordinary teenage girl with a pop star alter ego.

In the film, Cyrus's character begrudgingly travels back to her hometown in Tennessee to spend time with family, where she ends up reconnecting with her roots and the person she was before she became a big celebrity.

@magalinigellaneiteler I’m sorry, but I don’t think I’ll ever stop posting these #mileystewartsummer ♬ suono originale - Sweet Melodies

The film and TV series, which aired from 2006 to 2011, was extremely popular among Gen Zers, who are now paying nostalgic tribute to Cyrus's character with a new TikTok trend.

A "Miley Stewart summer" is how TikTokers are describing their trips out into the countryside, escaping the rush of their everyday lives in favor of relaxing outdoorsy activities. Typical videos showcase montages of people taking part in activities that Cyrus's character did, such as horseback riding and playing the guitar.

@magalinigellaneiteler My Miley Stewart Summer has officially begun (fun fact: my parents used to call me Miley when I was a little girl) #mileystewartsummer ♬ original sound - Your favourite clips

"To me, Miley Stewart summer is disconnecting from the craziness and busyness of life. It's spending quality time with friends, family, and the good 'ole outdoors," 25-year-old TikToker Sienna Cartier told Insider over Instagram DM.

Cartier, who posted a compilation of clips in May that were mostly taken during a visit back to her own hometown in Arizona, said her holiday brought back "nostalgic feelings of childhood," which she's missed since moving to the big city of Atlanta.

@siennacartier im here for it #mileystewartsummer #summervibe #summer2023 #summeraesthetic #cowgirlsummer ♬ original sound - Miley-Cyrus

Stephanie Joe, a 23-year-old TikToker, also echoed this sentiment, adding that reconnecting with nature and your personal roots are key themes in the "Hannah Montana" movie.

Joe's "Miley Stewart summer," that she shared in a TikTok in May, was spent in a Canadian town called Georgian Bay in Ontario, north of her hometown of Toronto.

"Living in the city can definitely be very fast-paced so having the opportunity to escape once in a while is something I'll never take for granted," she told Insider.

@stephjoeee the chickens in this audio is such a jumpscare #fyp #farmgirl #farmgirlera #mileystewart #mileystewartsummer #countrygirl #countrygirlsummer ##cottagevlog##cottagecoreaesthetic##cottagecore ♬ original sound - Miley-Cyrus

"Miley Stewart summer" is one of many trends on TikTok that demonstrate a rejection of hustle culture. While some trends on the app promote productivity, such as the action-packed format of TikTokers showing off their morning routines, other trends, which many have become associated with Gen Z users, shirt more focus on self-care and detaching from a rise and grind mentality, such as quiet quitting and acting your wage.

Nostalgia is also a common driver of trends among Gen Z. Films from the early and mid-2000s often have a renaissance on TikTok, as users reminisce over old clips that defined their childhoods.

For example, Disney's "High School Musical" movie trilogy has sparked several musical trends on the app over the years — users have attempted to recreate an infamous scene where Zac Efron dances through a golf course and strikes his hand through a pool of water, and have tried to transform their bodies into basketballs for a dance trend that references a popular song from the first movie.

For more stories like this, check out coverage from Insider's Digital Culture team here.



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