Miley? Is that you in there?

Before the days of wrecking balls, foam fingers and unicorn iconography, Miley Cyrus was sweet little Hannah Montana who lived a double, fabulous life.

Before this. Like way before.

But before she got the role, she had to audition for it.

Read more: “I didn’t want to be a boy… I kind of wanted to be nothing.”

In the video below, Miley originally auditions for a character named “Zoe”, who may actually have ended up being her best friend “Lilly” when the show aired, before taking a turn at being Hannah Montana.

Anyone with eyes and ears can see she was meant for the role. But she could have got the part for one of three reasons, though.

1. Her dad, Billy-Ray Cyrus, makes a surprise appearance in the beginning of the tape to do some kind of obscure but radical secret handshake with his daughter.

2. She’s wearing a shirt that says “Go to school to gossip.” Which is either very good (if it means, don’t gossip anywhere but school), or very bad (if it means school is for gossiping, not for learning), depending on how you read it. She was clearly a complex individual from very young.

Read more: Of all the crazy, silly thing Miley Cyrus has done, this is the greatest.

3. She’s actually super-talented. It’s easy to forget that – but it’s true…

Check it out here:

Click through this gallery for a fun walk down Miley memory lane:

miley 61212

We first met Miley as the bubbly blonde, Hannah Montana.

miley 222

Miley Cyrus

miley 111

Miley Cyrus

miley 666

Miley Cyrus

miley 1414

Miley Cyrus

Miley

miley 444

Miley Cyrus

miley18181

Miley Cyrus

miley 888

Miley Cyrus

miley 1415

Miley Cyrus

miley 1313

Miley Cyrus

miley 1717

Miley Cyrus

miley 1111

Miley Cyrus

miley 1010

Miley Cyrus

miley 1515

Miley Cyrus

miley 999

Miley Cyrus

miley 1616

Miley Cyrus