Fans of “Hannah Montana” gathered at New York’s Washington Square Park to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the show, taking part in a lookalike contest and sharing how the series influenced their lives.

The show, which debuted on Disney Channel in 2006, followed a teenage girl leading a double life as a pop star, and it resonated with young viewers across different cultures and backgrounds.

Iranian-American cousins Sophia, 23, and Ariana Parizadeh, 22, recalled navigating their own dual identities while growing up in strict households, relating to the character’s split between home and public life.

Jamaican-American fan Katrina “Kitty” Black, 29, said the series helped her navigate childhood challenges of fitting in at school while maintaining her cultural identity at home.

She also reflected on the symbolic role of Hannah’s wig, representing the duality many children experience in adapting to different spaces.

Kendall Knight, 27, who grew up in the U.S. Bible Belt, shared how pretending to be Hannah Montana in his bedroom allowed him to explore his queerness and later inspired his drag performances.

Knight performed at the New York contest and won, describing the persona as an “extension of me” that let him express his fullest self.

Superfan Lorian De Sousa, 25, highlighted the show’s global cultural impact, recalling how Hannah Montana inspired merchandise, games, and costumes across Europe.

Cyrus herself reflected on the show’s legacy, calling it a “shared experience that shaped my life and the lives of so many fans” and celebrating the anniversary as a thank-you to her audience.