In her 80s heyday as a teen pop sensation, singer Tiffany favored acid-washed jeans, sneakers, long-sleeved shirts and not too much makeup.
But that doesn't mean that she disapproves of today's much less modest generation of singing teen stars — especially Miley Cyrus, 17, who has worn cleavage-bearing dresses and skin-tight bodysuits, danced on stripper poles and simulated lesbian kisses on stage.
PHOTOS: Miley's raciest outfits
"Miley Cyrus is on a great track," Tiffany, now 38, told UsMagazine.com at Saturday's EW Comic-Con party at Hotel Solamar in San Diego.
"I know that there are a lot of people that say well when you are so young you shouldn't be sexy," the "I Think We're Alone Now" singer conceded.
"I think that in today's world you kind of have to be [sexy]– to be competitive in the market," Tiffany told Us. "I think that she is doing it appropriately. And it's always a fine line there."
"But I'm a huge fan of hers. I think she's gonna have a long career," she gushed, adding praise to Cyrus' mom and dad, too. "Her parents are guiding her right, and it really matters what base you have around you. Very much so."
Although Tiffany stayed buttoned up during her teenage fame, she did pose nude for Playboy in 2002. She has a 17-year-old son, Elijah, from her first marriage, and has been married to second husband Benn George since 2004.
The 80s icon is attending Comic Con to help promote Mega Python vs. Gatoroid — the campy scifi flick in which she costars with her former rival Debbie Gibson.
"It was awesome!" she said. "We were always planning on doing something but I think people were expecting more of a musical… and it's not."
Although she and Gibson achieved pop success around the same time, the flick was their first time to bond. "I knew her, but we never really hung out…we have a fond respect for each other but I didn't know if we would end up being buddies."
"It's really nice to be able to say we are really good friends. Of course we always play up the cheeky side…we had the little catfight — we were loving it!"
