Jessica Watson, 16, shows Miley Cyrus what "role model" is

Jessica Watson

While the media and pop culture were buzzing about Miley Cyrus, The Miley Cyrus Lap Dance Video, and some were attacking Miley for not acting like the role model she is as a 16 and now 17-year-old pop star, 16-year-old Jessica Watson was battling high seas, intense loneliness, the elements, and the idea that a teenage girl could not go around the World by herself, to finish her trip around the World. Jessica Watson arrived in Sydney Saturday.

Watson's the youngest person to sail alone and unassisted around the World.

This was a story such that I wondered if her parents were even in their right mind to let their little Jessica Watson do it. But, as National Public Radio reported several times in 2009, Jessica Watson was determined to prove everyone wrong.

Watson told the waiting crowd according to the Telegraph UK: "As a little girl people don't think you're capable of these things, they don't realise what young people, 16-year-olds and girls are capable of. But it's amazing what you can do." It certainly is.

From her blog

Jessica Watson braved 200 days and 23,000 nautical miles, and reportedly consumed 32 cans of Spam, 64 cans of tuna, 32 cans of pineapple, 576 chocolate bars, and 290 freeze dried ready meals all alone in her small yacht. (UPDATE: If you want to go back in time in her journey, you can read her compelling blog, The Official Jessica Watson Blog. )

The young woman - it's not fair to call her a girl - was called "Australia's newest hero" by Austrialia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

Watson will also gain wealth and fame. She's going to be paid $700,000 to tell her story exclusively to an Austrialia's newspapers owned by Rupert Murdock and for becoming an News Corp "Ambassador."

(Does this mean she's going to be on Fox News with Sarah Palin?)

Whatever the case, Jessica Watson brings a new meaning to Miley Cyrus' Can't Be Tamed, and just in the nick of time.

Welcome home!