I've seen plenty of threads on many site comparing the late 90s teen idols to current ones like Bieber and Miley, but I'm doing something different. Instead of including the current crop of teen idols, I'm including those from the late 80s.

NOTE: One of the acts I'm about to include was in her late 20s, but don't tell me she wasn't a teen idol, especially when she was on the front cover on a lot of teen magazines.

Britney Spears vs Paula Abdul
Christina Aguilera vs Debbie Gibson
Jessica Simpson vs Tiffany
Mandy Moore vs Martika
Vitamin C vs Kylie Minouge
Backstreet Boys vs New Kids On The Block
'N Sync vs Rick Astley
Spice Girls vs Exposé
Usher vs Bobby Brown

2Point5D said:

I've seen plenty of threads on many site comparing the late 90s teen idols to current ones like Bieber and Miley, but I'm doing something different. Instead of including the current crop of teen idols, I'm including those from the late 80s.

NOTE: One of the acts I'm about to include was in her late 20s, but don't tell me she wasn't a teen idol, especially when she was on the front cover on a lot of teen magazines.

Britney Spears vs Paula Abdul Much better
Christina Aguilera vs Debbie Gibson, Both are just dreadful, Gibson looked like a horse, Ags a whore
Jessica Simpson vs Tiffany she had 3 or 4 decent songs, JS was easily the stupidest woman alive and she was a microtalent
Mandy Moore vs Martika Martika was great (Even without her Prince involvement, Toy Soldiers a great song, who is Mandy Moore?)
Vitamin C vs Kylie Minouge Kylie is a huge star in Oz, UK and NZ even now, its just in America she only had 2 big hits. Kylie Minogue has endured and is an awesome singer, dancer and even actress.
Backstreet Boys vs New Kids On The Block Nah both are just terrible, but NKOTB less so
'N Sync vs Rick Astley Rick had some great songs, NSYNC did not, and Rick is not gay either, where did that rumour came from
Spice Girls vs Exposé Both are really terrible though
Usher vs Bobby Brown No contest, the late 80s Bobby ruled

Okay I will oblige. I loved me some teen idol stuff back in the day. The 80s stars are generally much better than 90s, I thin k your list is too Amerocentric though. Most of us in the British world have never heard of Vitamin C, Mandy Moore or Expose. Yet Kylie Minogue is a huge star here. She has had 10 hit albums since 1988 and her last hits were only a few years ago. She has had many UK and Australian number one hits. Minogue first came to prominence as a child actress on Australian soap operas and is most remembered for her role as Charlene Mitchell on Neighbours (1986 -1988).

She married Jason Donovan's (Scott Robinson) character on the show and left it for a musical career. Her first single was a remake of Locomotion which was a #1 hit and I should be so lucky was a huge hit in the USA too. Donovan also scored a big success with his 1989 album "10 Good reasons" which had 3 UK #1'S in 1989. Minogues other big hit in the USA was 2001's "Can't get you out of my head". Minogue is also a cancer survivor and a huge gay icon.