Miley Cyrus says she's 'one of the biggest feminists'

Miley Cyrus has said she believes there is a "double standard" when it comes to men and women, and body image.

"I feel like I'm one of the biggest feminists in the world because I tell women to not be scared of anything," she said.

She also said that her on-stage persona and revealing outfits were all part of her act.

"I don't actually walk around all day twerking with my tongue out dressed as a teddy bear," she told Newsbeat.

The 20-year-old said she doesn't worry if people think badly of her controversial performances because she knows she is a "good person".

Commenting on headlines suggesting she smoked marijuana at Sunday's MTV EMAs, she said: "I never worry about what I do on stage making me look bad.

"I think people if they actually knew me would be surprised at how normal I am.

"I'm definitely crazy but I'm normal. I feel like [I am] socially probably more acceptable than a lot of people in this industry because I've just always grown up around this and so I never have any kind of attitude."

Miley has been criticised for the video for Wrecking Ball, which sees her swinging naked and licking a sledgehammer.

Cyrus was also knocked for her performance with Robin Thicke at the MTV VMAs in August, where she wore a nude-coloured bra and pants, stuck her tongue out and twerked.

Musician Sinead O'Connor wrote an open letter, criticising the 20-year-old for allowing herself "to be pimped" adding that her behaviour was not "in any way an empowerment of yourself or any other young women".

Cyrus said she tries to frame the negative headlines in a positive way.

"Every time you talk about me, you're bringing more awareness to me and... my record.

"If you have good songs I think you can wear anything or do anything, just be able to back it up by what you're doing."

Her latest album, Bangerz, was released last month and made it to number one in the UK and the US.

"I think that says a lot, that my fans are growing based off me as an artist, not just off what people are saying," said Cyrus.

"It was crazy, as soon as my record came out I just feel like everything sort of expanded for me and my fans and it's awesome."

Follow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter