Miley Cyrus: Sex is ‘magical,’ makes the world go round

Miley Cyrus is no stranger to criticism for her sexually charged image, but the singer and actress wants you to know she’s not ashamed. In fact, she thinks sex is pretty awesome.

During a recent sit-down with Lifetime television host Amanda de Cadenet, Cyrus talked about her self-worth in the face of media scrutiny, a family rift and increasing pressure from her industry.

“The girls that really base how much they’re worth on the sexual favors they can do for somebody, that makes me really sad. Because sex is actually really beautiful. It’s the only way we create, and it’s the only way the world keeps going,” she said on de Cadenet’s “The Conversation.”

“It’s ignorant not to talk to your kids about it or [not] make it seem as magical or cool as it actually is,” she said.

Some thought Miley was more show than tell at Sunday’s Billboard Music Awards, when a cropped blazer served as her red carpet dress (above). But even her fashion choices circle back to a double standard for women, says Miley.

“[It] used to be if you’re a woman you do not sing about sex, and now if that’s not what you’re singing about, if that’s not your entire image, you won’t get played [on radio],” she said.

She’s not impervious to the system, however. While she’s solid with boyfriend and “Hunger Games” star Liam Hemsworth, and her career is maintaining, coming into her own -- sexually or otherwise -- hasn’t been effortless.

“I’ve lost [my sense of self] a lot. There’s times you hear what you should be so much that you lose what you actually are, and that’s really hard,” said Cyrus.

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Follow Matt Donnelly on Twitter @mattdonnelly.