Miley Cyrus has told David Letterman that she isn't growing up too quickly as she appeared on The Late Show for the first time.

"I'm still a kid and I still do kid things. Anyone who says, 'She's growing too quickly,' doesn't know me personally." Nope, they just know the hoochy pants who pretends to wear the face off her fellow dancers while performing.

Miley has been criticised for ditching the wholesome Disney image associated with her Hannah Montana role in favour of a more raunchy look as she promotes her new album Can't Be Tamed - and went out of her way to curb that by turning up to the interview in bet on leather trousers.

Letterman said: "Sitting here talking to you, you don't seem like a 17-year-old. You seem like you have matured through the process of performing as a kid - have you lost a childhood?”

Cyrus replied: “I don't think so, I've gone through awesome things and gotten to perform and do what I love, so for me, that's what I've always wanted to do."

Letterman then asked: "Are you looking for the warmth the spotlight can't provide?"

She replied: "No, where do you find such things?!"

Oh, I dunno, in your haunted, middle-aged voice. In your robotic nature. In your deadened eyes. In the exposed gusset of whatever scrap of material you happen to be utilising as an outfit.