Singer uses acceptance speech to raise awareness for teenage homeless issues.

After causing a media brouhaha this time last year for her x-rated performance alongside Robin Thicke, Miley Cyrus has used her time in the spotlight at last night's MTV VMAs for entirely different purposes.

After Miley's hit song 'Wrecking Ball' was announced as the winner of the 'Best Video' category Cyrus sent a teenager named Jesse up to the stage on her behalf to accept the award. Jesse - who most people in attendance assumed to be Cyrus' date - used the time on stage to raise awareness for homeless teens and runaways.

"Thank y'all, my name is Jesse and I am accepting this award on behalf of runaways and home homeless youth in the United States who are starving, lost and scared for their lives right now. I know this because I am one of those people", he said on stage.

Jimmy Fallon, who was presiding over this category, was clearly moved by Jesse's speech, as was Cyrus who shed tears as she sat to the side of the stage.

"Though I may have been invisible to you in the streets, I have a lot of the same dreams that brought many of you here tonight. A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is a reality."

As the speech came to a close, Jesse asked fans to visit Cyrus' Facebook page for more information - which you can see here.

The speech brought back memories of Marlon Brando's 1973 Oscar win for Best Actor, when he sent a Native American to the stage to collect his award to help raise awareness for their plight.