Miley CyrusMarie Osmond has spoken out about Billy Ray’s handling of the Miley Cyrus photos for Vanity Fair.

The aspect that has concerned her is the fact that Miley was left alone on the set of the photo shoot as in her opinion parents with children in show business should be more protective in such situations.

Osmond told AOL Television: “My parents never, never left us alone. We always had some form of a guardian or something with us, a guardian that would represent what they would have done.”

In Miley’s case, says Osmond, 48, “her dad stepped out, and that’s when it happened. How do you say no to somebody like Annie [Leibovitz, the photographer] when you’re a little girl? It’s an interesting thing that happened with her.”

It is not clear whether Miley was actually left alone as Vanity Fair issued a statement saying that, “Miley’s parents and/or minders were on the set all day.” However, a source close to the family told People, “Billy Ray was not there for the shot. He would not have approved that shot if he was.”

Marie has been in the spotlight since her first TV appearance on The Andy Williams Show, aged just 3, so is well placed to offer her opinion on the pressures facing young stars now: “I think it’s a multitude of things. I can only speak for myself, but … I was blessed, because [with Olive Osmond] I had the perfect stage mom. She was there for every stage of my life.”

In obvious criticism of Billy Ray Cyrus, Osmond surmised, “I think, if your kids are going to be in that kind of business, then you need to make it your business to be there for them and help them figure out, but not necessarily to control them.”