Miley CyrusMiley Cyrus has said she thinks people need to give her more credit, despite her young years.

The 16 year old has been involved in a number of “photo scandals” over the last year - including shots of her exposing her bra while draped over boys, a picture dubbed racist because it was said to “mock and denigrate” people of Asian descent, and her infamous Vanity Fair photo shoot - but she insists she’s not the “bad girl” she is made out to be.

She explained recently: “I almost feel like people think of me as dumb. I’m like, I’m smarter than you think.

“You know, I understand what [they]’re trying to do. It’s all a mind game and what not.”

Her dad and Hannah Montana co-star Billy Ray Cyrus added that he agrees: “You know, I think Miley, she makes good choices.

“She’s got a great heart, a great head on her shoulders. What’s important with Miley is how she feels.”