Miley Cyrus 'embarrassed' after posing 'semi-nude' for Vanity Fair

Acting and singing sensation Miley Cyrus recently hit the headlines with her two sets of photos in which she flashes her bra, lies across a male friend's lap and in yet to release photo appears semi-nude.

Apprehending her image among the teen TV watchers, the 15-year-old teen idol has apologized for the racy pictures that circulated on the Web last week. She also felt embarrassed for posing topless and wrapped in what appears to be a satin bedsheet in the upcoming issue of Vanity Fair.

"My goal in my music and my acting is always to make people happy. For Vanity Fair, I was so honored and thrilled to work with Annie [Leibovitz]," Cyrus said Sunday in a statement through her publicist. “I took part in a photo shoot that was supposed to be 'artistic' and now, seeing the photographs and reading the story, I feel so embarrassed. I never intended for any of this to happen and I apologize to my fans who I care so deeply about."

The Vanity Fair photos, snapped by renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz, will hit the stands in June. These pictures accompany an interview with the pop star and her father,the country music singer, Billy Ray Cyrus.

According to Beth Kseniak, a spokeswoman for both Vanity Fair magazine and Ms. Leibovitz, Miley's parents and/or minders were on the set during the shoot and that everyone thought the photo was a beautiful and natural portrait of teen star.

Defending the singer, a source close to the teen said that Cyrus is clothed but shown by Leibovitz in such a way that she appears to be topless.

On Monday (April 21), the first set of Miley’s eyebrow-raising pictures was released on the Internet featuring her in the arms of a young male friend and pulling up her white tank top to reveal a lacy, green neon bra.

"The pictures of me on the Internet were silly, inappropriate shots. I appreciate all the support of my fans and hope they understand that along the way I am going to make mistakes and I am not perfect. I never intended for any of this to happen and I am truly sorry if I have disappointed anyone.

"Most of all," she goes on to say, "I have let myself down. I will learn from my mistakes and trust my support team. My family and my faith will guide me through my life's journey."

Another set of her racy pictures is due to be published in Vanity Fair magazine's June edition. Last year, raunchy photos of the singer made rounds on the Internet. In the shots, Miley was seen in her underwear, lifting up her shirt as well as sharing a piece of candy with a female friend at a slumber party.

In defense of its current money-making machine, Miley, the Disney Channel said in a statement: "a situation was created to deliberately manipulate” the "Hannah Montana" star to sell magazines.