Miley Cyrus wants to be a role model.

Miley: wants to be a role model and wants to make the kids happy.

Even in spite of some of the criticism fired off in Miley Cyrus’ direction, she wants to use the “Hannah Montana” character to inspire young kids both with her TV show and her actions in real life.

In a new interview, Miley claims that playing her famous Disney Channel character has been helpful for her to maintain a role model status:

“So I think it has made the transition easier, because I never said I was going to be perfect. I never really put on a persona. I’ve always been really honest about who I am.

“And yes, I want to be a role model and have people look up to me. But this also doesn’t mean that I am not going to live the way I want to live, or do what I think is right.”

Many parents have proclaimed that Miley is exactly the “opposite” of a good role model, beginning with a controversial Vanity Fair photo shoot and most recently continuing with her new album “Can’t Be Tamed” (and its music video).

“I’m going to grow up at some point, and I’ve been always honest about that.“

“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,” she said in the statement. “I never intended for any of this to happen and I apologize to my fans who I care so deeply about.”