Miley Cyrus defends racist claim

Miley Cyrus has defended a photograph of her slanting her eyes, saying she was just "making a goofy face".

The 16-year-old singer - who has been accused of racism by an Asian American advocacy group after the picture of her appeared on the internet - insists the photo has been misinterpreted.

Miley wrote on her official fansite: "Well, I'm sorry if people looked at those pics and took them wrong and out of context! In NO way was I making fun of any ethnicity! I was simply making a goofy face. When did that become newsworthy?

"It seems someone is trying to make something out of nothing to me. If that was anyone else, it would have been overlooked! I definitely feel like people are trying to make me out as the new 'BAD GIRL'!"

The 'Hannah Montana' actress - who was left red-faced after risque private photos of her were leaked last year - claims she has always apologised for past mistakes and wants people to focus on her career rather than her personal life.She said: "I feel like now that Britney Spears is back on top of her game again, they need someone to pick on! Lucky me!"