Miley Cyrus has grabbed the world’s attention this year with her provocative dancing and admitted drug usage. While many of Cyrus’ moves have created controversy, she says she doesn’t understand what all of the fuss is about.

“I went from people just thinking I was, like, a baby to people thinking I’m this, like, sex freak that really just pops molly and does lines all day,” Cyrus told the New York Times in an interview. “It’s like, ‘Has anyone ever heard of rock ‘n’ roll?'” she continued. “There’s a sex scene in pretty much every single movie, and they go, ‘Well, that’s a character.’ Well, that’s a character. I don’t really dress as a teddy bear and, like, twerk on Robin Thicke, you know?”

Cyrus gained fame during her years playing Hannah Montana on the hit Disney Channel show. Many wonder what happened to Cyrus since her sweet persona on Hannah Montana. “I don’t have a bunch of celeb friends, because I feel like some of them are a little scared of the association,” Cyrus said. “This is terrible. I was backstage with (the rising pop star) Ariana Grande. I’m like, ‘Walk out with me right now and get this picture, and this will be the best thing that happens to you, because just you associating with me makes you a little less sweet.'”

Cyrus said that since she no longer has connections to Disney, she has decided that she is going to be herself and do her own thing. “When I was no longer employed by anyone, that’s when I was like, ‘O.K., I’m going to do my own thing.’ But I waited until I felt like I had respectfully finished out what I was supposed to do, you know?” she said.

So ready for 2014

— Miley Ray Cyrus (@MileyCyrus) December 30, 2013

Cyrus’ next performance will take place on New Year’s Eve. On December 11, she tweeted, “Smilers! There’s been a change in my NYE plans. [Ryan Seacrest] asked me to perform in Times Square for #RockinEve!!” Seacrest later confirmed the performance saying: “We just added Miley Cyrus to be in Times Square right before the ball drops. We try to look for the artist that’s created a lot of buzz and had a really big year.”

Smilers! There's been a change in my NYE plans. @RyanSeacrest asked me to perform in Times Square for #RockinEve!!

— Miley Ray Cyrus (@MileyCyrus) December 12, 2013

Image via Twitter