Miley Cyrus "thought she would die" if she didn't have a boyfriend three years ago.
The 21-year-old singer began her career on Disney's Hannah Montana show but has reinvented herself as a sexy musician. It's just one of the changes she's made in her life, along with becoming single following the breakdown of her engagement to Liam Hemsworth last year.
"When I went through a really intense breakup - you know, I was engaged - and when I was with him or when I was on Disney, the thing that gave me the most anxiety was not knowing what to do with myself when Disney wasn't there to carry me anymore or if I didn't have him," she told US magazine Elle. "And now I'm free of both of those things, and I'm fine. Like, I lay in bed at night by myself and I'm totally OK, and that's so much stronger than the person three years ago, who would have thought they would have died if they didn't have a boyfriend."
Miley remains grateful to have started out on Disney, as it gave her such intense training. She learnt a lot while making her TV show and is proud her fans have stuck with her while she has morphed into the self-assured woman she is today.
The star spends a great deal of time thinking about those who admire her and hopes she has helped make the world a better place for them.
"I have guys and girls that come out, and they're like, 'The only reason I'm able to admit that I'm gay is because you've made me feel like that's OK.' That is so intense, because that is a part of this generation - it wasn't always accepted - and I feel like I am a big part of that change," she said. "Or they know that I've struggled with depression, and that helped them get over theirs. That gives me a big purpose - a reason to wake up in the morning that's bigger than to put on my f**king feathers and my little outfits."
The blonde star was then asked what feminism means to her, as she has described herself in that way before. Miley cites equality as the single most important issue to her and worries that people still don't understand how many double standards there are in society.
"I mean, guy rappers grab their crotch all f**king day and have h*s around them, but no one talks about it. But if I grab my crotch and I have hot model b***hes around me, I'm degrading women? I'm a woman - I should be able to have girls around me! But I'm part of the evolution of that. I hope," she explained.
