Miley Cyrus and Brooke Shields
Miley's TV mum Brooke Shields has slammed the former Disney star's VMA performance.

Brooke Shields has slammed Miley Cyrus' performance at the MTV video Music Awards as "desperate".

The 48-year-old, who played the former Disney star' mother in Hannah Montana, shared her low opinion of the raunchy act during an appearance on NBC's Today show.

"I was Hannah Montana's mother!' she said. "Where did I go wrong?"

Taking a more serious tone she said: "I just want to know who's advising her, and why [her twerking] was necessary. [Children] can't watch that. It's a bit desperate."

Shields, who also made the transition from a child star to adult star, said Cyrus was trying too hard to distance herself from her good girl Disney image.

"You could see her trying so hard to go against that. She can sing beautifully and if she lets that lead, rather than let her bottom lead... She's trying so, so hard."

"[Lady Gaga has] a genius behind all of it; it's not just display."

Cyrus' raunchy performance with Robin Thicke also drew condemnation from a leading parents group who claimed it was sexual exploitation.

A spokesperson for the Parents Television Council said: "MTV continues to sexually exploit young women by promoting acts that incorporate twerking in a nude-colored bikini.

"How is this image of former child star Miley Cyrus appropriate for 14-year-olds? The Miley Cyrus/Robin Thicke performance simply substituted talent with sex.

"Viacom [the owner of MTV] has a set of corporate broadcast standards that were obviously broken in this case for financial gain. While the performance was shocking to the audience, MTV approved it during the show run prior to the broadcast. Heads should roll at MTV."

Lady Gaga