What was Miley thinking?

Miley Cyrus is causing some trouble in the entertainment yet again for her "provocative" image. The 16-year-old mega star was outed in 2008 for "inappropriate" pictures that she posted with a friend. Tonight, she took Vanessa Hudgens' pictures out of the spotlight, at least until next time.

At the Teen Choice Awards, Cyrus performed her new single "Party in the USA". The star wore short shorts that revealed her extra-long legs and had a portion of her performance on top of a moving cart that read "Ice Cream" on the side but featured a pole which she danced on--full on stripper style. Miley haters and fans alike all proclaimed concern with the Disney princess' provocative moments during the performance.

Prior to the airing, Cyrus said in an interview about the performance, "This is to represent who I am." The performance definitely showed the world that she was growing up, which is what she has wanted since negotiations on "Hannah Montana" last year. "My performance tonight is funny, but I wanted it to be about [something more]," Cyrus explained with sincerity. " 'Party in the U.S.A.' is an all-American song, and so I come out tonight and I'm literally in a trailer park. It's a blinged-out trailer park."

Cyrus, her father Billy Ray and others in her group planned out the big number, which she said was fun but had a deeper meaning. "I'm like, 'This is to represent where I am from. I'm so proud of it,' " Cyrus explained to MTV. "All the girls trying to be Hollywood and stuff with their big glasses, me shooing them away. It's about my roots."

Roots indeed. One can only question what the star was trying to do here. Yes, she explains it to MTV but how determined is she to get rid of her "innocent" image? We know she is sixteen now but I think she's done quite well for herself and her fans need someone good to look up to, someone with values and morals--who Cyrus claimed she was. I can only think of the last girl who wanted to be "not so innocent" and that raises major concerns for Miley fans. Do we have another Britney Spears repeat on our hands?

Miley wouldn't mind. She said on her twitter, “For all the people calling me the "next Britney" THANK U. I couldn't ask for a better compliment :)”. Cyrus has always claimed to like the icon, who she references in the new single and whom she presented a Teen Choice Award to "because I'm a huge fan of hers."

Maybe this was nothing. Maybe Miley Cyrus just wanted a "blinged out trailer park" to show her roots (which, ironically, aren't her roots. I would bet that girl never set foot in a trailer park. Her dad IS Billy Ray Cyrus.). Maybe it was just an ice cream trailer--with a random pole on it. Or maybe it was a statement that she's growing up. Maybe the "Hannah Montana" star is ready to move on.

Either way, Mommy Tish and Billy Ray stood, smiled and applauded their daughter as she thanked God for being there, for success. (And for pole dancing.) I guess only time will tell.

**The performance and more photos are posted below.