Teen sensation Miley Cyrus has apologised to fans ahead of the release of a controversial set of snaps showing her semi-nude, saying she is embarrassed with the pictures.

Ananova.com quoted her as saying, "I took part in a photo shoot that was supposed to be 'artistic' and now, seeing the photographs and reading the story, I feel so embarrassed. I never intended for any of this to happen and I apologise to my fans who I care so deeply about."

The snaps will be published in the new issue of Vanity Fair. And all this has happened the same week as photos of a lingerie-clad Miley leaked online.

Vanity Fair editors, however, were quick to respond and said, "Miley's parents and/or minders were on the set all day. Since the photo was taken digitally, they saw it on the shoot and everyone thought it was a beautiful and natural portrait of Miley.

"In fact, when (Vanity Fair writer) Bruce Handy interviewed Miley, he asked her about the photo and she was very cheerful about it and thought it was perfectly fine."