Miley Cyrus twerks upside down in edgy new Terry Richardson photoshoot

With her edgy hair cut, racy music video and increasingly flesh-flashing stage outfits, Miley Cyrus has been clearly keen to put her Disney Hannah Montana alter ego well and truly behind her.
And her new Terry Richardson photoshoot will put paid to any lingering doubts that Miley is intent on pushing a few more boundaries.
One photo shows the 20-year-old smoking a cigarette, blowing smoke out of her scarlet pout, while another features the star grabbing her crotch. 

All grown up: Miley Cyrus brandishes a cigarette and blows smoke from a red lipsticked mouth for a shoot for Terry Richardson

Queen of the twerk: Miley performs her signature move upside down this time

Hold tight: The petite star showed off her svelte figure in a top tied to show off her toned tummy as she went in for a near crotch grab

  

Miley was predictably pleased with the results of her collaboration with the celebrity photographer, tweeting: 'Terry Motha F***** Richardson' alongside a snapshot of the two of them posing together.
The star also took the opportunity to show off her svelte figure, sporting a crop top and short black hot pants and showing off her multitude of tattoos while 'flipping the bird' at the camera.
She sported oversized black glasses and poked her tongue out of her mouth while confidently posing against a simple white backdrop.

Blonde ambition: The diminutive star poked her tongue out of the side of her mouth and closed her eyes while displaying an arm full of tattoos

Thumbs up:  Celebrity snapper Terry Richardson posed in several pictures with Miley during the shoot

Not that innocent: Miley sported large black rimmed photographs with no top

The star's provocative image appears to be paying off - her song We Can't Stop hit the number two spot on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and gave Miley her first UK number one single.
'I'm selling records and that's all I'm here to do,' the star said back in June.

'I don't care if people don't like my haircut or think I dress too this way or my video's too provocative.
'If I knew what people were saying, I'd probably hate myself. I don't look at that kind of stuff.'

Flipping the bird: MMiley sported a pair of short black velvet shorts and a crop top she struck an aggressive pose

Talk about rap music: The pop star posed in another shot with a grey baggy sweater over her shorts

Smoking hot: The star curled her upper lip while puffing on a cigarette

Seeing red: The singer and actress's sported lashings of black mascara and a bright red pout

Departure: Miley first began playing Hannah Montana at the age of 12 in the Disney TV show

The star's video for We Can't Stop contains sexual references, provocative poses and a buttock shaking dance move known as 'twerking.'
'You know, I built an entire empire for myself by the time that I was 11, but now I'm just the twerk queen,' she laughed.
She also told Billboard she identified with the party-themed lifestyle of We Can't Stop.
'I didn't make this song for the critics, but for the people living it,' she said. 'I'm 20 years old and I want to talk to the people that are up all night with their friends.
'It's based on a true story of a crazy night I had: When I heard the song for the first time, it captured exactly what I was living.'
With a hit single behind her, Miley also has high expectations ambitious for her new album, entitled Bangerz
'I want my record to be the biggest record in the world, and I've given everything to get here, even down to friends and family and relationships - I've just put this music first,' she said.
'That's been kind of a trip: It's not like I'm losing who I am  - I actually found out more about who I am by making this music.
'I'm going on a journey, and that's more than a lot of 20-year-olds can say. And I'm still going to change so much. Because I'm not the same person I was six months ago-I'm not even the same person I was two weeks ago.'

Pearly whites: Miley has undergone a drastic change of image in the past year, cutting her hair and striking plenty of provocative poses

It's a hit: The star has experienced great success with We Can't Stop giving her the first UK number one hit single

The star recently revealed that collaborators on Bangerz include Big Sean, Ludacris, and Future, although the record has no release date as yet.
Miley will be joining the Katy Perry, Lady Gaga and Kanye West to perform at the MTV Viudeo Music Awards in New York City on August 25.

Peek-a-boo: Miley's black lace bra poked out beneath her white top as she posed with Terry