'X Factor USA' judge and former child star Demi Lovato has opened up about the struggles she faced getting older in the public eye and how her friend Miley Cyrus is coping with the same issues.

Speaking to Katie Couric about Cyrus and the pressures of growing up very much in the spotlight, the superstar explained that it's incredibly tough and she found herself going to rehab as it was the best thing she could have done at the time:

"I think that the world needs to get over the fact that she was Hannah Montana when she was 16. I guess my transition was a little easier because I went straight to rehab. I didn't twerk, I just went to rehab."

Lovato went onto add that the 'Wrecking Ball' sensation seems as if she's in control of her behaviour so people should probably back off a little on the criticism: 

"I think she knows what she's doing. A lot of artists take that route of shock value, and that's totally fine and that's great. But I think she has such an incredible voice that's overshadowed by some of the things that she's doing."

"It's her journey. She's having fun. She's being who she is. I'll always love her. She's been one of my friends since I was 14. But everyone is on their different journeys right now and she's doing that and she's having fun... so power to her."