Miley Cyrus has proclaimed that sex is "really beautiful" and called on mothers to do more to educate children about the positives of physical passion.

Speaking to US talk show host Amanda DeCadenet, Cyrus lamented females who choose to push aside the romance that sex can bring. She said:

"Girls that really base what they're worth on the sexual favours that they can do for somebody... that makes me really sad, because sex actually is really beautiful. It's the only way that we create and it's the only way that the world keeps going."

Cyrus then added that parents should be doing more to educate children on the "magical and cool" side of sex. She said:

"It's ignorant to not talk to your kids about it or to (not) make it seem as magical and cool as it actually is. They (teenagers) have a TV; they know what sex is... Educate them. Let them know that they wouldn't be here without it. It is a beautiful thing and it is magic and it is when you connect with somebody - and it isn't how much you're worth."