The 46-year-old O'Connor wrote to the 20-year-old Cyrus after the youngster cited O'Connor's video "Nothing Compares 2 U" as an inspiration for her somewhat tasteless "Wrecking Ball" video.

"Nothing but harm will come in the long run, from allowing yourself to be exploited," O'Connor wrote Cyrus. "Please, in future, say no when you are asked to prostitute yourself."

O'Connor says she was prompted to write, "in the spirit of motherliness" after "dodging phone calls from various newspapers" who wanted the singer-songwriter to comment upon similarities between the two videos.

The classic music clip video for "Nothing Compares 2 U" is principally an extended close-up of O'Connor who sheds a single tear as she performs the Prince-penned break-up ballad. In "Wrecking Ball," which shares similar lyrical themes to O'Connor's song, Cyrus is depicted doing - questionable things.

"I am happy to hear I am somewhat of a role model for you and I hope that because of that you will pay close attention to what I am telling you," O'Connor wrote.

"I am extremely concerned for you that those around you have led you to believe, or encouraged you in your own belief, that it is in any way 'cool' to be naked .  in your videos.

"It is in fact the case that you will obscure your talent by allowing yourself to be pimped, whether it's the music business or yourself doing the pimping.

"It is absolutely NOT in ANY way an empowerment of yourself or any other young women, for you to send across the message that you are to be valued (even by you) more for your sɛҳuąƖ appeal than your obvious talent.

"You are worth more than your body or your sɛҳuąƖ appeal. The world of showbiz doesn't see things that way," O'Connor wrote.

"They're there for the money, we're there for the music. It has always been that way and it will always be that way. The sooner a young lady gets to know that, the sooner she can REALLY [be] in control."

Cyrus, the daughter of country singer Billy ray Cyrus first found fame as the child star of Disney children's show "Hannah Montana." She has been criticized in recent weeks for her controversial performances, most particularly at the MTV Video Music Awards in Brooklyn last month.

"Whether we like it or not, us females in the industry are role models and as such we have to be extremely careful what messages we send to other women," O'Connor concluded.

"The message you keep sending is that it's somehow cool to be prostituted.. it's so not cool Miley... it's dangerous

http://catholic.org/ae/music/story.php?id=52611