Even though she's self-admittedly not a fan of twerking, 21-year-old former Disney star Demi Lovato will always jump to the defense of her good friend Miley Cyrus.

During recent appearance on "Katie Couric," Lovato told the talk show host that in her opinion, "the world needs to get over that [Cyrus] was Hannah Montana when she was 16."

"I think she knows what she's doing, a lot of artists take that route of shock value and that's totally fine," she said. "She has such a incredible voice that being overshadowed by some of the things she's doing. It's her journey. She's being who she is. I'll always love her, she's been one of my friends since I was like 14."

Lovato also recalled her own transition out of being a Disney girl, which was met with its fair share of difficulties. The star was asked to leave the Camp Rock 2 South American tour in 2010 after physically assaulting one of her back-up dancers, which sparked an intervention from the Jonas Brothers management and her family.

The star left the tour and entered rehab for a number of issues, including an eating disorder, drug and alcohol use and self-harm, all of which she has been very open and honest about to her fans and the world over the past few years, inspiring many to seek help just as she did.

"I think my transition was easier [from Disney]. I didn't twerk, I just went straight to rehab," she jokingly told Couric. "Nobody knows Miley. Nobody really knows who I am. Same with Selena, Jonas. Everyone who grows up in the public eye. We're adults now."

Though she no longer stars in her Disney show "Sonny With a Chance," Lovato is still signed to Disney's Hollywood Records, and recently released a music video for her new song, "Let It Go" from the latest Disney animated feature, "Frozen."

Meanwhile, Miley Cyrus is still one of Hollywood's biggest stars despite her controversial new image, her latest album "Bangerz" having debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 charts.