Miley Cyrus has become "more protective" of her love life

The chart-topping singer - who was married to movie star Liam Hemsworth between 2018 and 2020 - told People: "The detail that I can share is that for us, our privacy and us kind of keeping it small has been something that I've been astounded that I've actually been able to have and being able to kind of have more choice.

"I think it's also being older, being more protective of what I'm open to sharing."

The celebrity couple sparked engagement speculation earlier this week when they walked the red carpet at the Los Angeles premiere of Avatar: Fire and Ash. And Miley thinks the new movie is "about love, family resilience and kind of reconnection and that stronger together idea".

She added: "I thought it was kind of perfectly thematic and aligned with where I am in my life now."

Miley and Maxx began dating in 2021, and a source previously revealed that the loved-up couple were "very compatible with each other".

The insider told Us Weekly: "It's a new relationship. They're still getting to know each other at the moment.

"They're having fun and have been spending a lot of time together."

The celebrity duo were first spotted together in Miami on New Year's Eve in 2021, and Miley was keen to see where there romance might go.

The insider shared: "They're exploring things and seeing where it goes."

Miley previously dated Cody Simpson - but the Wrecking Ball hitmaker confirmed their split during an Instagram Live in August 2020.

The pop star said: "Today it came out that me and my boyfriend have broken up.

"For right now, two halves can't make a whole, and we're individually just working on ourselves, becoming the people that we want to be.

"Like everybody else at this age, we're just deciding who we want to be with our lives, what we want to do with our lives."