From posing topless for Vanity Fair to indulging in a steamy kiss on-screen, Miley Cyrus appears to be desperate to leave the squeaky-clean Hannah Montana behind.

And judging from these latest pictures, her desire to shake off her fictional alter-ego couldn’t be more obvious as she strutted around a Florida hotel yesterday in a teeny bikini while showing off a recently-inked tattoo.

The 17-year-old singer was snapped enjoying a relaxing day with friends at the Fontainebleau Resort on Miami Beach as she lay by the pool having wrapped up her Wonder World world tour the night before.

But it wasn’t the skimpy neon pink two-piece that attracted all the attention, but what appeared to be the words ‘Just Breathe’ tattooed in black ink on her ribcage just under her left breast.

She also appeared to be describing the design to her friend after she was snapped gesturing at it with her hands.

In theory, Miley is not legally allowed to have a tattoo as she is under 18, which is the legal age to be inked in the US.

However, after her brother Trace recently revealed that all the Cyrus family were planning to get matching ones, Miley may have been given permission to get one from her country singer father Billy Ray.

One fan’s blog this morning suggested that she got the tattoo in memory of a nine-year-old girl called Vanessa who passed away from cystic fibrosis in 2007.

Cyrus met Vanessa at a Los Angeles hospital and instantly connected with her, describing her as one of her best friends.

There was no word from Miley’s agent today to confirm whether the tattoo was a permanent or temporary one.

Miley was photographed later that afternoon leaving the resort wearing a Jonas Brothers t-shirt in homage to her ex-boyfriend Nick Jonas.

She is currently dating Australian actor and former Neighbours star Liam Hemsworth, 19, who she met while filming the Disney movie The Last Song.

But she dated 17-year-old Jonas, the youngest of the musical sibling trio and believed to be her first love, from June 2006 to December 2007.

“Oh, I’m not really good at dating. The whole game often ends with a broken heart. And I really know how much a broken heart hurts. I wouldn’t do that to anyone,” the 16-year-old actress-singer has been quoted as saying on contactmusic.com.

Cyrus has been recently linked with 19-year-old actor Liam Hemsworth and previously dated model Justin Gatson and singer Nick Jonas.

She says it becomes hard for her to date a guy because of the attention she attracts.

“It’s frustrating. Whenever I want to be alone with a boy the paparazzi follow us. Sometimes I would like to wear a wig – like Hannah Montana. Then I’d have a more private life for sure,” she added.