Philately is normally a boys' hobby but for some reason it was in vogue at my junior school. Between the ages of eight and ten I collected avidly. I'd pore over my Stanley Gibbons book, obsessively checking my collection's value. I always hoped I'd stumble across a really valuable one, a Penny Black or an Inverted Jenny, but it wasn't to be.

My parents are good role models because they've worked hard and gave me a happy childhood.

I've been DJing a little bit, so you get used to the fact that music sounds brilliant when it's loud.

I'd never really thought about it before, but now you ask I can see that how my parents handled money definitely affected my relationship with it.

I love getting dressed up. Being a pop star is the most brilliant job for that. A lot of girls love shopping, but they might see the most amazing outfit and think, 'When am I going to wear that?', so it's my duty to exploit the fact I do have events I can wear these things to.

The X Factor' is great entertainment, but it doesn't prepare people for getting chewed up and spat out by the music industry.

I think there's quite a lot of cowardice in music. I don't mind if it goes wrong, I just want to go for it.