Oh, that Cheryl Cole. She might be a top notch pop star but she's just like us. When Grazia Daily met the 29-year-old in London last week, it wasn't long before we were nattering about shopping on the high-street and spilling nail varnish down your dress. Yes, Chezza has become our dream bezzie - and not just because we want to raid her wardrobe.
Cheryl looks glossier than ever when we meet, wearing a colourblock sheath dress by Marissa Webb topped off with a pair of killer spiked heels and lashings of chocolate brown hair. She's just got back from holiday - 'it was blissful,' she sighs - so her skin is golden and glowing, but it's her eyes that light up when we go for a trip down memory lane.
In celebration of her autobiography, My Story, going from hardback to paperback, we asked the starlet to talk through the highlights of her career. It began back in 2002 when a Geordie lass called Cheryl Tweedy auditioned for Popstars: The Rivals. 'I was really innocent and naive,' she says of her first moment in the spotlight. And what advice would she give her 18-year-old self? 'Change your outfit. Change your hair.' And look how far she's come!
Onto her heady days on The X Factor (of the UK variety, that is) and Cheryl can't help gushing about her musical idols. Yep, she has girl crushes just like us. 'I love how Beyoncé is empowering as a woman. She’s about sisterhood and that’s quite rare these days.' You'll remember Queen B made a special appearance for the show's final in 2008 - the year that Cheryl took Alexander Burke to victory. So what was it like to meet her? 'I totally embarrassed myself, I’m sure she doesn’t want to see me again!' We find that hard to believe, Chez.
You can watch the first part of our exclusive interview with Cheryl above and stayed tuned for two - yes, TWO! - more parts coming your way later this week - the 'Call My Name' singer dishes on working in Hollywood, her red carpet disasters and saying goodbye to Girls Aloud. Until then, take a look at Chezza's greatest style moments in the gallery below...
Cheryl: My Story (Harpercollins, £7.99) is available from www.amazon.co.uk