The Lipster

There’s a certain kind of pop star who would rather be thought of as spectacularly dull in “real life” than any kind of dazzling personality. Honed in media-training, it’s something of a winning ruse: the less you give, the more the public wants, the more vague you are, the more enigmatic you seem and you have demurely protected the indefinable magic of your all-important “brand”. As a PR practice, its queen is the fabulous Beyoncé, who has said nothing of any interest whatsoever in 11 years in the public eye while only becoming ever-increasingly fabulous. It’s the effect, too, of the damage done by fame (Kylie is much the same), the self-protective armour required to withstand year after year of the penetrating global media, ever ready to expose you as a fraud, or fallen, or considerably less than fabulous. Inevitably, then, it’s become standard practice for the obviously less gifted, as is the case with much maligned sometime “teen superstar” (and newlywed) Ashlee Simpson, who returned to the UK charts this month with the Santogold-written, robo-pop clanger Outta My Head.

Eighteen months ago she’d just turned 22 and was on the promotional treadmill in London, unveiling both her sponsorship deal with Skechers footwear and a brand new head while sitting next to a PR who resembled a highly intimidating American version of tennis colossus Steffi Graf. Ashlee, all twirly blonde hair and Hollywood nose, was virtually unrecognisable from the black-haired, “rock”-nosed vision of two years previously - the year she appeared on Saturday Night Live pretending to sing live while the wrong pre-recorded song blared across studio, Ashlee then responding with a bizarre Irish hoe-down po-go palaver to extensive global mirth. Perched on a hotel couch between Ashlee and 'Steffi Graf', what followed was the kind of informationally barren pop interview which makes the beleaguered pop scribe want to hang up their recorder forever and become a fishing creel weaver in a hamlet on the Isle of Bute.

Your image is so different now. Has there been a conscious decision to become more “pop”, more universal?

“No, you know, I had my hair black for a while, I change my hair colour probably every month. For me I always find myself changing and I’m just happy with how it is now. I would dye my hair dark again any day.”

Do people treat you differently as a blonde?

“Not too much. I think with the blonde I still have my same fans come to the show and some have black hair and some don’t and some have red hair and I think hair colour is just at that moment a statement that you’re making.”

You’ve been hugely famous in America since you were 19. At 22, how have you changed?

“I’ve probably grown a lot. I’ve become more jaded. Just… the innocence you had. It’s pretty much what three years does to you, in the publicity. But in a good way, I think. I’ve learned a lot.”

Jaded, because of the criticism?

“Yeah. Being torn apart and all that stuff. But you learn to just not listen and be happy with who you are in your own skin.”

D’you find it funny that the whole world is talking about your new nose?

“Yeah. (nervous laughter) It’s quite funny.”

How has it changed your life?

“It didn’t change my life. No! Same person. I don’t really wanna talk about that!”

I think your fans would probably appreciate honesty at this stage. Never denying or confirming it makes it seem like it’s something you’re ashamed of. Be loud and proud!

“I just don’t think it’s anyone’s business. Everyone has their opinion anyway.”

Here, 'Steffi' began to prod me repeatedly in the back as a way of saying, presumably, “this interview is over”.

Has it made your more confident? (prod prod)

“I am confident in my skin.”

You weren’t all that confident, obviously.

“I’m just really not gonna talk about this!”

Oh well. Personally I think you’re making it worse. People like me will annoy you about this for years.

“You can go ahead and say what you want to about it OK? I’m not bothered by it.”

Any style and beauty predictions for 2007?

“A fresh look, I think. Natural.”

Ironically enough, eh?

“Mn.”

And here, with another prod, my 15 minutes was up. At no point, incidentally, did the colossally successful, multi-millionaire 22-year-old pop phenomenon, now with the face she evidently always wanted, seem anywhere close to happy.