‘I couldn’t speak up and say no’
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Gabriella Cilmi said she felt like she couldn’t say no to pressure to be a sexy popstar.
Source: Supplied
Cilmi early in her career.
Source: Supplied
AUSTRALIAN singer-songwriter Gabriella Cilmi says a misguided attempt to play the sexy pop star almost killed her career.
Cilmi, now 22, whose mega-hit Sweet About Me blitzed the world, told Herald Sun Confidential: “I’d lost a bit of myself. I’d lost what inspired me.
“I needed to get back in touch with my roots and why I did this in the first place. I needed to heal from that whole experience.”
Cilmi said her goals after the Sweet About Me success were stymied by demands to sex up her image.
“(The record company) spent loads of money on campaigns and there was all this pressure on me to be a certain way,” she said.
“Suddenly, it was all about photo shoots and being sexy.
“It was so far removed from the person I thought I was. My dream was to be on the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine as opposed to FHM.”
She sighed: “I’d just turned 18. I felt like I couldn’t speak up and say no.”
Gabriella, who was born and raised in Dandenong, parted with her record company and management team.
Based in London, and touring Europe this month, Cilmi has released a new album, The Sting.
“It was a bumpy road to get here,” she said. “There were many times when I thought: ‘Am I going to do this again? Can I even do this?’”
The songs and sounds echo Cilmi’s feelings of fragility — and strength — on her road to independence.
Meanwhile, Cilmi, a longtime supporter of Fiorina Jewellery, in Armadale, has congratulated the brand for reaching a 20 year milestone.
“I’ve seen Fiorina grow into something that everybody seems to know and appreciate. The stones, whether they’re about healing, confidence or love, are truly special.
