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With more awards than most women have shoes, the plate-spinning soul diva Beverley Knight has spent fifteen years topping the charts. We catch up with her to discover how she juggles a

music career, owning her own label, launching a make up line and rubbing shoulders with Hollywood royalty.

You have spent fifteen years in the music industry, what have been your ultimate highs?For me, nothing tops that I sang with Prince, who is my absolute idol. That was the most amazing thing that has ever happened, and I am lucky because I have had a ton of stuff happen. As a child I studied everything about him and his life and music, and I took a lot of inspiration from the way he did things. All those years spent following this guy and then I’m on stage with him; he’s on guitar, I’m on vocals and we’re entertaining the great and good of Hollywood. You couldn’t have made that up.

Anything you wish you had done differently?I am a great believer in things happening for a reason. When you’re in it at the time you wish you’d have come by success a little quicker or wish it wasn’t as hard as it was, but then you look back and you think, ‘actually, if I’d have had success really quickly I may not have lasted as long as I have lasted’. I look at my career and I think everything happened at the right time and in the right way. I was a slow builder in terms of my career and now I am so glad for it, I have learned so much that some other artists just never had the chance to.

What did you find the hardest?I guess just convincing radio people I was worth a shot in the beginning. That just meant hard work and persistence, just absolutely proving your salt day in and day out. And the way I did that was getting on a stage and singing.

Is it a very different game from when you started out?It’s a different universe. I started out at the height of Brit Pop; Oasis had released Definitely Maybe and were gearing up for What’s the Story, Blur were on album number three. In the middle of all of that there was me, just cracking on and doing what I’ve always done.

There are a lot of collaborations on your latest album, 100%, what was it like working with the legendary Chaka Khan?We use the word legend all the time and very often to describe people who are not legendary. She is a legend. Wow, I don’t think there are any awards that could top something like that.

Soul diva Beverley Knight talks love, legends and Jimmy Choos

Queen of the Knight

I was a slow builder in terms of my career and now I am so glad for it, I have learned so much that some other artists just never had the chance to”

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What you eat will show up on your body and your face, as I discovered to my peril”

“From music to make up, how did K by Beverley Knight come about? It came about simply because there are millions and millions of make up lines out there and only a teeny tiny percentage of them do colours that are suitable, or show up on dark skin. And the darker you are the harder it is, in fact it’s near impossible if you are very dark. So after years of wingeing about it I though I would do it myself.

How involved were you in the process of actually developing the products?Seriously involved, I got on people’s nerves. From the packaging, to the name of the brand, to the textures, colours, consistency; absolutely everything. I didn’t want to do this unless it was done absolutely right, I was the target audience after all.

What are your hero pieces from the range?The foundations are the credibility for the whole range because it’s supposed to suit the darker hue, although not exclusively so. If the foundations were crap - too red, too green, ashy looking - then the whole range falls apart. That was the thing I tested the most vigorously and I drove people the most mad about. They turned out fantastic and I am desperately proud of them.

How do you stay in shape?What you eat will show up on your body and your face, as I discovered to my peril. I can’t eat a lot of sweets because my skin hates it and it’s the quickest way for me to get a podgy tummy. Sugar goes straight to my lower abdomen. I go to the gym, I love working out. Because I’m doing Sport Relief my thing at the moment is outside running.

You are massively involved in several charities, how do you find the time?You’ve got to make the time. It’s funny, when it’s something you love to do and you feel passionate

about it, you make the time. I’m never too busy to go shopping, either!

Where do you squeeze your boyfriend in?He just gets shoved in somewhere! James owns and runs his own mix martial arts gym, so we both have busy lives and we both understand.

This issue is actually our Wedding Special, so I have to ask, what would you dream wedding be?It would be hot! Ideally it would be at our own place where we would have a marquee set up.

And the dress?It would be a very simple and very well cut. I would ask Jimmy Choo personally to make me a pair of shoes. I did that for my best friend when she got married, my gift to her was Jimmy. She and Jimmy sat down and made up exactly what she wanted; leathers, fabrics, height of heel, everything.

Last question, how do you like Manchester?When I go on tour I have to book a day off after my Manchester date so we can hit the party scene that night. I literally come off stage, meet and greet, dive back to the hotel, shower and change, out to Panacea. That is what we do. Manchester is a big deal for us, it’s one of our big shows. I absolutely love the place.

Interview: Jenny Boden

Beverley Knight s at The Lowry on 5th April and her latest album, 100%, is out now.

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“ When I go on tour I have to book a day off after my Manchester date so we can hit the party scene that night. I literally come off stage, meet and greet, dive back to the hotel, shower and change, out to Panacea