The one lesson I’ve learned from life

Singer Lulu

POP SINGER Lulu, 68, has been in the music business for more than 50 years. She has one son and lives in London.

IT’S NEVER TOO LATE IN LIFE TO BLOSSOM

LIKE it or not, appearance is very important in the music business, and I’m always ready to present my best face. I was trained to do that from an early age: when I was a child growing up in Glasgow, my mother would comb my hair and put lipstick on herself every time we went out — it was just her routine.

Still, I was a bit of an ugly duckling. I felt odd — spotty and short, with a fat face. It was not a good look! When I was a bit older, I’d go on holidays with my sisters-in-law and their daughters and see how their hair would go a pretty blonde in the sun and they’d tan easily.

I would quickly turn pink and my red hair would go a fiery orange. Looking back, it was hard. But, over the years, I studied what worked best on me and found a look that capitalised on what I had. Sometimes I make mistakes, but not as many as I did when I was young.

It’s age that has taught me how to look good. It’s all about experience. You don’t need to have good genes — all you have to do is give your energy and attention to your fashion, make-up and hair, and you’ll master all three.

I think it’s a great thing that I was never a beauty. When you are, you don’t even notice it, your beauty is just there. When I was young, I knew girls who wouldn’t even bother combing their hair, they’d simply get out of the shower and look effortlessly great.

And while they were tall and skinny, so clothes always hung on them beautifully, I was small with a big bum and little waist, so had to make sure things fitted properly. I had to study it all.

The fact that people now say ‘Wow, you look fabulous for your age’ is because I was never much of a looker in the early part of my career.

I think it must be so much harder for women who were beautiful when they were younger, who never had to worry about their looks until they started to age. I often think I have been blessed in a way by being just an ordinary girl. As I get old, because I don’t look bad people think it’s amazing and shower me with compliments. I feel this is my time.

LULU’S all about The Music tour runs nationwide to November 25. Tickets from luluofficial.com