Ira Losco says she never had plastic surgery and would consider posing naked. The photogenic and multi-award winning singer tells Christian Peregin the pictures in her new photographic journal are untouched.
Flicking through the pages of her picture-driven book, it is easy to think of Ira Losco as a narcissistic sex symbol obsessed with the clothes she wears and the way she looks.
But that is not the case. She comes across as a down-to-earth girl who admits she needs a very good bra, a great photographer and lots of good people around her to chisel her beautiful looks.
"I haven't gotten here just sitting on my backside and letting things fall into my lap. I've worked very hard for the success I've achieved. Just because I look or act a certain way, it doesn't mean it was easy," she says, imbued with characteristic confidence.
The pop-rock diva, one of Malta's few successful recording artists, enjoys speaking candidly, even though it does not always go down well with the public.
In her book, Losco writes about getting piles before her Isle of MTV performance and, more recently on Xarabank, she admitted to having not worn underwear during her iconic Eurovision performance in 2002, where she placed second. Her white lacy dress, apparently, did not allow it.
But despite all this, Losco believes she has an important message to pass on to young people.
"I don't call myself a role-model. It's very scary and daunting to do so. But I try to set a good example. I know some parents who don't like me will be shaking their heads right now, but I believe I give people good values."
This does not mean that she is "holier than thou". In fact she readily admits that she would "probably" pose completely naked and has done her fair share of mischievous things - even if she says they never involved drugs.
Her message is simple: that it is good to work hard to achieve your dreams, and it is also good to be a strong and confident woman.
"I think a lot of young people are led to believe that if you are an artist you get away with very little work and that everything that glitters is gold. It is not."
She also has an ongoing campaign against bullying and believes very much in education and tolerance - issues she has written about in her timesofmalta.com blog.
"One thing I hate is abuse of power, whether it is political, domestic or international. If you abuse power, you are not in my good books," she says.
But as a singer who puts a lot of emphasis on image, she is often seen as a potential bad influence on her impressionable fans, especially in a society where Malta's 'celebrities' tend to be political and religious leaders or politically-correct TV presenters.
Although she does not push the envelope as much as many international superstars do, a glint in her eyes says she wishes she could.
She says the photos by Allen Venables in her book were untouched, filling her with the satisfying knowledge that she "can actually look good". But like everyone else, she is not always happy with what she sees.
"I am far from perfect. I have insecurities like any other girl or woman. I'm not fixated by my physical appearance. I eat healthily, I try to exercise regularly."
She points to her chest and says: "Some people thought I had plastic surgery on these. But no. This is just a very good bra."
But she is quick to say that she has nothing against plastic surgery, even though she preferred to opt for the cheaper option.
"If you have a crooked nose and you want to fix it and that will make you happy and more confident, then, yes, why not?"
Losco panders to people who are fascinated by her life, but she is also aware that obsessions can be dangerous. One of her fans once broke into the studio where she records, to touch her guitar and simply to be where the magic happens.
The young girl was found asleep in the recording studio and the incident was reported to her parents.
"I can take care of myself, but I'm scared of the fact that (obsessive people) might hurt my family."
Losco is a full-time artist and although she turns 29 next year - for many artists it is past their sell-by date - she believes she has a lot left to give. Just because she released a book, it does not mean it is the culmination of her career. In fact, she is planning to release new album next year.
Although she teaches singing on the side, (she also plays piano and guitar) Losco admits she sometimes struggles to make ends meet. She thinks there is a lot more the country could be doing to support culture and the arts locally.
Musically, the singer feels she has evolved but has not lost any fans along the way. From fronting an alternative band called Tiara, to the three-minute Eurovision performance that endeared her to the entire country, to her three albums since, her musical style has been in constant flux.
"I always make it a point to have something for everyone. Keeping a strong audience in Malta is very hard. You have to have different facets. And that's how I am anyway. I'm not, say, a hardcore, death-metalist. I like death-metal, but I do appeal to a dance crowd, to a mass of people, to rockers..."
Losco says she writes what she feels and does not go for a particular style just because that is what works commercially.
"I started from very humble beginnings, playing for around 200 people and being very frustrated, like many artists. But I was very dedicated to the music. Then I had an opportunity to take part in the festival and didn't say no because I believe in taking every opportunity that comes my way."
Ms Losco, who placed second in the Eurovision contest seven years ago, says that was an "innocent" time.
"We were a great team; we had no expectations, no pretensions. I went up there to make my country proud, I wanted to have three good minutes and I did. Maybe I was lucky; maybe the competition that year was not (great)... But I know where I'm coming from.
"If anyone ever tried to erase their past it would be very foolish," she adds.
So would she do Eurovision again?
"I always get asked this question. Maybe it's because I went there and got a good result. But right now I'm so busy, I'm so happy dedicating all my time to my music, that it's not something on the agenda... as yet."
Losco has been Malta's crowned pop-rock princess ever since Eurovision, but even though everyone thought she had what it takes to become an international superstar, she never managed to crack the UK or US charts.
However, in many ways, she still feels she has made it.
"I think that internationally we've achieved quite a lot, things I only ever dreamed of. To speak about concerts attended by thousands and thousands, and to speak about the times that I was opening concerts for superstars like Elton John and Katie Melua... But I always want to be somewhere further."
She does not feel that living in Malta has hindered her career, and thinks that the opportunities made available through the internet mean it makes no difference where you are living as long as you have good people around you.
"But, eventually, yes, I will probably move away from the island because you do tend to start reaching saturation point with our island being as small as it is."
She says she will never forget her "territory", since everything she did in Malta was instrumental to securing her overseas achievements.
"Lately, the way to go in the industry is to be independent, without a record label. If you have a record label interested in investing a lot of money in you, then you go for it, but being independent, having your own choice of where to publish your music and get it heard, is very important."
Some years ago Losco signed to a record label, though she says nowadays there is a trend to become famous through televised talent shows like American Idol or X Factor. But as a songwriter, she does not believe that is the best option for her.
"The artists tend to be manufactured, so they don't give you much leeway if you're a songwriter. But I think they're great competitions and whoever has won them has gone places."
So what about her personal life?
Contrary to popular belief, she claims she is not an English-speaking girl.
"I speak Maltese at home and with my friends. I speak very rarely English," she says, while at the same time admitting that she would not feel comfortable recording an album in Maltese.
Losco has always made it a point not to take sides when it comes to political parties. In fact, unlike most local artists, she never lent her voice to political anthems.
"I just hope both parties can give us something positive," she says, adding that she has never been politically inclined.
However, when it comes to siding with a football team, she is loyal to Sliema, not only because she hails from there but because her father played and her current boyfriend plays for the team.
Like many female singers, she is dating a footballer and admits she likes younger guys.
Who does she compare herself to as an artist?
No one. She doesn't like comparisons. But she loves Lady Gaga, the eccentric singer who performed in Malta last July.
"I like her very much, not necessarily for her music, but vocally and as an artist... I think she is more real than people expected her to be. I didn't get the chance to meet her, because her management kept her very exclusive, but I really enjoyed that she sat at the piano and sang because that is what real artists do - they actually play an instrument."
Watch excerpts of the interview on www.timesofmalta.com
A musical journey
Age: 28
Hometown: Sliema
Status: In a relationship
1990s: Singer of alternative band Tiara
2002: Places second in Eurovision Song Contest with 7th Wonder
2003: Winner of two awards at Malta Music Awards (MMAs)
2004: Releases album Someone Else
Winner of one award at Bay Music Awards (BMAs)
2005: Releases album Accident Prone
2006: Releases album Unmasked, Winner of Bailey's Woman of the Year award; Best Live Act at Sole Festival
2007: Winner of three awards at MMAs and winner of one award BMAs
2008: Releases album Fortune Teller, Winner of two awards at MMAs and one award at BMAs
2009: Releases remix Mixed Beats, Winner of one award at MMAs, Book Ira Losco released
Website: www.iralosco.com