sun article with nice pictures.

[kcuteus1]

I do not understand why people whould give intervews to thease papers.

Article in The Sun

Hayley has eye for Brits

By GISELLA FARRELL
Sun Online

ANGEL-voiced singer Hayley Westenra has taken a fancy to British men - but says she's got no time to date them.

The gorgeous 18-year-old from New Zealand was thrust into the international spotlight four years ago when she switched from being a carefree schoolgirl to a multi-million selling recording star with debut album Pure.

But now with such a full schedule - that's seen her travelling the world singing for royalty and presidents - the teenager says she's too busy to find love.

"I’ve not had a boyfriend for a while. It’s quite sad really isn’t it?" she said.

"I really don’t know how other musicians and actresses manage to have these relationships when I can’t even stay in touch with my friends.

"I guess I’d be likely to date someone in the music industry but I want someone who understands where I’m coming from. All the guys I’ve got my eye on are taken!

"I find I can relate quite well to British people. Brits are quite similar to Kiwis, unlike Americans. I would find it easier to relate to a Brit."

Hayley admits she does have her eye on one man in particular but added: "I don’t want to name the person I really fancy because if I met them they would be like 'you’ve got a crush on me haven’t you'.

"There’s a lot of cute guys here in London but I’m not sure whether they’d be right for me.

"James Blunt is cute. But I think he might be too old for me at 27.

"I don’t think my mum and dad would have that."

Many teens dream of being a successful singer, but Hayley said doing it while still at school was the hardest part.

She explained: "It had its positives and its negatives. There was a lot of jealousy and a lot of backchat.

"People thought I was a millionaire after the first week of my album coming out.

"It was quite tough as often my friends would have to stick up for me.

"Kids would say 'do you know Hayley Westenra, isn’t she like really stuck up?'

"It took a while for me to realise that people are just going to make assumptions, so at 14 that was quite tough."

But her celebrity-status in the classroom did have its benefits - it meant boys took interest in her.

"I did get a little bit more attention off boys," she said.

"I didn’t really exploit it though - I really didn’t have time for guys because I was so busy."

Hayley is currently living in London and despite her fame, success, and the fact her parents are on the other side of the world, Hayley said she is trying to behave herself.

"I feel pretty pure. It sounds really like I’m bigging myself up but I do feel like I am a good girl.

"I don’t have any dark secrets hanging over me, I don’t smoke, I don’t really drink much.

"My voice is my livelihood so I wouldn’t really want to smoke or drink."

And even though she's been compared to Charlotte Church in the singing stakes, Hayley said she's got no time for the partying antics of the Welsh warbler and won't be switching from her classical roots.

She said: "I never rule anything out, but I don’t see myself taking a drastic departure from what I’m doing.

"If Charlotte wasn’t enjoying singing classical music she should follow her heart.

"I actually think she’s done an amazing job in crossing over, and you can tell that she’s loving what she’s doing.

"I wasn’t so keen on the rubber dress outfit though."

She added: "I don’t like smoking – being a singer I don’t know how Charlotte does it.

"I get really paranoid about just breathing in second-hand smoke."


The talented vocalist is refreshingly grounded for a young music star.

In fact, she told us the craziest thing she had done recently was having a late night – emailing friends and family back home in New Zealand until 1am.

Hayley was discovered busking on the streets of her home town of Christchurch, a world away from the performances she gives now.

She said: "I sang for the Queen when I was 16. I felt really greedy because I’d met her three times in the space of two weeks.

"The second time I performed for her she said 'didn’t I see you earlier on this week?' and I was like 'actually I’m singing for you again tomorrow'.

"She must have thought I was some crazy stalker!"


Hayley added: "I was invited to perform at Victoria Beckham's birthday party but I turned it down.

"Even though it would have been exciting, I had a concert booked.

"I would prefer to be loyal to my fans than cancel because a more glamorous option came up.

"Time is precious. It would be fun to go to these celebrity parties but sometimes they're not all they're cracked up to be.

"I'd rather go somewhere with friends I can actually talk to.

"It's so superficial. People aren't concentrating on having a good time, it's more about who they are talking to, or about getting their photo taken.

"Arrgh! It's nice to have a taste of it, but there's more to life than that."

Hayley's new album, Odyssey, a mix of pop, folk and classical styles, is out now. Visit www.hayleywestenra.com for more details.

[Dave]

Hi Kimberly, thanks for that! Believe itt or not, it's one of the nicest articles I've ever read in The Sun about any celebrity, anywhere. Great stuff!

Why? Well, Hayley has an album to sell and getting in the Sun is a great way to do it, especially if you can manage to stop them filling it up with lies... and I think Hayley did, so well done to her!

Cheers, Dave

PS I fixed your link

[Oksana]

Thanks for the article and the wonderful pictures. I think Hayley sounded really sweet and mature in the interview.

Someone

[Natasha]

The main focus of the article was guys. I think Hayley handled it well and I really think it's comical that she always gets asked those kind of questions. I definitely applaud Hayley for not giving up her singing for a boyfriend - still if ever Hayley does have a boyfriend with her in the spotlight I'm sure he'll be nice just like Hayley herself! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Isn't it funny how people always ask Hayley questions about Charlotte? It's almost as though they want her to say something mean about Charlotte - Hayley always manages to breeze through them though, lol.

[roger]

classicgrace said:

Isn't it funny how people always ask Hayley questions about Charlotte? It's almost as though they want her to say something mean about Charlotte - Hayley always manages to breeze through them though, lol.

Hi Natasha,

You are so right. I believe they are hoping for a bit of sensationalism but they will never get it from Hayley. I also think Hayley has come to expect such questions and probably has a well-rehearsed answer. As you say, she always handles these questions well. Good for her.

Roger

[Belinda]

I see stuff .com has an article about the Sun article called Westenra has her eye on Someone. in the gossip section,nothing new just parts from the same article.

[Raymond]

Thank you.

[Richard]

Thank you for the article Kimberly!

That is one of the most honest articles I've ever read in the Sun, except that "Pure" wasn't released four years ago!

Great pictures too! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Bye for now,

Richard

[fusilier23]

Actually this article was surprisingly honest for the Sun, which does have a tendency to, ah "fill in the blanks" at times. I said after I read the NZ article that I thought they were training their sights on Hayley next, but I may have been wrong.

Yes, Hayley handled it well, I think Steve Abbott and his group have trained her well in how to create an image and maintain it, and she has learned her lessons quite well, because I believe she sees herself as being in music for the long haul, not just to make a quick payoff and retire.

Inevitably the question of comparisons with Charl comes up, and, as some of you probably know, the papers have also tried to shake that tree with Katherine Jenkins, and also failed to get much of a response. I believe what we're hearing here is a stock response, to answer the question but at the same time discourage further pursuit of this line of questioning, since if Hayley simply said "that's not something I want to discuss" she'd come off as rude, and the question of why not would be raised, but if she went after Charlotte it would create a problem. I do know the two met once, and the meeting was actually described in her bio as tense, because you don't know what CC is thinking.

Anyway, rehearsed or not, this certainly shows that Hayley is developing a polished persona and does not have the tendency to say whatever pops into her head without thinking about it first.

I do applaud her truthful description of celebrity parties, she is right on the money there, and though sometimes I'm sure she must go for publicity's sake, as someone who's now attended a lot of political functions, I too would rather party with friends I can talk to than political players or celebs where it's all about talking to the right people, getting your picture taken, and pressing the flesh.

[roger]

I don't follow CC at all but I am now wondering.....

When Charlotte is interviewed by the press, is she frequently asked about Hayley?

Roger

[fusilier23]

Never, I'll PM you.

[gareth]

Another interesting sidelight - Yulia Townsend was in Singapore just last week - there was one article about her.

Comparisons were made with .... CC - not a mention of HW! One would have thought that coming from CC NZ, comparisons with HW would be more in place than with CC Wales ....

Seems that in Singapore, CC is at this stage still rather more a household name than HW

Cheers,

Gerrit