Boyle is aware that some of the cynicism that greeted her arrival on stage at the Britain's Got Talent audition stemmed from her frumpy appearance. She wore a gold lace dress that she'd bought for her nephew's wedding but left her unruly hair uncombed and her face free of make-up. "I know what they were thinking but why should it matter as long as I can sing? It's not a beauty contest," she says.
At the superficial end of the entertainment industry, however, appearance is paramount. Is she afraid she might come under pressure to have a makeover?
"Maybe I'll consider a makeover later on," she laughs. "For now I'm happy the way I am -- short and plump. I would not go in for Botox or anything like that. I'm content with the way I look. What's wrong with looking like Susan Boyle? What's the matter with that?"
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