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SAY HOWDY TO AMERICA’S NEW SWEETHEART. OUR VERY OWN NATASHA BEDINGFIELD’S BEEN FLYING THE FLAG FOR BRITISH GIRLS – AND THEIR SEXY CURVES

By Mandi Norwood with photography by Tom Corbett

When British stars pack their bags and board a plane to ‘make it big’ in America, two things usually happen: they embark on a ridiculous exercise and diet regime, then – about a year later when their career has gone the way of their love handles – they return to Blighty with their tail between their super-skinny legs.   

But not Natasha Bedingfield.

The 26-year-old singer from south London has stormed her way into the charts – and hearts – of America, and managed to do so without the need for a scandal-soaked private life (take note Lily and Amy).

She has also avoided becoming a Los Angeles lollipop but admits it wasn’t easy.

Watch Natasha's video Love Like This

“I used to be self-conscious about my curves,” she explains."

“Girls want to be t*ts on sticks, but I’ve now found out that men really like big bums.

"These days, I think my curves are sexy!”

With her tanned skin and athletic body, Natasha looks like the true embodiment of an all-American girl.

Add to that her blonde hair and blue eyes, plus her clean-living lifestyle, and it’s no wonder the USA has taken to Natasha.

She’s currently on tour there promoting her second album, Unwritten, renamed Pocketful Of Sunshine for the American market.

But she's still found time to play dress up for an exclusive Fabulous photo shoot in New York, where she’s parading the curves she’s learnt to love – with a little help from her stateside boyfriend, real estate agent Matt Robinson, 31.

The couple have been together for two years and Natasha credits his, ahem, appreciation of her figure as the root of her new-found body confidence.

“Matt likes everything about my body,” she says.

“It’s great, the way he sees me.

"I’ll say: ‘Does my bum look big in this?’ and he’ll go: ‘Phwoar, yes!’ and I’m like: ‘Oh, OK…’

"That completely changed my thinking about my body.

"I could never be a size zero. In fact, I don’t think skinny women would be much fun in bed.”

Whether it’s her fear of being a bedroom bore or a desire to maximise her athletic shape, Nat doesn’t want to be a Skinny Minnie.

“I’m all about overall fitness and being healthy.

"I try and stick to The Zone Diet which is about eating the right combination of fat, carbs and protein,” she says.

The 5ft 6in, size 10, singer also sticks to a rigorous workout schedule with Jamie Milms, trainer to stars such as Cindy Crawford.

“I try to exercise every day. I use a Swiss Ball, with lots of lunges and sit-ups.

"I work out for an hour with Jamie, then I do some cardio.

"But I have to be careful how much weight I lift because I build muscle very quickly,” she says.

And one place she wants to avoid extra inches is her thighs.

“I’ve always wished I had skinny legs,” she reveals.

“That’s the one thing I envy when I see other girls. I like my long legs, but I wish I could wear miniskirts.”

Instead, Natasha plays up her bootylicious derrière with “sexy, curvy dresses from Stella McCartney, Alexander McQueen and Dolce & Gabbana.”

Especially on dates with Matt.

“I like to wear something figure-hugging. I used to hide my femininity because I wanted to be one of the boys," she says.

"But then I realised that you actually lose some of your power by doing that.

"There’s power in being a woman and feminine.”

Nat hasn’t seen Matt for a fortnight, so at the moment she’s concentrating on keeping their love alive over long distances.

“There have been times in our relationship when the web cam has saved the day because phones can suck after a while,” she says.

“You start to misunderstand each other because you can’t see each other.

"But these days, I prefer to write.

"And sometimes, when we write, it can get quite sexy!”

Phew – Nat’s not so squeaky clean now…

The Fabulous 5

1 Gordon Brown or David Cameron?
David Cameron, I think. Which party is he with? Conservative party? Oh, so not him. I don’t like being political.

2 What rule do you live by?
Do unto others…

3 Tell us a secret about yourself. Something we’d never guess.
Pink is going to teach me acrobatics. She opened the Justin Timberlake tour a few months before I did and performed these amazing moves with silk scarves. She promised she’d show me how to do it.

4 What’s your party trick?
I can drink lots of Patrón tequila and not get affected by it at all.

5 Last supper?
I really miss my mum’s cooking, so it would have to be an Irish stew.

 

Photography: Rex, Getty; Hair: www.ricardorojashair.com; Make-Up: Celeste Massimei; Styling: Miriam Sternoff/Oliverpiro Inc; Natasha wears American flag by Ace Baner and Flag Co, cheerleader uniform courtesy of Odds Costume Rentals, shoes by Converse, white tank top by Ralph Lauren, trousers from Uncle Sam's Army and Navy Surplus, boots from Dave's Surplus, hat and dog tag stylist's own

 

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