Marina Diamandis has admitted that emotional heartbreak encouraged her to change her look.

The Belfast Telegraph quotes the Marina and the Diamonds singer as also saying that a recent breakup also inspired her latest album, 'Electra Heart', which hit No.1 in the UK.

She went blonde in an effort to become more "pure and innocent", whilst also being "sinister" at the same time. She said:

"I read a quote that to avoid homewreckers, you have to become one. That was my starting point. When a relationship ends, you feel like you never want to go out with anyone ever again. It's embarrassing to admit that, but self-preservation kicks in, and that led to thinking, 'If you don't want to have your heart broken again, you must then become a heartbreaker', and Electra came from that."

She continued: "I figure she's a metaphor for what it's like when you're heartbroken. Everything is taken to the Nth degree; everything about her is super-feminine and pink. The blonde hair conveys purity and innocence, while actually being something more sinister. I wanted to play with the idea of the female ideal and identity, and how, when you're not compatible with someone, you start to become what you think they would like. Essentially I wanted to make a gimmick out of love."