'Swagger Jagger' star Cher Lloyd has spoken out about the negativity often aimed at her and claimed defiantly, "this is my life and I won't let anyone make me out to be a joke". 

The now 18-year-old singer explained in an interview with The Guardian newspaper that her Gypsy root have taught her to be tough and she will never forget where she comes from regardless of her fame or fortune:

"I'll always stand by my Gypsy roots, and I'll always help out one of my own. Growing up around people with the same culture as me made me a lot tougher. I had to grow up fast because we know it's not all fairytales out there, it's full of rubbish. You get stuff chucked at you every single day whether you're in the public eye or not."

She also revealed that it's tough to tell true friends from people who are just after a slice of the limelight and admitted that her best friend is her father while others close to her work on her management team:

"My dad's my best mate and he always will be. I don't want anyone to feel sorry for me because of the fact I haven't got any true friends! I'm fine the way I am."

Watch her perform an acoustic version of 'Superhero' here: