Shake up your shape-up. Same old workout stopped working out?

Try the latest kick-ass classes that make fat-fighting fun

By Beth Gibbons, 11/04/2010

Yawning in yoga? Bored of BodyPump? It's time to shake up your workout. "Changing classes regularly helps you stay motivated and keeps you in better shape as your body won't hit a plateau," says fitness trainer Dan Roberts (Danrobertstraining.com). To find a workout that works for you, try our latest fitness fixes

Get on your (VRX) bike

If you like spinning

You'll love VRX-Biking

Say what? This new, souped-up version of spinning includes a video screen and moving handlebars for an adrenaline-fuelled ride that burns up to 55 per cent more calories than a standard exercise bike. "Because you have to steer these bikes, you get an upper-body workout as well as a leg and bum blitz," explains fitness expert Kristoph Thompson. For proof of the benefits, just look at VRX vixen Eva Mendes. Precisely.

Sign me up! Classes are available at Everyone Active leisure centres nationwide, from £7 (Everyoneactive.com).

If you like yoga

You'll love fencing

Say what? That's right, swordsmanship couldn't be any more cutting edge. "Fencing involves incredible mental and physical control," explains fitness trainer Greg Brooks (Gbpersonaltraining.com). "It gives your brain a workout, and the fast footwork and lunges burn 400 calories an hour - sculpting your arms, defining those abs and creating a pert bum." Catherine Zeta-Jones famously took up the sword as training for The Mask Of Zorro, slashing inches all over - hardly surprising when just nine minutes of fencing is equivalent to running a mile!

Sign me up! Go to Britishfencing.com to find a class near you, from approximately £30 for six classes.

If you like exercise balls

You'll love IndoBoarding

A 'board-om'-free zone!

Say what? Surf chick Cameron Diaz is thought to be a fan of this quirky class, where you balance on a board that's placed on top of a roller (imagine a plank resting on a large rolling pin). Once you've mastered standing without wobbling, you can move on to squats, push-ups and weight training. "This is a tough class, but the results - better balance, coordination, flexibility and amazing abs - are so worth it," says trainer Jason Fern (Indofitness.co.uk). You'll be so busy having fun, or trying not to fall off, you won't notice you're balancing away 340 calories an hour.

Sign me up! Free classes are available at selected Fitness First gyms (Fitnessfirst.co.uk), but you can buy your own board and give it a go at home (from £95, Indoboard.co.uk).

If you like British Military Fitness

You'll love outdoor gyms

Fitness al fresco

Say what? While being barked at by an ex-squaddie might appeal to some, we've discovered a less fear-inducing way to tone up outdoors! The best bit? No punishment and no payment. Yep, it doesn't cost a penny, as more and more councils are installing free fitness equipment in UK parks, from chin-up bars to resistance machines and cross-trainers. "Most of these machines rely on body weight and gravity for resistance, giving a good all-over workout that can burn up to 500 calories," explains Dan. No wonder Dannii Minogue swore by regular workouts in the park to get in shape for last year's X Factor.

Sign me up! For your nearest outdoor gym, call your local council or visit Tgogc.com or Fresh-airfitness.co.uk.

If you like bodycombat

You'll love capoeira

Say what? Pronounced kappoo-air-ah, this martial-art-cum-dance originated on the hip-swinging streets of Brazil. Classes mix a unique combo of dance, self-defence and acrobatics - think flying kicks and spinning cartwheels - performed to sizzling, booty-shaking beats! "The moves dramatically improve coordination and flexibility, as well as toning shoulders, legs and bums in a body-blitzing 500-calorie workout," explains Dan. Need more inspiration to get signed up? Hot-bodied Halle Berry and Gisele Bündchen are both fans. Nuff said.

Sign me up! Classes are popping up all over the UK including selected Fitness First gyms (Fitnessfirst.co.uk), from £10 per class.

If you like Pilates

You'll love Jukari

Say what? Sicilian for 'play', Jukari's been developed with Cirque de Soleil's high-flying acrobatic team and involves swinging round a gym studio as you grip on to a trapeze. Very Tarzan! It may involve much more obvious exertion than Pilates, but it targets similar muscles. "Hanging on to the bar takes incredible muscle control, helping to sculpt your arms, back and abs, and working off 500 calories an hour," says Dan. Just ask Sadie Frost - the 44-year-old mum-of-four credits regular trapeze sessions for her ridiculously flat tum.

Sign me up! Jukari classes are free at David Lloyd gyms nationwide (Davidlloyd.co.uk).

If you like Power Plate

You'll love Power Boxing

Say what? Once we got our heads round the fact that doing a few stretches on a vibrating platform could yield serious results, we couldn't get enough. And we're not alone - the newly svelte Charlotte Church is hooked, too. Now Power Boxing has upped the game (think boxercise classes performed on a spin dryer). "The vibrations activate muscle fibres, so you get a more intensive workout - we're talking 400 calories an hour," explains Dan.

Sign me up! Visit Uk.powerplate.com and click on 'Plate Locator' to find your nearest class, from £20.

Get fit with your phone

The latest fitness apps make your smartphone a personal trainer and nutritionist in one. Just not while you're on the bus, eh?

iFitness Pick your wobbliest body part and this pocket-sized personal trainer will give you an instruction video with the best moves to get toned. There are over 100 exercises. £1.19, iTunes.

RunKeeper Download this, then take your smartphone on your next run and it will record your time, distance, pace, and even plot your exact route on Google Maps. £5.99, iTunes.

MyFitnessPal Calorie Counter & diet tracker This lists the nutritional composition of more than 250,000 foods, and the calories burned for every kind of exercise imaginable, so you can log your calorie intake and plot a chart as the pounds drop off. Free from iTunes.

Lost your oomph? Don’t be too quick to blame work, home or play...

Lost your oomph? Don’t be too quick to blame work, home or play...

25/04/2012

Two-thirds of Brits are exhausted, a recent survey found*. But while you may blame a lack of energy on your lifestyle, the culprit could lie closer to home. "Personality, rather than life's demands, has a huge impact on how fatigued you feel," says Bill Ford, author of High Energy Habits (Pocket Books, £7.99). "Your energy levels can be transformed by altering your outlook." Take our quiz to learn what traits zap you and how to fix them.

The quiz

Section 1: Work

1. When it comes to projects at work, I'd rather...

• Get on and do it myself

• Work together as a team

• Be told what to do

2. Come 5.30pm...

• I'm out the door

• I spend my journey home thinking about tomorrow's tasks

• I'll be on the phone making plans for drinks

3. When a work task doesn't quite go to plan I...

• Hit the shops to cheer myself up

• Move on, there are more important things to think about

• Beat myself up for days

Section 2: Home

Tick the statements below that most apply to you

• I'm always leaving things till the last minute

• My house is Kim-and-Aggie spotless

• I like photos of friends and family around me

• My mind often races at night

• My friends know I'll always answer the phone

• I spend my life looking for things I've lost around the house

• I can't live without my to-do lists

• My cupboards are full of gadgets I've only used once

• My home looks cosy and 'lived in'

Section 3: Play

Tick the statements below that most apply to you

• I hate committing to nights out

• People rarely live up to my expectations

• My calendar is one long list of engagements

• I always remember to send birthday and thank-you cards

• I spend ages getting ready to go out

• I worry about what people think of me

• I prefer to leave decisions up to others

• I always find fault with things, from books to restaurants

The results

Which colour did you tick most?

MOSTLY RED

Burnout behaviour: Being too hard on yourself

You're an all-or-nothing person and you flit between feeling invincible and completely knackered. Your perfectionist tendencies mean you put too much pressure on yourself, whether it's at work or buying a gift for a friend. "Perfectionists are highly motivated, with plenty of energy," says Georgia Foster, author of The Stress Less Mind (Georgia Foster Publishing, £12.99). "The problem is they waste too much of it beating themselves up. They also find it hard to relax, so are prone to burnout."

SORT IT: "If you find yourself agonising over something like the wording of an email, stop," advises Bill Ford. "Ask yourself if the job requires a 9/10 for effort or if a 7 will do. By prioritising you'll save energy you can devote to things that really matter. And pat yourself on the back at the end of each day by listing three things you've achieved, then reward yourself with some down time."

MOSTLY BLUE

Burnout behaviour: Always prioritising others

You get your buzz from being around people and have a social life to rival Paris Hilton's, but it means you run yourself ragged trying to keep up. "People pleasers prioritise others, so they find themselves rushing around with an endless list of errands," says Kirsty R Lowe (Expertpsychologists.com). "And as other people's demands take their toll, they're left with no energy to devote to themselves."

SORT IT: "Put your needs higher up your to-do list, by identifying one thing you really want to do each day," says Bill. "It could be as small as sitting down with a cuppa, but the main thing is you make it happen. This will encourage you to start putting yourself first and you'll notice your energy levels soar." Stop worrying about peoples' opinions of you, too, adds Kirsty. "If they're happy seeing you worn out trying to please them, then are they the kind of friends you need?"

MOSTLY GREEN

Burnout behaviour: Putting things off

You get fired up when it comes to grand plans, but often feel exhausted before you've even begun. "Procrastinators make excuses and put stumbling blocks in the way of things," says Georgia. "The truth is, by putting off little jobs, like the washing-up, you don't have to tackle big things, such as losing weight. The result is you waste time and energy finding distractions like shopping, surfing the net or slobbing out on the sofa."

SORT IT: "People don't realise how much energy it takes to ignore unfinished tasks," says Bill. "They'll always be playing on your mind and creating stress." His top motivator? "Do three jobs you can complete in 15 minutes. The achievement will give you a burst of energy that'll help you start bigger tasks." If you really can't face a chore, try roping in some friends to help.

Oomph it up - now!

Stop the slump with these instant energisers

1: The super sip

Caffeine can leave you tired after the initial buzz, so sip water to rehydrate. Drink six to eight glasses a day - and one to two more for each hour of exercise.

2: The 15-minute recharge

The 15-minute Innersound Qi Energy treatment (at centres nationwide, £40, Innersound.org) uses accupressure and sound vibrations to stimulate blood flow and release energy 'blockages', giving you an all-over energy boost.

3: The herbal healer

Vitrano tablets (£12.99 for 30, Boots.com) contain root of rhodiola rosea. After one month of taking it, 70 per cent of testers said they felt less tired.

4: Eat yourself energised

You can get cranky when blood-sugar levels drop. So keep them balanced ¿by tucking into brekkie, switching to wholemeal carbs and eating little and often.

5: The before-sport boost

Beetroot juice boosts stamina by 16 per cent by helping to raise oxygen uptake. Try sipping Beet It Stamina Shots, £1.79 (James white.co.uk) one to three hours before sport.

What’s your diet personality? Think weight loss is down to willpower?

Pah! It’s about tailoring your diet to who you are

By Jess Spiring, 16/05/2009

Being told what friends to have and what clothes to wear would be ridiculous, right? After all, only you really know what suits you best. And when it comes to dieting, the same rules apply. "Diets often fail as they don't match your personality or the way you live," explains Dr Kushner, co-author of Dr. Kushner's Personality Type Diet (St. Martin's Press, £11.95). "Rather than look at the diet itself, start by analysing your life patterns then find a plan that fits your nature."

Recent research* has found half of British women only stick to a new diet for a couple of days, and 63 per cent are so embarrassed by their failures they won't admit to being on one in the first place! But the shame stops here. Complete our quiz to discover what you should be putting on your plate to lose weight.

Section A

1. Who do you call most on your mobile?

Your best friend - you can't go a day without a good gossip (B)

Mum, or another family member (A)

The curry house (C)

2. If you were a Desperate Housewives character, who would you be?

Uptight Bree (A)

Flirty Gabrielle (B)

Feisty Lynette (C)

3. What's the most dominant colour in your wardrobe?

Black (C)

Pink (A)

One colour? It's a rainbow in there! (B)

4. What's your favourite Tom Cruise film?

Cocktail (B)

Top Gun (C)

Jerry Maguire (A)

5. What's on your iPod?

'80s classics (C)

Lady GaGa (B)

Westlife (A)

Section B

Select the following statements that most apply to you

I don't sleep very well (C)

I never say no to that last glass of wine (B)

I sometimes tell my friends I'm busy, then stay at home on my own (A)

I hate that my friend looks better in that Karen Millen LBD than me (B)

I think about food all day (A)

I put my work before everything else, including my health (C)

People say I'm a bundle of energy (B)

I wear my trainers at the weekend. Not for exercise - because they're comfy (A)

I can go for weeks without going to the supermarket (C)

Mostly As: You need portion control

You're a real homebody and comfort is king for you food-wise too - pasta, mash, cake - you can't resist stodge.

Start-now tip: "No exercise at all isn't good," says Angela. "But as you love being cosy, Bikram yoga (where the room you practise in is heated to 40°C to help loosen muscles and promote deeper stretching) would be great for you. And, as you can burn up to 600 calories per session, it will really contribute to slimming down."

And as exercise isn't your strength, you need a diet that won't deny you your favourite treats or demand much in the way of working out. The Diet Plate (£14.99 from Thedietplate.com) is the perfect solution. It's a nutritionist-designed plate that's decorated to show you how much of each type of food (carbs, protein and fat) you should eat at every meal. It's that simple - whenever you're dishing up, follow the plate's guidelines. "It's great for teaching portion control - used every day, you can expect to lose up to 2lb a week," says nutritionist Angela Dowden.

Mostly Bs: You need to alternate

You're super-sociable, which means late-night boozing and calorie-heavy suppers are your diet-downfall.

Start-now tip: "Have eggs for breakfast on your 'off diet' days," advises Gillian. "Studies show that those who do, actually eat 400 calories less a day."

The key to successful slimming for you lies in accommodating the thing you live for - being a girl about town - which is why hot-from-America diet book The Alternate-Day Diet by James B. Johnson (Perigee Books, £12.99) will be your skinny salvation. It recommends restricting calories one day and then eating what you like the next and promises a weight loss of 2.4lb a week. "When you're eating out, it's impossible for someone like you to choose something healthy," says food addiction expert Gillian Riley, author of Beating Overeating: The Easy Guide (Booksurge Llc, £9). "On this diet, you don't have to fight the urge to eat chips as you can just make up for it with healthy low-calorie meals the next day."

Mostly Cs: You need to be led

Stress is your middle name, isn't it? You're so strung out worrying about life - and spending all your time at work - that your fridge is always empty.

Start-now tip: "As you can be an insomniac, include more turkey and chicken in your diet," says Nigel. "It's high in the chemical tryptophan - an amino acid in the body which makes serotonin, otherwise known as the 'sleep-hormone'."

As you love your desk so much, an automated online plan like Fabulousdiets.co.uk or Tescodiets.com will suit you perfectly. Pick which type of diet you fancy (low fat, low carb, Mediterranean), type in your weight-loss goals then leave it to generate a weekly shopping list. You can opt for ready-meals if you're too busy to cook and could lose up to 8lb a month. One click and it can all be delivered from your local supermarket, too. "We're all either foodies or fuelies," says dietician Nigel Denby. "As you're more interested in fuelling up than eating, a regime like this is perfect as it takes charge, so you don't have to think about food and the pounds will fall off."

Photography: Alamy, Scope Beauty *by Nimble Bread

The bye-bye baby-bump diet

Given birth but no longer recognise your body? Snap back into shape with TV host Amanda Hamilton’s post-pregnancy plan

DURING PREGNANCY Weight: 12st 7lb Size: 14

By Anne Magee, 13/09/2009

Flabby skin and stretch marks - pregnancy takes its toll on your body, as new mum Amanda Hamilton knows all too well. The nutritionist of 10 years and presenter of BBC2's Sunday morning show Something For The Weekend gave birth to her second child, son Ruaridh, recently.

Already mum to Jana, five, it was after Ruaridh's birth that Amanda felt she really had to whip herself into shape.

"Being a new mum is difficult and while we shouldn't pressure ourselves to lose weight post-pregnancy, it's hard struggling to shift the pounds. And it's not made any easier with all the pictures of celebrity mums who just seem to ping back into shape the minute they've given birth!" explains Amanda, 35, who recently set up BabyToo BootCamp, where experts help mums regain their pre-baby figures.

"After giving birth to both my kids I was amazed by how little help there was for normal mums like me, so I decided to do something about it."

And indeed she has. Despite putting on 2½st while pregnant, Amanda, who's 5ft 7in, managed to get her fantastic figure back in just eight weeks.

"I used my local gym and devised my own diet to help me try and get back to my best," she says.

"It's taken motivation and dedication, but I feel absolutely brilliant!"

Here, Amanda reveals the exclusive eating plan that's got her looking hot today. First, make sure you've had your six-week post-natal check-up, then combine this with gentle exercise and say bye-bye to your baby weight too.

BYE-BYE BABY-BUMP RULES

The BootCamp diet is low in fat but rich in complex carbs, protein, dairy, fruit and veg.

1 Ban sugar Say goodbye to sugary cereals, white bread and sweets. They provide a quick rush, then an energy-slumping low.

2 Be prepared Get friends and family to bring you healthy snacks like fruit rather than chocolates, so you don't binge on bad stuff.

3 Treat yourself The early weeks of motherhood aren't easy, so be nice to yourself. My treats are a few squares of dark chocolate, a decaf cappuccino or a small glass of wine.

4 Don't scrimp! Fill up on fruit and vegetables. Unless stated, dairy products can all be full-fat.

5 Stop stressing over calories There's no need to count calories on my plan. Each day contains 1,600 (plus take 400 more in snacks if you're breastfeeding) which is the perfect amount for new mums to lose weight sensibly.

THE DIET

Have a breakfast, lunch, dinner and two snacks every day for eight weeks. You should also drink 2 litres of water every day.

BREAKFAST

* Porridge made with oats and skimmed milk or water, ½ chopped banana, plus honey to sweeten.

* 2 scrambled or boiled eggs with 2 slices of wholemeal toast thinly spread with butter and 1tsp tomato sauce.

* Fresh, chopped fruit topped with natural yoghurt.

* A grilled mackerel fillet with 2 grilled tomatoes, a handful of grilled mushrooms, and a slice of wholemeal toast thinly spread with butter.

LUNCH

* Baked sweet potato with a tin of tuna, chopped cucumber and natural yoghurt to taste.

* 4 oatcakes with low-fat soft cheese or Cheddar, a boiled egg and natural yoghurt.

* Greek salad in pitta pockets. Salad made from chopped fresh tomatoes, ¼ red onion, ½ cucumber, ½ green or red pepper, 4oz cubed feta cheese and 8 olives. Add lemon juice and black pepper to taste and stuff into 2 toasted wholemeal pittas.

* Spicy chicken ratatouille. Heat a little olive oil and stir-fry 1 diced chicken breast with ½ onion, 1 sliced garlic clove and 1 red chilli, deseeded and finely chopped. Add lots of fresh veg, a tin of chopped tomatoes and a splash of Worcester sauce.

DINNER

* Baked sesame chicken with vegetables. Slice 1 chicken breast (or fish or tofu) into strips and marinade in low-salt soy sauce and honey. Roll in sesame seeds and bake in a 180°C/350°F/gas mark 4 oven for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, stir-fry vegetables in low-salt soy sauce and ginger. Serve together.

* Warm butternut and goats' cheese salad. Cut ½ small butternut squash into cubes and roast in olive oil. Add a large plate of salad leaves, one grated carrot and ½ chopped red onion. Top with 3oz of goats' cheese, ¼ pack alfalfa sprouts and tomatoes.

* Thai green chicken curry (serves 2). Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a hot wok. Add 1tsp of Thai green curry paste, 2 cubed chicken breasts, a lemongrass stalk and a lime leaf and cook for 4 minutes. Add 150ml reduced-fat coconut milk and 1 large chopped aubergine. Simmer until tender. Stir in 1tsp of Thai fish sauce (optional) and serve.

* Baked fish with rosemary roasted vegetables. Place a selection of chopped veg on a baking tray, drizzle with 1tsp olive oil and add a sprig of fresh rosemary. Bake for 10 minutes at 180°C/350°F/gas mark 4. Place the fish (salmon, sardines or mackerel) on top with a lemon slice and cook for a further 10-15 minutes.

SNACKS

* One boiled egg.

* 2 pieces of seasonal fruit.

* 2 oatcakes and sugar-free jam.

* 2oz reduced-fat cheese with ½ chopped apple.

* Small handful of cashew nuts and ½ banana.

TAKE IT EASY

* Don't do any strenuous exercise for the first six weeks. Once you've been given the all-clear by your midwife or GP, start a gentle exercise routine. Aim for a 15-30-minute brisk walk a day.

* Start pelvic floor exercises as soon as you feel ready. Do them wherever and whenever.

* Strap 2kg leg weights on your ankles while walking round the house to tone thighs.

* Remember, breastfeeding mothers must not consume less than 2,000 calories a day*.

How to get a Strictly hot body!

This dance gives your whole body a workout, but is great for shrinking your waist and toning your bottom. So put on your fave CD and get dancing!

By Claie Wilson & Abby Knight, 01/04/2009

This year we want a hot body like dancing queen Camilla Dallerup.

The 34 year old has a figure most of us would die for - yet she admits that she's always had her own insecurities. In fact, she reveals that this series of Strictly Come Dancing was the first time she's felt comfortable showing off her stomach on screen.

"I've finally got the confidence to wear a two-piece outfit," Camilla confesses.

"Although my stomach wasn't fat, it was never toned, so I didn't feel confident showing it. But now I've finally managed to get a six-pack and I'm happy for people to see!"

But Camilla's impressive abs aren't the result of hours spent doing stomach crunches. Life's far too short for that. No, all she did was perfect a dance routine that not only gives you a washboard tum, but is good fun to boot. And being the giving type, Camilla has agreed to share her six-pack secrets. Ladies, Christmas might just have come early!

"It's actually a full-body workout, but because I'm really toned all over apart from my tummy, I found it worked really well on my abs," she explains.

"Along with a healthy diet, if you do 50 minutes of my dance routines three times a week, you'll easily tone up and drop a dress size in a month." 

Dancing has been Camilla's life since she started lessons aged just two and a half, back in her native Denmark.

"My mum thought it would be a good way to build my confidence before I started school," she says. "And she was right! I loved it all - jazz, ballet, but most of all Latin."

By 13, she was winning national competitions, and when she and her dance partner and then boyfriend, Brendan Cole, 32, were spotted by Strictly Come Dancing scouts four years ago, they were considered one of the best 12 dance couples in the world. The rest is history.

And while she recently wowed us every week with her fancy footwork, partnering Holby's Tom Chambers, 31, Camilla is keen to point out that the dance routines on her new DVD aren't so complicated.

"Even if you have two left feet you can do it," she laughs. "It contains a warm-up, cool down and 12 different dance sections set to a variety of tempos such as the jive, mambo or cha-cha. This means your body is constantly working hard all over and burning calories.

"It doesn't matter if you never manage to master the routines perfectly, you'll definitely see results as long as you put the effort in. And if you haven't got time to do the full workout, just dip in and out."

Getting the chance to bring out her own fitness DVD is a dream come true for Camilla, who's currently dating actor Kevin Sacre, 30, who used to play Jake Dean in Hollyoaks.

"I used to work in a fitness centre when I was younger and loved watching the aerobics classes," she says. "I always thought it must be so much fun to do - and now I'm finally doing it myself."

One thing that really matters to Camilla is that her workout isn't about getting skinny.

"I think that women are beautiful whatever their shape. What's important is that they are healthy and toned," she says.

"Not everyone wants to be a size zero, but I don't know a woman who wouldn't like to lose their bingo wings!"

CAMILLA'S TOP WEIGHT LOSS TIPS

If you get hungry, eat - just make sure you choose the healthy option, likea handful of cashew nuts.

Exercise is the key to never g oing hungry. Don't deny yourself - just burn off the calories.

Have the odd glass of wine or chocolate bar - if you're eating healthily, it won't matter.

Cha-cha workout

1. STEP IT OUT

Stand tall with shoulders rolled back, arms loosely at your sides. Step left foot forward.

2. RAISE IT

Kick right leg behind you, keeping foot flexed. Stretch arms towards the ceiling.

3. WORK YOUR WAIST

Bring your arms down. Twist your waist as you kick right foot forward.

4. KICK IT ON THE RIGHT

Now reverse the move - walking forward on right foot.

5. STRETCH IT OUT

Raise your arms and kick left leg behind, feeling the stretch in your thigh.

6. KEEP IT LOW

Twist to the left, bringing your right arm in front. Repeat routine five more times.

'I'm glad I lost the X Factor'

Who are you calling a loser? Diana Vickers has set the stage alight and is storming the charts too. Take that, Cowell

By Gemma Calvert photography by Ezra Patchett, 18/04/2010

She was the kooky, quirky queen of The X Factor - a gorgeous young Debbie Harry lookalike, who was tipped to win right from the start. Then came the backlash.

With her X Factor mentor Cheryl Cole

Critics mocked her strange hand move, there were the rumours of romance with fellow contestant Eoghan Quigg behind her boyfriend's back, and allegations of "special treatment" after she was allowed to miss a sing-off following a bout of laryngitis. By week nine, Diana Vickers had suffered a spectacular fall from grace and was unceremoniously voted off the show.

She could have suffered the fate of dozens of other X Factor wannabes, playing to ever decreasing crowds in working men's clubs. Steve Brookstein, anyone?

Instead, it is Diana who has had the last laugh. Not only has she received rave reviews for her acting performance in The Rise And Fall Of Little Voice in the West End, but she has just put the finishing touches to her new album, Songs From The Tainted Cherry Tree. She has co-written 13 of the tracks, and her debut single, Once, has been penned by Cathy Dennis, the musical genius behind Kylie's Can't Get You Out of My Head, making it a dead cert to top the charts. Watch out Alexandra Burke!

In fact, 18-year-old Diana has found herself at the forefront of a new breed of young female stars, like Pixie Lott and Miley Cyrus, who aren't content to be brilliant at just one career. Oh no. These have-it-all heroines are all-singing, all-dancing and all-acting, too. So what's Diana's secret? Losing The X Factor, apparently.

"I'm so grateful I didn't win," she says. "I think the originality is stripped away from those who do make it. Between then and now, I've been given time to grow, do Little Voice, which I'd never been able to do had I won."

Not that Diana ever had any doubts she'd make it to the top. "I always knew I'd get here," she explains. "At the age of seven, people would ask me what I wanted to do when I was older and I'd say: 'Be a singer'".

But her confidence took a knock when she lost the public vote. "After X Factor I felt sad because I missed everyone. I'd been in that house for nearly 10 weeks and it was very intense. I didn't feel like anyone outside understood me. My friends had broken up with boyfriends, had arguments and I'd missed out on it. I'd been in a different world."

However, she didn't have long to wait for her second bite of fame. Four months after the X Factor tour finished, she was told that the chairman of record company RCA, Craig Logan (yes that bloke from Bros), wanted to meet her.

I've been offered drugs but I've always said no

"All I could think was how cool he was for being in Bros," she says breathlessly. "I was in there for 10 minutes, he shook my hand and looked at me. It was like he was weighing me up. I told him I wanted to write my own music and had my own ideas for the album, and he said: 'Let's give it a go.'"

Diana signed an album deal on the spot. And like any teenage girl, she hit the shops.

"The money gets filtered in every month. The first time I looked at my balance after I'd been paid I nearly had a heart attack. I've never had that much money in my life," she says. "That first shopping spree was like every girl's dream! I went to Harrods and bought three dresses from Stella McCartney and Alice Temperley. I was shaking when I handed over my card."

But she didn't just splash out on herself. Diana also bought her mum, Ann, a Mulberry handbag for Christmas and gave her older sister, Charlotte, 22, money to go to drama school as well as whisking her off to Paris for the weekend. And, for her 18th birthday in July, she celebrated with a £5,000 bash in a swanky London nightclub with those other X Factor runners-up, JLS.

"About 20 girls from home came. They get a bit giggly around JLS. I was being cool, saying: 'They're my mates, I'm over it,' but I was screaming inside. On the night of the BRITs, I was out having dinner and got a text saying JLS had won a BRIT then another one. I toasted them. They've inspired me."

While Diana is happy getting tiddly on champers, she insists that she's never been tempted to try anything harder, despite the showbiz circles she now moves in.

"People have offered me drugs," she confesses. "But I've never tried them. And I'm very proud of that. I see people around me who are off their head on ketamine and I think "Look at yourself, you're an absolute mess."

It's a pretty down-to-earth attitude for someone who has achieved so much in such a short space of time. And Diana attributes her refreshing attitude to one person. Her mum Ann scrimped and saved to put Diana and her sister through private school in Blackburn.

That kiss with Mr Quigg

"I'm definitely not a diva," she says shaking her head. "My mum always taught me that you get what you're given, you eat what you've got on your plate, you say thank you and you wash it up yourself. That's always stuck with me."

Though not even her unfailing politeness will persuade Diana to open up about the new man in her life. When pushed, all she says is: "I met him through one of my friends and we've been seeing each other for two months. He's an actor who's been in Les Miserables and he wants to be in movies."

Keeping quiet about her love life is understandable given the scandal surrounding her are-they-aren't-they romance with Eoghan Quigg, then 15. When they were pictured snogging it made headline news. It also came as a huge blow to her boyfriend of two years, student Chris Jones. But Diana's defiant.

I don't think I'm sexy, but I like my body

"I don't regret kissing Eoghan," she explains. "I was young and if you want to do something and it feels right, you do it. We spent so much time together the lines were blurred. I felt bad for Chris and sorrys were said, but I didn't apologise for my feelings. You just get over it and move on to the next person."

Spoken like a true teen! Her attitude to love is the only thing that gives her age away. Like in our '70s inspired shoot, Diana acts and looks older than she is. All curves, legs and hair, she's got the confidence to love her body and refreshingly refuses to give in to any angst.

"I get spots and I'm baby-faced," she says. "I don't think I'm sexy, but I like my size-10 body. I want to be a positive role model."

With her head firmly on her shoulders, a style all of her own and talent to boot, Diana is certainly that.

• Diana's single, Once, is out tomorrow and her album Songs From The Tainted Cherry Tree is released May 3 on RCA Records.

The do-it-all divas

It used to be that singers just, well, sang. But not any more. Just like Ms Vickers, these bright young things are on their way to being multi-talented multi-millionaires

Sarah Harding, 28

Singer, actress, model and businesswoman. Is there no end to Sarah Harding's talents?

It was no real surprise that this Girls Aloud party animal should set up her own drinking den. Last year, she launched trendy East End club Kanaloa with DJ boyfriend Tom Crane and Mahiki owners Piers Adam and Nick House.

"The club wasn't a reason to go out and party, but a business opportunity," she insists. There comes a time when you need to grow up.

The enterprise is already doing so well that there are plans for four new bars.

Sarah has set her sights on maxing her acting opportunities. She's already had roles in both St Trinian's films, as well as starring in independent movie Bad Day and a BBC2 drama. Next up Hollywood, we reckon.

She has also made £100,000 as an underwear model for Ultimo.

Extra earnings: £250,000 for her acting and modelling work. If Kanaloa continues to be a success, she could make as much as £2million.

Nicola Roberts, 24

Like Sarah, Nicola hasn't been waiting around for Nadine Coyle to return to the fold. She's been making the most of her features with a make-up range called Dainty Doll, specifically designed for pale-faced beauties. She's also ventured on to the small screen as presenter on the BBC3 documentary The Truth About Tanning and is now the face of a campaign group hoping to ban under-18s from going on sunbeds.Extra earnings: £150,000 as it is still early days for her Dainty Doll range.

Lily Allen, 24

When Ms Allen hit the pop scene back in 2006, she quickly became famous not only for her voice, but also for her kooky look and feisty personality.

Within nine months of having her first No1 she had launched a funky range of clothing at New Look.

And her no-messin' quips helped land her own chat show with BBC3 - Lily Allen And Friends - before she went on to be a model and muse for Chanel.

After the huge success of her debut album, Alright, Still, last year she released the follow-up, It's Not Me, It's You before announcing a temporary retirement from music as she explores other avenues.

First up is a vintage clothes store called Lucy In Disguise, which she'll run with her sister, Sarah. It's due to launch this summer. "I'm in the office every day, sourcing clothes and getting really excited about my new venture," she says.

But our Lily isn't planning to stop there. Next up? Plans to run her own record label. That girl knows no bounds!

Extra earnings: She's made a cool £1million from her chat show, clothing range and modelling.

Miley Cyrus, 17

inset: Miley's movie moment

The Disney Diva is one market-savvy young lady. The daughter of country singer Billy Ray Cyrus, Miley was desperate for fame from an early age. And now she has it. And then some.

At the age of 14, Miley was told she had clinched the lead role in a new TV series, Hannah Montana, which has proved to be an unstoppable money-making juggernaut. It's catapulted Miley to superstar status and made her a multimillionairess.

But this young lady's not ready to rest on her laurels. Not only does she have a pop career, her first autobiography is already on the shelves. And Miley has just appeared in her first romantic role in movie The Last Song. Oh, did we mention she has her own clothing range, too?

Extra earnings: Miley earned £15million last year alone - of that £3million came from her album and tour.