Ellie Goulding says she is a "tomboy" because her dad wasn't around growing up.
Ellie Goulding
The 'Army' hitmaker opened up about the impact it had when her father Arthur left her and her mum Tracy - when she was five years old - and said she has learned to stay independent of anyone else ever since.
The 29-year-old star shared: "I've always been a tomboy; I've never wanted to rely on anyone else to protect me, perhaps because I didn't have a dad growing up."
However the blonde beauty is far from boyish in her dress sence and regularly wows with her flesh-baring outfits on stage.
But she admits she was once insecure about her looks and says she can make more "confident" choices nowadays because she is "happier".
She told The Telegraph: "Im not a naturally skinny person, but I hope that I inspire other women to get strong. It makes you feel powerful... The happier I felt about myself, the more confident I became in fashion choices and in my make-up and hair. I was quite insecure when I was first thrust into the spotlight, but after a while you stop giving a crap about what other people think."
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