Paloma Faith says people mistook her as "stupid" when she just lacks "pretension".
The 42-year-old singer says she has experience a lot "more respect" since she gained younger fans through social media but before then she felt people thought she was unintelligent because of the way she presents herself.
She told heat magazine: "There's a lot of demand for me to be on TV, I've got a really huge following on social media from a younger crowd, I've trended on TikTok. But also I am known in my industry as an anomaly I'm just dancing to the beat of my own drum.
"When I first came into the music world, people would be like, 'Well, she seems so stupid.' I just lack pretension - that's not the same as being stupid.
"Now, I feel like people really want to talk to me and treat me with more respect."
Paloma admitted being a pop star is "unglamorous" most of the time - so she doubts her two daughters will want to follow her into entertainment.
The 'Only Love Can Hurt Like This' hitmaker - who has her two girls with her ex-partner Leyman Lahcine - said: "Well, one's three and she's quite the performer - but I feel like all three year olds are.
"At the moment, I'm not sure.
"I'd support whatever they want to do, but I would very surprised if they wanted to [do what I do].
"I think that they can see how unglamorous it is.
"They're quite empathetic kids, and they're like, 'Why'd you always work until you're so tired?'
"When I've spoken to my eldest daughter - who's seven - about it, she's like, 'It looks terrible. Don't want to do that.'"
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