LETOYA

LeToya Luckett has sold millions of records, won Grammy Awards and been part of one of the music industry's biggest success stories of recent times. However, the former Destiny's Child lady has only just started to make a real name for herself. With a number 1 US album now under her belt, she's finally being heard. Keen listener: Mr. Drew...

MD: So LeToya you've been missing in action for the past 5 years. Where did you go?

LL: I've been working! People think I've been sitting at home chilling - I've been doing everything but that. After the departure from Destiny's Child, LaTavia (the other member kicked out of the group) and I decided to put together another four girl group called Angel. Because of business reasons it didn't work out. So I moved to LA and I was steering away from the solo thing until I met up with a production team. Once I got in the studio and started working I got comfortable and decided hey, let's do it.

MD: Do you still talk to the other Destiny's Child girls

LL: When we see each other. It's cordial, it cool. You know, we speak and everybody's doing very very well now. I think everybody's over the situation and happy with the way thing's turned out. I can't ask for anything else.

MD: Who do you miss the most?

LL: I miss them all. I miss the friendship and not having that anymore. I really miss christmases, Birthdays, the real stuff that matters. We've been together since I was 11 and LaTavia was like nine.

MD: Is it true that Beyonce was controlling?

LL: I think that B was (and probably to this day) wants everything to be right. She takes everything she does very, very seriously. If that turned into controlling in trying to make sure everything was right so be it. But she wanted the most that she could get out of this group. She had a goal that she wanted to get to and she didn't care what she had to do to get to that goal.

MD: What's been your most diva-ish moment so far?

LL: Last week I did five live TV shows - it was a whole lot-. They (record label people) tried to schedule some drops on top of that. I had to tell them to move them and do them another time because I didn't want anthing to affect my voice. I don't think you can call that diva-ish though.

MD: What's the most money you've spent on a shopping spree?

LL: $7,000 dollars. That's the last shopping spree I can think of. I was in the mall for four hours. I really could of spent more though, and really I did because I put things on hold and bought em the next day so it was probably $10 or 11 thousand dollars.

MD: What's the nicest thing anyone said about you recently?

LL: I performed at the BET Awards recently and I read that Kanye West said he heard me hit a high note on 'Torn' (her new single) and he said 'damn, she can really sing'. I was like 'he said that?', cos I've always wanted to work with him.

MD: What film do you never tire of?

LL: Grease! Grease is fun. You can be having the worst day ever, but then you pop that in and you're just having fun. But when I'm by myself and I want to go through that woman thing it's Waiting To Exhale.

MD: Who's the most famous person you have a crush on?

LL: Crush? eeww...I think Matthew McConaughey is cute.

MD: When's the last time you cried?

LL: On the plane here cos I was like I can't believe I'm coming over here as a solo artist and that I made it this far.

MD: What hidden talents do you have?

LL: I've always been into fashion I've always loved shopping - I have a shopping problem haha. I opened up a ladies boutique in Houston, Texas called Lady L with my mum. Oh and radio! I was doing the morning show's in Houston and reading the scripts and all of that and everybody was like 'you can do radio very well'.

MD: What do you never leave home without?

LL: My cellphone and when I'm on trip, my bible. What else? Lip gloss.

The single 'Torn' is out on Monday 25th September. The album 'LeToya' is released on October 2nd. For more info on Le Toya visit www.letoya.net