Diana Vickers is the face of Wrigley's Extra White Bubblemint campaign for National Smile Month 2014.
The 22-year-old, who first rose to fame when she reached the semi final of the X Factor in 2008, decided to support the cause after hearing 67% of people cover up their smiles and she is hoping to encourage people to have more confidence with their grins.As well as talking about her work with Wrigley, Blackburn-born Diana spoke to HELLO! Online about getting image confidence, designing her own wardrobe and her latest acting roles.
Why did you want to get involved in National Smile Month? How did the partnership come to be?
From the name I knew it would be a really exciting, fun campaign to be a part of. Also I was talking to Wrigley who did a survey that said 67% of people actually cover up their smile for a photo and that touches you a little bit because you should have the confidence to smile. Especially younger people aged 16-20 when they're going through a bit of an insecure phase and they don't like anything about themselves, it's good to encourage them to smile. It's a proven fact that chewing gum after every meal reduces plaque and so I think it’s for a really great cause.
Why do you think people don't smile?
I think it's a young thing, I don't think I had great self confidence when I was younger. You beat yourself up about your body.
Did you have braces or anything when you were younger?
Yes I did have braces and I used to think that I had bunny teeth because I do have quite big teeth and I think you pull yourself apart when you're young but then when you're older you accept yourself more and then you realise 'oh actually I do have big healthy teeth and that’s a positive thing'.
Do you consciously try and smile more now?
Yeah I do a lot of photoshoots and when you're on the red carpet the photographers always say 'smile with your teeth' so now I do try to get my teeth out!
You've got this campaign going on and you're acting, singing and performing in the West End – what are you focussing on at the moment?
I just finished The Duck House, I was doing that in the West End for about six months and I told myself I was going to have a couple of months doing nothing really and just relaxing so that's what I've been doing but I've been in a lot of meetings and done a lot of auditions so I am concentrating on that. I'm also back in the studio working on the third album. I've not made a sound yet, it's still in the creative process and I've got Give Out Girls, my TV show sitcom, coming out. I went to the screening and I've seen a couple of episodes and it looks great and funny and it's exciting so I'm waiting for that to come out. I'm waiting for my next acting job as well and writing music.
You went to the Olivier Awards because of The Duck House, how was that?
It was fantastic! It felt so good to be there because we were nominated and that was so much more special, you feel a part of it. It was just great, it was such a treat and there were so many great actors and actresses there so it was great to be a part of it all.
Having released albums and worked in the West End, would you ever work on any musicals?
I always thought 'I don’t know if musicals are really up my street' but actually I have been getting a few musical sent through for audition and they've been really interesting ones. Some that have been on in America or dark comedies that have music in them. I don't know if I could do a really glitzy, jazz hands-style musical but if it was an interesting script that had some fantastic music then maybe.
Are you based fully in London now?
We did film Give Out Girls in Manchester but I’ve lived in London for about seven years now in east London. I’ve got my own house there now.
Do you find it hard working away from your family?
Well I live with my boyfriend (One Night Only singer and Burberry model George Craig) so he's here and my mum I miss terribly because she's up north. But it's nice because she comes down here and we just wear the hell out of her and then she's ready to go back up north. If I had it my way all of my family would be down here but it's nice to go back and see them.
Would you ever return to fashion or designing again?
Maybe! It would have to be the right thing. I love my fashion and I do always think of outfits and really I should just draw them. So maybe one day it would be great to have a wardrobe I've designed of everything I want to wear. There's so many things I want to wear and I go to look for them and they don't exist – I could make it myself.
So what's next for you? You're leaving the fashion be for now but definitely recording and acting?
Definitely recording and definitely more acting. It's really hard finding the right acting role because when you do it's such a special thing. You get this character and you really connect with them. It happens and it's this kind of chemistry, like relationship – it's got to be perfect. I am looking forward to finding the next thing and getting in the studio and writing.
Do you feel down when you finish filming? Do you feel sad to let the characters go?
Oh yeah! But I think that's part of being an actress, that kind of down time afterwards. Sometimes it's frustrating but now I'm learning to enjoy it because when I was in The Duck House and even though it was amazing in the beginning I think we were all pretty knackered by the end so it's just remember to actually seize these down moments as well.
Diana Vickers is the face of Wrigley's Extra White Bubblemint campaign for National Smile Month 2014, encouraging people to chew sugarfree gum for a clean and healthy smile. Check out the Wrigley's Extra UK Facebook page to find out more: www.facebook.com/extraofficialUK
