the leg warmers, rah-rah skirts and ruffled shirts.

I was scouted by a modelling agency when I was 17 while I was out shopping in Manchester and thrown headlong into the world of fashion. I spent time living in Japan, London and Paris, which was great fun.

Now I'm a working mum, it's a whole different ball game. I've got a job and a baby. I don't have three hours to do my hair and make-up. When you see a picture of yourself with a big 'thumbs down' next to it you just think, Oh God, I should have spent a little bit longer.

It feels great to dress up for a special occasion, but I will never suffer for fashion because I always regret it.

That's one rule I've always had: never let the clothes wear you. Kate Moss is a style icon because she can literally throw anything on and her attitude helps her pull it off. Say what you like about her personal life, but whatever she wears looks amazing. It's all about the sod-you attitude, the feeling inside that says, "This is what I'm wearing and I feel good in it."

I'm always having to defend the dresses I wear on Strictly Come Dancing because people thing that they're not trendy enough, but ballroom dancing is all about the bling. It's a programme about glamour and sparkle and people expect a show-stopping frock. These are dresses that every girl would dream of wearing . . . all haute couture, and worth thousands and thousands of pounds. If you get a lot of criticism then it's bound to get you down but it's been a balance with me. Looking back, I've made loads of mistakes . . . but I didn't set out to become a style icon. I just set out to have a good time, to do my job well and to live my life well.