1. Who could forget that performance? A 20-foot-high gumball machine landed on the centre
stage at MTV Music Awards last year and out popped Sophia Fox on a slide to perform her
international hit Sweet like Me. It was the performance of the night and not one to be
forgotten. Perhaps even more unforgettable was her sexy outfit latex bra and tutu-esque
skirt that made her looked like a candy wrapper. Her perfect power-puff girl combination of
sugar, spice and everything nice once again captured a historic moment in pop culture.
But today though, she swaps her tasty treat of an outfit to adorn a retro look for her PopHeart
cover shoot.
“I really want to convey the characterisation of Marilyn Monroe, I don‟t just want to
be her, I need to feel it,” she explains gleefully, adjusting her hair in the light bulb lit mirror
of the studio‟s make-up room where she prepares alongside her team. “It is important I feel
that I should be involved in the whole process of make-up to shoot to printing. Otherwise
I‟m just a puppet on a string. To convey my emotion through artistic and beautiful means
such as today gives the shoot a whole new significance.”
It has only been 18 months since Sophia Fox released her debut album, The Impressionist, full
of synth pop intertwined with a melodious piano which has dominated the album chart ever
since. Embracing the perks of contemporary pop she has adapted fashion to her own taste,
such as her recognisable lipstick hat with matching hot pants and bra to the multicoloured
paint splatted white skirt.
“I chose those particularly to express my views on feminism, that as women we
don‟t have to wear make-up to conform to the man,” she says twiddling a lipstick in her
fingers. “Who says that we have to? Of course, like I admittedly do myself, use these
materialistic things to sexualise your own image but that‟s to grab your attention and then
I‟ll bore you after,” she laughs but adds seriously “It is self acceptance what we search for
whether we know it or not.”
Impressive for a woman of just 23 whom only a couple of years ago played as a pianist in
restaurants as the appeased ate their dinner at the Mayfair Hotel. Ever since her epic debut
single Ricochet, Sophia Fox landed in the music industry with a colossal bang and became
one of the biggest stars on the planet instantaneously. Being described as a breath of fresh air
in a stuffy chart she insists that she is just doing what she loves. With 4 global Number 1s
already in her lace-trimmed pocket it is undeniable that Sophia is going where no woman
(or man) has gone before – world domination.
“None of this could have been possible if it weren‟t for great icons and singers such
as Judy Garland or Elvis Presley. People who broke the conventions over 50 years ago will
forever be the most iconic,” she tells me as we go through the photos after shoot “My main
inspiration had to be Marilyn, that‟s why I‟m conveying her today. As a child I would go to
the library and look over books and books of her life,” she notes “She was everything that I
wanted to be – and look what happened to me!”
But it hasn‟t always been this simple. Born to a middle-class family in the Lake District she
moved to London as a child due to her father‟s job, immediately finding difficulty fitting in
with other kids her age. In compensation her mother bought her a piano which she learnt to
play by ear. By 15 she was already writing and performing her own songs at her dad‟s
friend‟s pub. She continued to worship iconic artists of the past, with uncovered Youtube
videos of her singing „At Last‟ by Etta James and „I Wanna Be Loved By You‟ by Marilyn

2. Monroe at just age 17. Not surprisingly, this caught the eye of music giant and founder of
Interscope, Jimmy Iovine who was searching for new talent. And the rest is history, some
may say.
Unlike other stars I have met before, she disregards no one and throughout the shoot has a
chance to speak to everyone that is apart of her creation. As I admire Sophia‟s aura and how
everyone in the make-up room has become intoxicated by her presence everyone contributes
to our conversation about Marilyn Monroe and the impact she has had on today‟s culture.
“She‟s a deity,” Sophia explains “She carried herself with an elegance that no one
had seen before and lived through her creative vision. She bleached her hair blonde against
the bulk of brunettes and every acting part she played she wanted it to be varied.” It is clear
that Sophia idolises Marilyn “Her sweet naivety combined with her overtly sexual approach
to her image made society more permissive of sex, you could say. She gave women sexual
freedom and broke the barrier of what women were expected to be. Fabulous - she was just
fabulous!”
This interview soon turns into a heated debate and it is not long before I raise the issue of
her unfortunate death in 1962. “She was a victim of her own fame. Alcohol, drugs – they
were escapism from her melodramatic reality in a way. It‟s just a shame it ended so terribly.
But her image will live on – and we must all strive to keep it that way!”
During the shoot, it is a just mesmerising as watching her perform. Sophia poses with an
American flag in her mouth over her body reminiscent of one of Marilyn‟s most
controversial photos with just a semi-opaque sheet across her chest. Sophia reiterates to me
during the lunch the personal meaning behind the shoot.
“It is my personal homage to Marilyn. I‟m just saying thank you, really. You don‟t
have to be yourself all the time. I want my fans to choose or be whatever they want to be.
Whether it means dressing up as Marilyn or not - we choose our own destiny but should
take pride in what we want to be!”
It is hard to imagine that this woman was virtually unknown 2 years ago. Yet, she has
achieved a sold-out European arena tour and has grabbed 2 Brit Awards for Best British
Single and Best Newcomer. This year she plans a duet with hot boy band The Wanted which
she summarises as “A pop cocktail” and will be released „soon‟ she admits excitedly.
But currently she is working hard for the release of her next single Daddy Said. The video for
which will be released in several weeks time, and you‟ll probably be watching it after you
read this. “I wrote it last year about my Father, how he told me not to fall for a guy I liked,
and clearly he is right like he always is. Listening to your parents is the best thing you could
do. I produced the song alongside RedOne, I showed him the song and then we busked and
adding different beats and it really came alive.”
Sitting down munching on a cheese sandwich I ask whether this is the type of catering a
global superstar should be eating “I love food! Dieting? Oh god – no! It‟s about eating a
balanced range of foods and exercise; I couldn‟t ever give up sweets! This sandwich is
delish!”
After we finish talking, Sophia resumes her shoot with grand confidence. Underneath her
chic exterior Sophia is a playful girl who just wants to write music for the rest of her life. A
few final words before the Pop Heart team left the set and asked if there was anything she‟d

3. like to add, replying enthusiastically “If the sun can‟t shine all the time on both sides of the
world, who will?!”