Destiny’s Child diva Kelly Rowland chatted to Urban Planet about being compared to Beyonce, those rumours about Reggie Yates and why she loves doggy style! Maire Bonheim asked the questions while Chloe Addo got the money-shots.

It’s hard to top being one third of the biggest selling female group of all time. But when Destiny’s Child wrapped up their 2006 farewell tour “Destiny Fulfilled,” following a smash hit eight-year global career and sales of over 100 million records, Kelly was just 25 years old.

Lolling on a couch, bundled up in a cuddly trackie and trainers, with only tarantula false eyelashes to hint at the glamour-puss within, Kelly Rowland told Maire Bonheim why she can’t stand some of the songs that made her famous, and that messy Beyonce and Michelle made touring a neat-freak’s nightmare.

You’ve been up since 4 this morning, how are you still coping?

I’m looking forward to my workout. I didn’t exercise yesterday, so I feel like mush.

Tell me about how Ms Kelly was a development for you.

Ms Kelly. Gosh, its been in development for about 3 years now and of course I put the 1st version of the album out last July, and I’m about to put out a new version this March which I’m really excited about, because I feel like I have a new life to it, from new tracks to new producers, so I’m doing things that I didn’t do last record or the one before, and it’s really exciting.

Why did you decide to re-release it?

I felt like the album needed a second chance, not a lot of people knew about the record and I wanted to give a new life to it. It deserved it.

What’s your favourite track on the album?

That’s so hard! As of right now I have to say I love Better Without You, it’s just an amazing record.

Which songs on the new album do you think are going to big?

Work. I think Still in Love with my Ex has great potential. And Daylight would be a great record. And I’m still working on songs.

You’ve worked with some great artists, who has been your favourite?

Everyone holds a special place in my heart but I’d have to say my favourite has been Snoop. I’ve wanted to work with him since his first record. I love Doggystyle, that was my album. It was taken away from me three times and I kept re-buying it. The last one my mom didn’t find so I was able to rock my Snoop Dogg. [Sings to herself for a while.]

If you had a fight with him who would win?

Snoop would win! He’s a guy! Although he’s got a little small frame so I could have him. Grrr. I got skills.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I’m listening to Snoop. He has a record out right now called Sensual Seduction. It’s all I listen to.

Do you think he’ll be bigger than ever in 2008?

I sure hope so. Snoop has so much talent and he’s ready to take risks with music and I admire that about him. You can’t deny talent.

Snoop likes to portray himself as a bad guy. Your song Ghetto is about good girls who fall for bad guys. Do you like bad guys?

Not any more! Cause bad guys gave me a broken heart, I’m ok I don’t want those guys any more. But you like somebody with a little edge, that’s important to me. Good girls always fall for bad guys, don’t they? It’s just something you’ve got to get out of your system.

So what type of guy would be your ideal date?

Someone tall dark and handsome who I’d like to have fun with.

Do you like British men?

Yeah, they’re pretty fly! They have this style and swagger that is so cute.

Is it true you’re dating Reggie Yates?

No! He’s not tall dark and handsome! He’s tall, bright, and… I guess cute? Reggie’s more like a friend. We were just hanging out at a party and exchanged information. I’ve been linked to 3 British men here. And it’s ok because you know it happens, I’m gonna be linked with someone else by the end of the year. Who cares?

How are you spending Valentine’s Day?

I don’t know yet. On a plane, that’s what it’s looking like.

If you were all alone stuck on a desert island, which celebrity would you most like to be there with you?

Oprah. I would pick her brain until the day is done. I’d ask her every question in the book because I admire her so much. What she’s done with her company, with her school in Africa, her heart is always in the right place. She’s such a good person. She’d be like, girl, stop asking me questions!

Okay, but which celebrity would you least like to be stuck on an island with?

I don’t know. I’m not very fun with these kinds of questions because I don’t talk about nobody. I’m really sorry, I’m not one of those artists; I like everybody.

Who’s been the biggest diva you’ve encountered over the years?

I haven’t run into any divas. People sometimes expect you to be a diva and my parents don’t allow me to be a diva. So if I meet someone they kind of take on your personality and they don’t do that.

Did growing up with Destiny’s Child force you to grow up quicker?

Definitely. In a big girl’s industry, you’re basically working crazy hours. When I was 15 years old I was working from 5 in the morning till 10 at night. You’ve got to get the job done. That’s been my work ethic, since I was a kid.

Britney was also in the limelight from a young age and it seems to have been really hard on her, how have you managed to keep things together?

I can’t speak on behalf of Britney but I can say my parents don’t play that. I remember the first time I ever got an attitude and was feeling myself, my mamma said, “Just as quick as I gave you this opportunity to sing with these girls is as quick as I can take it away.” And I said, ok! Everyone around me, from Beyonce and Michelle to the people we work with, to management, everyone’s honest with me. You can’t have ‘Yes’ people around you. I keep positive people around me. They literally love me for Kelly. Kelly is the person who is gonna still has to live after all of this.

Were you a cheerleader at school?

No. I didn’t want to be. I was an odd one. I was an oddball. What did I do in high school? I barely got a chance to do anything in high school because we were in home school and had tutors; we were trying to get a record deal. We weren’t really going to baseball or football games; we were trying to be famous.

Is there any chance of a Destiny’s Child reunion sometime in the future?

Anything could happen.

What annoyed you most about the other Destiny’s Child members on tour?

They’re both slobs. But they’ll tell you that themselves. We would get on a tour bus and they’d flick off their shoes. And I’d be like, No! That’s the corner for shoes! I’m a neat freak. I make them crazy.

Does it get annoying always being compared to Beyonce?

Yes, because people should respect me in my own solo right. If you’re looking for Beyonce at a Kelly Rowland concert get the hell out of there. It’s my show! It’s just so crazy because we all go through it and it’s something we will always have to deal with, but I hope that people will eventually get the picture.

When you collapsed in Nigeria last year, did you think that was a sign you were working too hard?

Now, I was dehydrated and I didn’t have enough food in my system and due to that I passed out. Now it’s funny. It’s funny when I see it. I couldn’t before. [Laughs hysterically.]

Do you plan to have kids anytime soon?

Whenever God sees fit to settle down and have kids, and above anything have a husband. I like the order of husband, then kids. What’s soon? Five years. That would be nice.

What’s the weirdest thing that’s happened to you on stage?

My top fell down once, but nobody saw it so that was a good thing. My booby fell out. That was embarrassing; it was in New York City. But thank God I had a dancer who came and pulled it back up so that was okay.

What’s your favourite Destiny’s Child song?

Say My Name is the best Destiny’s Child song of all time.

Are there any that get on your nerves now?

Bootylicious and Bug a Boo. [Sings, ‘So what, you bought a pair of shoes’]. That makes me crazy every time I sing it. I’m grateful to god it was a hit, but there’s only so many times you can sing, ‘So what, you bought a pair of shoes.’ [giggles.]

Do you think the US is about to get its first black president?

Anything could happen. It’s great. When you start talking about who should be elected it becomes really political. I’ve seen Obama and Hilary speak and I just hope that whoever is elected will do whatever’s best for our country, and will change the state that we’re in right now, from gosh global warming to war to money. Everything needs to be changed, it’s at a weird place right now where the economy’s bad and I hope it goes up soon.

Kelly's new single "Work" is released on January 28th 2008 and her album Ms Kelly is released on March 10th. Visit www.kellyrowland.com