Australia’s sexiest pop singer Nikki Webster is in Nashville, writing songs for her new album. Good news: she still prefers Aussie blokes!

What the hell are you doing in America?
I’m working with some songwriters in Nashville, really just honing the craft. It’s exciting. I’ve been working with people who have done stuff with Jessica Simpson.

So have you taken a sudden liking to gangsta rap?
Let me see… um, no. Other than when I’m in LA walking down Hollywood Boulevard and there are rap wannabes on the side of the street selling their CDs, probably not. I like seeing them busk and stuff; it’s good fun but I’m not really into the gangster side of things.

What about the Crips and Bloods – have you been caught in the crossfire of machine-guns yet?
I do a lot of sightseeing and travelling but don’t really venture into the downtown areas.

But you’ve bought a handgun, right? A neat little Glock, perhaps?
[Laughs] It’s not illegal here, is it? My handbag would be enough to protect me – it’s like a tonne of bricks.

What about a Hummer? You’ll never make the A-List without one…
I like them but I think I’d look like some little dwarf in such a big car. And because I’m so small, I drive like a grandma, leaning right up against the window.

You’ll never get accepted! Surely you’ve been in rehab or detox, just to fit in?
[Laughs] Not yet… actually, it’s not really my thing.

Why’d you go to Nashville in particular?
It’s the home of music. Plus, the class of songwriting is so strong over here. I wanted to learn it from well-establishes, class musicians.

Do the Yanks think you’re from Iceland or Romania or somewhere? You know how ignorant they can be sometimes…
They love my accent but they find it hard to understand. It’s only when you’re living here and getting into their culture that you realise how many different things they actually say. Things like “sidewalk”. The one thing everyone asks is, “Is it true that your toilets flush the other way?” But I never look into the toilet…

How is it going from celeb here to nobody there?
You have to prove yourself and start over. It’s fun to be able to do things without the media being all over it and influencing what people think about you. No-one has preconceptions or thinks, “Oh my god, it’s Nikki Webster.” But there are so many Aussies over here anyway, at times you still get recognised.

Is Hollywood as screwed up as it appears on the telly?
It’s pretty out of this world. It has a lot of exposure, so we all know what it looks like. It is very exciting but when you have been there for four or five months, it sort of becomes your home like anywhere else. You hate it for the dirt, but you love the glitz and glamour, so it’s got its pros and cons.

The place would have to be party central, right?
I’m the wrong person to ask because you have to be 21 and I’m 19. It was so annoying because I’d just turned 18 back home and was able to hit the clubs. But now I can’t go out again!

Do gullible older men buy booze for you?
No, I can survive without alcohol.

Do you see any celebrities walking around?
You do see a fair few famous faces around. I’ve seen Jennifer Aniston a few times and Jon Bon Jovi.

Interesting. What’s the most fun you can have in your undies?
Being by yourself in your room and just dancing around. Just being by yourself and being comfortable.

Having a pillow fight, perhaps?
[Laughs] No, you need another participant for that. My last pillow fight was for the Depend On Me video and that was a pretty big one.

Does anyone still talk to you about Strawberry Kisses?
People still sing it when I walk past, even if it is after they’ve had a few too many drinks.

Can we expect a new album soon?
I’m just playing it by ear at the moment.

To ask the inevitable, if potentially hurtful question: American or Aussie blokes?
Probably Aussie men. I think some Aussie blokes are scared, so they don’t come up and talk to you. But the American guys are way too forward.

Heard any good pick-up lines over there?
People over here are obsessed with my age. I was at a Mexican resturant the other day and a whole bunch of the staff were having a competition to guess how old I was.

It’s the biggest week in the footy calendar back here. AFL or league?
I’m league through and through, and I’m sorry I’m going to miss the grand final!

What do you reckon the public thinks when they see you in ZOO?
There are different reactions from different age groups because it appeals in different ways. It’s been really great and positive. It’s a bit of fun and it keeps people up to date with what I’m doing and where I am. I don’t want people to think I’m exposing myself. I just want to allow people to see what can happen with a bit of hair and make-up and a great photographer!