Cleo Higgins
Cleo Higgins worries she isn't being judged fairly on 'The Voice'.
The former Cleopatra singer felt she was given excessively harsh criticism during the battle rounds of the BBC One programme, and now she has made it through to the live shows she hopes rival coaches Jessie J, Danny O'Donoghue and Sir Tom Jones give her "honest" advice so as to not boost their own chances of winning.
Cleo said: "I got harsh criticism from Jessie J during my knockout stage about my song choice. Jessie's all about the voice and I appreciate that, but I hope all the coaches critique me honestly, not because they see me as a threat to their contestants."
The singer rose to fame in 1998 with her sisters Yonah and Zainam as part of girl group Cleopatra, whose pop career came to a halt in 2001 when their record label tried to persuade Cleo to go solo.
She explained: "It never affected my relationship with my sisters - we're still very close and they're still connected to music, too.
"I've tried to relaunch myself as a solo artist but suffered so many knock-backs. It's very emotional to have famed and success then become an unknown."
Now a mum-of-two, the star is more determined than ever to achieve success again and hopes to make her young children, Chika and Taylor, proud.
She revealed to Britain's Closer magazine: "They're cheering me on each week so I want to achieve this for them too. I worried having kids would harm my chances of success.
"But I love being a mum and I wouldn't change it for the world. Other pop stars manage to juggle both so I don't see why I can't."
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