Lulu on fighting ageism and looking great

At 62 and a grandmother, Lulu still possesses a feisty energy that's seen her through the launch of her successful Time Bomb skincare range, establishing her as a businesswoman as well as an international star. She tells us about her family, fighting ageism and keeping her place in the spotlight.

Because of your job, is there pressure to appear younger than your years?

It's not a pressure to look younger, I just don't want to appear older than I am! I also want to feel like I'm in the modern world - not something they've picked the cobwebs off and dragged in. There's pressure if you want to stay in the business - looking good is a vehicle for me to be able to sing and that is what I love more than anything. So the other stuff that goes with that is just part of it. I want to be able to work with younger people. Like Anastacia and Heather Small on our Here Come The Girls tour: they're in their 40s, I'm in my 60s, but I don't feel like an old fart next to them - it's my work.

Do you have a specific style that you know suits you?

It's rock and roll with an edge: haute rock and roll. That's where you have to be careful - you don't want to look like mutton dressed as lamb. I can get away with a bit more because I'm in show business, but I always want to be of the time. I love taking my daughter-in-law shopping - she says she comes back with slightly cooler clothes when she's with me. My nieces love to go shopping with me, too.

What do you do to stay in shape?

I like to be active. If I'm active, I'm able to do more. I've got lots of stairs in my house, and I run up and down them - if I wasn't able to do that, I would know life was coming to an end! I walk my West Highland Terrier, Clyde, and do yoga. Sometimes I go to the gym and work out with resistance bands. My trainer varies the exercises all the time, which I think is challenging. But I don't exercise every day - if it's a good week, it's three days.

Are you conscious of what you eat?

Diet-wise I'm very disciplined. I've been that way for a long time because I love my food. I'm 5ft 1in and from a family who can put on weight easily. I love chocolate, drinking wine and dairy, but the older I get the less I can indulge the way I used to.

Does looking good affect how you feel?

I like to take care of my appearance - it's very much a Glasgow thing! And I think if you wake up in the morning and think: ‘I don't look bad' you have a skip in your step. I don't often put on full make-up, though - I wear sunglasses so I don't have to bother with eye make-up. But I'll put lip gloss on.

You've got business ventures, a music career and go on tour. Is there a chance you'll ever wind down?

I have wound down! This is me winding down, honestly. And I think the difference now is that I'm very much a businesswoman. To me, sitting in the office is slowing down. Before that I was physically on the go, but now I take my five minutes to re-charge. There's a lot of creating and a lot of figuring out - it's a different sort of working. I'm always thinking of different things to do - I don't just sit back in my rocking chair!