Liza Smythe is a successful British singer. Her smiling face appears on the covers of international magazines, and every year she travels to many parts of the world to perform concerts for millions of fans. However, life used to be very different for this bright young star from Liverpool. “Eight years ago,” says Liza, “I lived in a small terraced house with my parents and three brothers. It was very cramped! We didn’t have a lot of money, so I used to work as a cleaner at the local hospital to make ends meet. I used to buy my clothes from second-hand shops. I was quite plump back then, because I liked eating chips and chocolate. In my free time I used to sing in the college choir or go for walks on the beach. I didn’t use to go to clubs because they were very expensive. I used to listen to the radio a lot, though. I learnt all the words to every pop song and people hired me to sing at parties. My friends liked my voice a lot, so they persuaded me to send a cassette to a record company. That’s how it all started for me. Three weeks later, I received a phone call from the company and my life changed completely. Today, Liza lives in a large house with a big garden just outside London with her husband and young daughter. She is much slimmer now, and looks very elegant in her designer clothes. She is constantly on a diet and goes to the gym every day to keep her body in shape. In her free time she enjoys going to the theatre or to parties. Liza’s lifestyle has changed a lot since those days in Liverpool. “I think I’m very lucky to lead the life I do today. It is not easy, though, because I don’t have the privacy that I used to have. Still, I have a lovely family and a very promising career. What else could I ask for?” she says.