Hello!

In her first professional performance violin virtuoso Vanessa-Mae Nicholson burst upon an unsuspecting public in multi-coloured Jean Paul Gaultier hot pants. She was 11 years old.

By 12 Vanessa was touring with the London Mozart Players. And who could forget her at 16, provocatively dressed in a wet, clinging dress playing her violin in the sea on the cover of her first single Toccata And Fugue?

Her new brand of music, described as techno-acoustic fusion, combined with her sex siren-album cover for The Violin Player, made her one of the world's most successful and wealthy musicians.

Yet she is quick to give credit for much of her success to her mother Pamela, who carefully nurtured her gaughter's talents from a young age. Pamela also worked as her personal manager and piano accompanist and produced several of her records.

Which is why when, on the eve of Vanessa-Mae's 21st birthday last year, she decided to break her professional ties with her mother, the press had a field day, dubbing the split 'The Parting of the Maes'.

Reflecting back on her decision - almost a year ago exactly - Vanessa-Mae says that while grateful for her mother's love and support, she doesn't regret the decision for a second. Now that she holds the reins to her own career, she is more motivated than even.

As part of her new independent life she moved out of the family home and into her own apartment close by in London's Kensington. Earlier this year she starred in her debut acting role in the TV movie Arabian Nights and, for the first time, co-wrote material for her forthcoming, as yet untitled album. Meanwhile, she has been dating French businessman Lionel Catelan, 31, for the last 18 months.

To mark her recent 22nd birthday, Vanessa-Mae agreed to model for HELLO! A selection of clothes by favourite designers Jean Paul Gaultier, Giorgio Armani and Johnny Moke at London's Park Lane Hilton hotel..

You modelled Gaultier's wedding dress from his spring collection in Paris two years ago. How did that come about and what was it like?

"We met during a photo shoot for Italian Vogue and just clicked. Later, he rang me up and asked me to model his wedding dress. It was a wonderful compliment. It was strange being with all these gorgeous young girls who'd modelled for years. I'd never been on stage without my violin. I knew I'd feel naked without it and wouldn't know what to do with my arms. So I took it on stage with me and played."

Would you consider modelling again?

"Yes, if a designer asked me and it was someone I admired like Gaultier. But I'd want it to be connected with my music in some way."

You recently turned 22. How did you celebrate your birthday? "We had a family dinner the night before. The day itself was really exciting because I finished the master recording for my next pop album, which is coming out in March."

What presents did you receive?

"My grandmother wants me to choose some furniture for my new apartment. I also got some fish, but the craziest one was from everyone at my office. They gave me a Burberry tracksuit for my five-month-old Chinese fighting dog. Gaspard. Unfortunately, his neck is so thick he can't get into it. Earlier in the year, my dog Gastong was hit by a bicycle and died from internal injuries. It was so upsetting I had to take a break during recording to mourn him. There's a track on the next album dedicated to him."

You were given a L250,000 Guadagnini violin from your parents when you were ten. You must feel spoilt.

"I do, but I was an only child and I always had to work hard. My mother would say, 'Vanessa you are worth spoiling'. I had lots of love around me but I also knew what it was like to have a professional life. When my friends went on holiday their parents pick-up the bills but from the age of 13 started paying my own way."

It's been a year since your mother Pamela stopped working as your manager. How has that change things for you?

"In the past, everything was a chore by now I enjoy what was a chore. I'm definitely more driven. I also have my own office, called Fretless, which is a play on 'no worries' and the 'frets' of the violin. It's really cool."

Are you moving in a different direction musically?

"Definitely, I'm going back to what I started when I was 15 - presenting the violin as a very modern instrument. My next album is really contemporary and modern but has gone one step further. There are a lot more dance and hip-hoppy tracks than on the last pop album I did. I also co-wrote some of the music with my producer, which was both new and fun."

What did you think of the media reaction to you dropping your mum as manager?

"I didn't like the way the press said I fired her because that reflects more on the person doing the firing. It happened just before I was 21, so it was a bit of a coming-of-age and it felt like the right time for it to happen. My mother knows it wasn't because I was tired of her. I just thought it was a natural, organic thing. Every mother and child experiences tense times."

What is your mother doing now?

"Mum is really busy with her own projects - opening restaurants, helping other artists. We see each other every now and then but she is spending so much time away from England. She's travelled more than me this year."

Has your relationship improved now that you no longer work together?

"I guess so. My mum is a Scorpio like me. She likes to know everything. When I was living there in her house, everything had to be vetted by her - both personal and professional. That's a bit too much when someone is controlling both the professional and personal sides of your life."

You've always said you'd love a brother or sister. Is it true you've been encouraging your mum to have a baby?

"I nudged her slightly about it six months ago. She's 42 technically it's possible. I used to think I was selfish by taking her away from her family when she came on the road with me. But it seems she was a rock 'n' roll mum after all, because even though she's no longer my manager, she's working more than ever."

You made your acting debut earlier this year as Princess Zobeide in the TV movie Arabian Nights. Have you always aspired to be an actress?

"I've never had any acting aspirations or lessons but the director convinced me to do it. I was really scared and dubious at first. I said, 'How can you even think of me?' Although I was thrilled to work with Jason Scott Lee."

Would you like to do more screen acting?

"No. There is too much waiting around - you have to have so much patience. Music is my first love and I think that's where I have more to offer. The stage is a different matter though, because it is like a concert. I'd be interested in going down that road if the right vehicle was offered."

What are your personal goals?

"What's strange about being a child star is that the focus of everything is you, you, you... and that's egoistic. Personally, I'd like to learn to worry about other people's careers, whether it is my mother's, father's or boyfriend's. I still have a lot more to learn about human relationships."

Have you learned a lot from your relationship with Lionel Catelan?

"I'm certainly a lot less capricious and fickle than before I met Lionel."

Is he a big fan of your music?

"Yes. It's important for me to be with someone who loves my work and has faith in me. I need to be with someone who thinks my career is important."