'You don't have to sexualise yourself to sell music': Cheryl Fernandez-Versini slams today's crop of scantily-clad female singers

PUBLISHED: 16:15, 22 March 2015 | UPDATED: 18:59, 22 March 2015

Since rising to fame in 2002 as a part of the successful girl band Girls Aloud, Cheryl Fernandez-Versini has cultivated quite the sexy image for herself, thanks in part to her choice of racy attire.

But the recently reinstalled X Factor judge, 31, is now expressing her distaste for the current crop of scantily-clad singers, blaming the spate of flesh-flashing on the 'men behind the scenes'.

'The music industry is dominated by men behind the scenes. And older men, too,' she told Bryony Gordon of The Sunday Telegraph's Stella magazine. 'I mean, sexy and all that is great to an extent, but you shouldn’t have to sexualise yourself to be selling music.'

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We don't have to take our clothes off: Cheryl Fernandez-Versini has criticised the current tide of scantily-clad female singers, blaming it on the industry's 'older men'

While the I Don't Care singer insisted that she's not judging women who claim they're empowering themselves by shedding their clothes for all to see, she added that there's 'a way to do it'

Cheryl also admitted to being asked to do things that made her feel uncomfortable during her career, explaining: 'Girls Aloud wore some short skirts and some outfits that were quite sexy, but we were singing 'I’m just a love machine’ and 'Something kinda ooh, jumping on my tutu’.

'It was fun, it was quirky, it wasn’t trying to be sexual. I would never do something I didn’t want to do, or get told that’s the 'lane’ to be in at the moment. The lane. Everyone is competing in the same lane. F**k off, I’d rather be in my own lane.'

Keeping abreast of trends: Cheryl is counted as one of the top trendsetters in the British music industry

It's not what you do... The star said that when it comes to dressing sexy, there's 'a way to do it'

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Cheryl sizzles in plunging crop top for her X Factor performance

During the interview, Cheryl - currently married to French restaurateur Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini also expressed a desire to one day enter politics with a view to forming her 'own party'.

Away from her singing and TV careers, Cheryl recently posted a fun picture of herself on Instagram, as a young girl in order to raise awareness of a new competition, which will see her act as a stylist to one lucky winner and a friend in order to support her charity, Cheryl's Trust.

Cheryl announced her brand new charitable endeavour back in January, after taking a month out of the limelight following the end of the latest season of X Factor.

Discomfort: Cheryl, seen during her days in the band Girls Aloud, admitted that there were times during her career when she was asked to do things that made her feel unconfortable

Sizzling: Cheryl, pictured in 2009, has cultivated quite the sexy image for herself over the years

The Cheryl look book: Her best hair styles through the years

On her official website, it was revealed that the trust was set up to give a huge helping hand to those in the North East of England and the support that is already in place.

She said: 'I'm proud of where I grew up but I'm only too aware of the challenges that young people face. Opportunities often seem pretty limited and I saw so many friends who had loads of potential fall into a life of alcohol, drugs and crime.

'Too many young people are wasting their lives away because they feel they have no one to turn to. My life could have turned out very differently… I know how lucky I am. That's why I am raising money to open the new Centre in Newcastle.

Opening up: Cheryl, seen with her one-time rumoured beau in 2010, has been admired for her stunning body

Me again! Last year, Cheryl embarked on a music comeback, ahead of returning to The X Factor

It's my party! The X Factor judge revealed that she wants to one day enter politics and form her own party

Cheryl Fernandez-Versini explains why she has set up trust

Once again, Cheryl has teamed up with youth charity The Prince's Trust - which she has worked with before - to raise funds for a brand new and contemporary centre in Newcastle, to support those in need in the area.

The star has pledged to raise £2 million for the cause with The Prince's Trust, in order to get the centre built and utilise it for maximum benefit, and she'll do this via Cheryl's Trust.