Stewart promised to prove her innocence after being convicted

The entrepreneur and lifetstyle guru was convicted in July of lying about the sale of shares she owned in biotech firm ImClone Systems.

Stewart said she wanted to put her "nightmare" behind her and hoped to complete her sentence by early 2005.

Stewart quit as chief executive of her own company after being indicted.

'My good life'

Despite being given leave by a Federal Judge to remain out of jail while she appealed the conviction, Stewart said she wanted to start her term as soon as possible so that she could then begin a new life.

"I must reclaim my good life," she told ABC Television.

Stewart, who is hoping to serve her term in a minimum security facility near her home in Connecticut, said she believed she would have no problem with the ordeal.

"I could do it," she said. "There are many, many good people who have gone to prison. Look at Nelson Mandela."

Stewart was also given five months house arrest as part of her ten month sentence, the miminum possible under US federal setencing guidelines.