In an interview, the 16-year-old singer from Cardiff denied she was a tantrum-throwing diva but said living life "in a goldfish bowl" made normal teen growing pains even more difficult

Church also hit out at media criticism of her current 15-date tour of the US, where she is appearing alongside The Sound of Music stars Dame Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer.

Church performing in Cincinatti, USA

She said she was not having an emotional breakdown, but accused newspapers of making her life hell.

Recent press reports claimed the singer had refused to meet fans after a concert in Cincinnati, Ohio, and that ticket sales for the concerts were poor.

She said: "I try to let it all go over my head but it's hard because my family get really upset.

"The people around me get really upset and get really angry, because none of it is true - none of it is true.

"I don't throw big tantrums, I'm not a diva. I've been to all the meet and greets that I'm supposed to go to, so I just don't know where they get it from.

Being young is hard and confusing, and when you're put in a goldfish bowl everything you do is just multiplied and made into this big extravagent story

Charlotte Church

"It is really draining and I just think that it is really sad the way they distort a 16-year-old's life."

Speaking during the interview with ITN News, Church said she could identify with Princes William and Harry, and compared her life with theirs.

"I can completely sympathise with them, because like I said, being young is hard and confusing, and when you're put in a goldfish bowl everything you do is just multiplied and made into this big extravagent story," she said.

Dealing with newspaper stories was a "really, really difficult" part of being famous, she added.

""I know when you kinda make yourself available to be a celebrity, you have to accept the parts of your personal life will be looked at.

Confused

"But that's OK for a 30-year-old who knows how to deal with things like that.

"I'm just starting in relationships and stuff like that, and when everything is being scrutinised, it's just - it's confusing enough being 16," she explained.

"I'm really confused about who I am and everything and all that.

"I don't really know what I'm supposed to be in the British press at the moment.

Church was voted 'Rear of the Year'

I'm getting through it, but it's hard because it's so frustrating because I feel like a lot of the British public do think these things are me and I'm just not like that at all."

Church praised her mother Maria's support, saying she had been "brilliant" on the tour with her.

Originally, Maria was going to stay at home, leaving her daughter go on tour without her for the first time.

But following an alleged case of 'flu which prevented the singer boarding her plane at the very last minute, her mother joined her on a flight to the US three days later.

"It's just been really, really nice to have my mum here, and I mean all my family - my family phone us every day," she said.

Her mother is reported not to approve of Church's 10-month relationship with boyfriend Steven Johnson, but the singer said neither Maria nor Johnson deserved the bad press they were getting.

Church claimed the tour was going well and said ticket sales were improving as Christmas neared.