Dec 16 2005
icSouthLondon
BIG BROTHER housemate Vanessa Layton-McIntosh has dumped her record producer and binned plans for a Christmas number one.
The former reality TV star, from Croydon, who was booted out of this year's show in week seven, had planned to launch a musical career in time for the festive season.
But she has pulled her first attempt at a single after it was panned by industry executives.
The 20-year-old from Thornhill Road said: "Even I wasn't confident in it. It wasn't strong enough to be my first single and I fell out with the producer because we didn't see eye to eye over the type of music I should be doing.
"But the people I'm working with now are fantastic. There is always such strong competition at Christmas and I felt it wasn't the best time for me to launch myself.
"My voice has improved so much and I need to be happy before I put something out there."
But things are still looking bright for the former student who says she is making a lucrative living out of personal appearances at events and nightclubs.
She said: "I've been doing quite well for myself. I just bought a new MG car and my bank balance is looking good.
"I've been all over the country making appearances at clubs and it pays well. I also haven't given up on my singing and I hope to release a single in the new year that I've written myself."
She's even buried the hatchet with fellow housemate and former Croydon girl Sam Heuston.
Vanessa said: "I really like Sam now and we've done some events together. I think basically we just can't live together."
But she insists she won't be following Sam and fellow housemate Makosi Musambasi by doing raunchy photo-shoots for men's magazines.
She said: "I could make so much more money doing stuff like that but once you do it it's hard to come back from that image and I really want to concentrate on my music."
Vanessa, who did a series of fitness articles for a magazine when she left the Big Brother house, is also planning to release a fitness video in 2006 with none other than ex-GMTV spandex king Mr Motivator.
She said: "He called me on my mobile from his place in Jamaica to say he was interested in working with me on it. It was so exciting because growing up I watched all his videos.
"We have been taking about doing a video in Jamaica and he has invited me over there to devise a fitness plan with me. Next year is going to be the key year for me.
"I have been taking part in a documentary about Big Brother which will be shown in the run up to the new Celebrity Big Brother in February and I have my music career to work on.
"It has been hard work this year but I am having such a good time.
"I took a year off university to do this and depending on how the record and video do I may or may not go back in September."
