Singer Gabrielle considers wearing eyepatch again

Singer Gabrielle has said she is considering wearing an eyepatch again, which she described as "truly empowering".

The Brit Award winner, who has previously described having a lazy eyelid, said she started wearing an eyepatch ahead of her number one debut hit “Dreams” in 1993.

She told BBC Radio Wales that although she only wore it for a year, it was a "game changer" for her career.

“Prior to that, if I’d have a conversation with somebody, I would never look that person directly in the eye," she said.

"I’d be looking elsewhere whilst having a conversation, which on the surface seems really rude, but I was very insecure about my eye and the way I looked,” she added.

She said the decision to wear an eyepatch at such an early stage of her career felt risky at the time.

"As a man being different is so different to being a woman and having differences," Gabrielle told the Lucy Owen programme.

"[My mum] said, ‘you do know everyone is going to ask you about it now’, but I had nothing to hide in the sense of my reasons for wearing it.

"The moment I wore the eyepatch, and could actually have a conversation one-on-one without my eyes wandering because I didn't want you to notice my eyelid so much, it changed me.

"I felt truly empowered. And yeah, I think it was totally a game changer for me in my career."

Gabrielle's advice to anyone else who decides to wear an eyepatch is to enjoy it and have fun.

“Make it become a part of you, decorate it to whichever way you want it or just wear a plain black one," she said.

“Never be afraid to do you or do things that might not be the norm.

“I’m glad that I came out all those years ago wearing one and people can feel like, you know what, Gabrielle wore one, I can wear one too.”

Gabrielle, who is releasing a new album later this year, said she was looking forward to supporting Sir Tom Jones at Chepstow Racecourse this summer.

“I’m really excited because I’ve never met him before, but I’ve always been a lover of his music," she said.

“I am a huge fan, and I just love him, he just gets better with age."

Asked whether a duet with Sir Tom could be on the cards, Gabrielle said it would be “pretty cool”.

“It would probably never happen and I think there’s probably a load of people ahead of me waiting to sing with him, but just watching him from afar will do me just fine.”

Gabrielle’s interview with Lucy Owen on BBC Radio Wales was first broadcast on Saturday and will be available to catch up with on BBC Sounds.