Scottish songbird ruffles feathers with new look

Overnight singing sensation Susan Boyle has spruced up her look to match her golden voice, with a makeover which has divided her followers.

The 48-year-old from Scotland shocked judges on Britain's Got Talent when she revealed an angelic voice which belied her frumpy looks.

But she has shed her unkempt look after she reportedly was ashamed at her appearance on British television.

In a 90-minute makeover in a salon near her home in Blackburn, West Lothian, Boyle had her frizzled grey hair dyed and styled to wavy auburn.

She also had eyebrows plucked and had new additions to her wardrobe, such as a print dress and leather jacket.

Salon management said: "The TV folk might not like what she's done with herself. She looks really nice - nothing like the image that's had the whole world talking about her."

British tabloids have gone into a frenzy over the makeover, with front-page splashes suggesting her smoother face could be the result of Botox injections. But some fans were concerned the makeover could change the "Hairy Angel" into another bland reality TV beauty.

The Sun reported that the talent show's producers were concerned about her smoothed-over appearance. Judge Amanda Holden said: "It wouldn't be right to dye her hair and suddenly make Susan all glam. People have fallen in love with the real Susan. We don't want to change what they fell in love with."

Holden wanted to protect Boyle from further superficial changes, saying she did not want her to experience the overhaul past winner Paul Potts had.

- AGENCIES