Alicia Keys: 'I used to look rough'

Alicia Keys has admitted that she used to look 'rough' at the start of her career, and she can understand why people thought that she was a lesbian.

The singer's sexuality has been regularly questioned since her music career took off in 2001.

She denies she is a lesbian but admitted that her image and attitude understandably caused fans to wonder.

She said: "I was definitely rough around the edges. I look back at certain interviews and I'm like, 'Damn! Did I have to look that hard? Did I have to do my hair that way?'

"I could see why people couldn't see the diamond in the rough. I didn't take it to heart. I know what I am. I know it's not true."