Westenra wins UK award

Hayley Westenra
Hayley Westenra
New Zealander Hayley Westenra has won the "classical performer of the year" award at the Variety Club's annual showbusiness awards in London.

Westenra, 21, has sold more than three million records, and recently returned to Britain after entertaining UK troops in Iraq.

The ceremony is held annually to raise money for sick, disabled and disadvantaged children and young people, the British Press Association reported.

Westenra has recently been involved in a battle with her record company after claiming it tried to pressure her into dressing like a "tart".

She told the Telegraph in London: "Occasionally, I have had to stand my ground on image issues. I am not a tarty person and I don't wear those clothes when I am out, so I don't wear them to perform or for interview either."

Westenra signed with Universal when she was 15 and her album Pure sold more than two million copies.

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