The world first met Cher Lloyd in 2010, when the then 16-year-old took to the X Factor stage and wowed the audience with her version of Keri Hilson's Turn My Swag On.

Cher eventually finished fourth on the television talent show and signed with Simon Cowell's record label, releasing her first single "Swagger Jagger" and two studio albums.

She's been in and out of the spotlight since her early success, and earlier this year she shocked fans by announcing an upcoming single, her first since 2020.

Fifteen years later, Cher told BBC Newsbeat that music is still "everything" to her and that she is "pouring the tea" for her new single "Head Down".

"Being on such a big reality show, it was a roller coaster ride," she said.

“I just felt like I needed to get a lot of words out.

"For me, keeping my head down is a way to not blurt it out and not get in trouble."

Looking back, Cher said her experience on The X Factor was "a shock to the system".

"I had the illusion that the show was just about singing and acting, but I didn't realize that 80 or 90 percent of it was reality TV."

Cher was heavily criticized by the tabloid media during her time on the show, and stories about the "diva's" behavior turned some viewers against the teen.

She said she felt "really sad" when she gained a reputation as the show's villain.

"That was never my intention," she said.

"I think it kind of overshadows the reason why I'm there, which is because I love to sing."

When asked how she handles negative attention, Cher said she doesn't.

"That's why you see me getting into trouble and making bad decisions," she said.

One man who helped her get through it, though, was Liam Payne. The One Direction star died last year after falling from a hotel balcony.

“He was always level-headed,” Cher said.

"He takes care of everyone and he has this nurturing energy. His passion for performing is unparalleled.

"I don't think I've said this before, but his talent is unbelievable."

Now a mom, Cher says knowing there's more to life than acting is "what keeps her sane."

"The most important thing is to be a good person and treat others well."

This has given her new challenges and she would like to see working parents in the music industry "relax a little bit".

Cher said she still "expects to get it done."

“It’s just a vicious cycle that I’m still trying to wrap my head around and understand,” she said.

Having children was just one way her career would shift.

Cher's musical style has also evolved, but there's one song she can't escape.

Jagger strutting.

She said she hadn't performed her debut single in years and considered herself "the old me."

“As an artist, I’ve grown out of that,” she said.

But the Internet wasn't there yet.

Swagger Jagger received a huge boost when a video of two young girls recording a music video in their bedroom went viral.

It begins with the line: "I'm going to sing Cher Lloyd's Cher Lloyd."

They rush onto the track but are interrupted by a mum bursting into the room and angrily asking "Why doesn't someone know how to flush a toilet?".

Needless to say, Cher thought this was "hilarious."

“Every time I see it, it makes my heart sing,” she said.

"In fact, my name is attached to it. It's just gold.

“The last thing I want to do is recreate that video…how fun would that be?!”

When Cher performed the song at a festival last year, she said seeing the crowd going wild changed her own feelings about the song.

"The feeling I got from it was...how could I not perform?"

"I know I'm no longer with Swagger Jagger artistically, but it's such a big part of my story... I have to do it."

But Cher is keen to show people more than one of her songs and says her new music is ready.

“I’m going to keep putting out these songs,” she said.

Cher said returning to music made her feel "worth it again."

"I know it sounds dark," she said.

"But when you're in a bad situation, when you have something that makes you feel good again, you have to hold on."

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