Anastacia explains why she lied about her age during singing career

' I thought that was what you were supposed to do'

The singer has recently released her greatest hits album (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

Anastacia has explains why she lied about her age and “went crazy for Botox” during her singing career.

At the height of her career the singer was plagued by rumours she was older than she claimed.

According to the Daily Mail, she would say she was 22 when she was 30-years-old.

She told the paper: “I went on a television show and you had to be under 29… I went along with it for years, but I told the truth when I went to another label. I felt so guilty.

"Journalists would be asking me when I was born… and I would panic. But everyone [in the industry] does it. I thought that was what you were supposed to do. I thought it meant that I had made it. But I really don’t know how people can keep up with the lie.”

Speaking about her formerly regular use of botox, the 47-year-old said: “I went crazy for Botox in my 30s. I would get it done every three months. But right after my divorce, I realised I needed to stop.”

Perhaps it is not surprising Anastacia kept her real age a secret, given the allegations of sexism and ageism in the music and film industry.

Earlier this year Maggie Gyllenhaal, 37, revealed she was deemed too old to play the love interest of a 55-year-old male actor.

Rebel Wilson also mocked reporters who exposed her alleged real age, tweeting "I'm actually a 100-year-old mermaid".

Anastacia, whose full name is Anastacia Lyn Newkirk, released her debut album Not That Kind in 2000. It reached the top 10 in most European countries however failed to make an impact in the US, where it charted at 168 on Billboard.

She is currently promoting her Greatest Hits album, Ultimate Collection which has already peaked at number 10 on the UK charts.