Paloma Faith slams BRITs for ignoring women

Paloma Faith has criticised the BRIT Awards for ignoring women.

The 'Changing' hitmaker is nominated for British Female at this evening's event (25.02.15) but has slammed the ceremony for shunning women in the majority of the categories, especially British Album, which she believes she should be up for with 'A Perfect Contradiction', instead of the five all-male nominees.

She said: "I was the only female in the top 10 selling albums. All the rest were men.

"I'm a bit miffed about the album category, but beggars can't be choosers and I am a beggar. I don't know why it isn't there."

However, the 33-year-old star believes the bias - which has meant 18 female artists versus 87 male acts have been nominated - is part of a wider problem within the music industry which is stopping women from succeeding.

She continued: "It's funny how everyone went absolutely nuts for about three years at how women are ruling the music industry.

"And then they were like, 'We've give them three years so let's suppress them for another 400."

And although she has never felt pressure to strip off to sell records, Paloma added she believes more women are desperately trying to carve out a successful music career by using their bodies.

She told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "It feels like there is a lot of celebration of women using their sexuality to sell their music as well.

"There are people like Blondie and Bjork who haven't stripped off and they've been celebrated.

"I have never been put under pressure to do it. I guess it's a social pressure, and you do or don't choose to adhere to it.

"I also don't think people would like it if I did it, because I don't have a body worth showing."