Five years after we first met her along Darwin’s dusty Australian Idol audition stop in a pair of faded denim jeans and thongs, Aussie pocket-rocket Jessica Mauboy is now a diva in her own right, out to lead the Mardi Gras party festivities at the Harbour ’11 party next Sunday 27 February.

“It’s going to be a highlight for me,” the animated 21-year-old says of her upcoming first-ever Mardi Gras experience.

“I’ve always wanted to be a part of it and now I am. Hopefully I can put together something fabulous.”

Same Same chatted to Darwin’s biggest musical export about her shoe obsession, her gay fan base and what punters can expect from her upcoming Harbour Party appearance…

Hi Jessica! People are often commenting on your new glamorous image, but what’s it like to practically grow into a woman in front of a nation?

It was crazy. The one hardest thing I ever had to do was grow up in front of strangers especially. No-one really knew who I was. Personally, I just had to go on and do what I thought was right. But [growing up in the public eye] has really helped with my confidence.

Coming from such humble beginnings in Darwin, is it surreal to have made it big? Do you still get star struck from time to time?

Yeah definitely. I was star struck by Deborah Mailman. I grew up watching her in different shows and was a big fan. I was definitely mentored by her during Bran Nue Day. And also Geoffrey Rush, I couldn’t believe I was working alongside him. But also a lot of the people I’ve been working with on my album Get ‘em Girls. Snoop Dogg was definitely a highlight. I got to spend time getting to know him.

How is Get ‘em Girls different to first album Been Waiting – what did you do differently?

I did a lot of writing for the first album Been Waiting and I think it’s really important to have a lot of input into something you love and are passionate about. Working with these albums has given me a lot of encouragement and direction about where I want to go with my kind of music. The next album is going to be even better. It’s always about being fearless and having fun.

You must be really busy with the Chris Brown ‘FAME’ tour coming up and your album Get ‘em Girls out last November. What’s next for you?

Just working on the new singles and getting the songs out there back to back. I’m also taking some time to get reactions to the album and to see how people are taking in the new music.

I read that the title single Get ‘em Girls is about shoes. I know you’re a big fan and I can definitely relate. Just out of curiosity, how many pairs do you actually own?

(Laughs) Well I was kind of cleaning up the other day and I found more than 82 pairs of heels. They’re all heels by the way! I still have another big bag of shoes in the Northern Territory. Mum always rings up and asks what I’ll be doing with the bag, and I just say “Leave them there. I’ll be back for them!” I don’t have enough space. I only have a two bedroom apartment and one of the apartments is filled with clothes and shoes. It’s my own walk-in wardrobe.

With that Get ‘em Girls single, there was a bit of backlash from your video clip with Snoop Dogg?

(Groans) There was. I suppose it was a big risk, but that’s the type of music I love and personally grew up listening to. I guess as an artist I wanted to kind of reach out to those areas of me while trying different things. The video clip’s not great but it was fun for me and its something different to the regular pretty-looking and fabulous videos out there. I mean it was just… something. We tried and I guess some people were turned off.

How do you deal with criticism like that?

I’m not always going to make everyone happy, but I think on a personal level I’ve got to satisfy myself and then later look out of the public eye. People just really have to roll with it because [Get ‘em Girls] is not a song that from the very beginning, people think “Oh I love it”. But it’s always nice to hear some negative stuff and some positive stuff.

You’re set to go on stage during Mardi Gras’ amazing Harbour Party – looking forward to it?

Very much. I’ve seen a lot of documentaries and interviews about the Mardi Gras Festival and I’ve seen clips here and there and I just think it’s so fabulous. It’s one of the biggest gay pride celebrations in the world and I am so happy to be part of Harbour ‘11.

What can partygoers expect from your live show?

Musically, I’m working on something at the moment with a big mix of songs. But I must hand it to the gay community; they’ve given me so much support. They’ve been getting my music out there and having everyone listen to it. It’s really important for me to be a part of that relationship.

Hearing about the [Mardi Gras] Parade and Party and this famous and diverse festival, I just can’t wait to be there and take part. I hope I can just sing my lungs out and put together something very glitzy and glamorous, with lots of diamantes and outfits!

It seems like the gays really love you, why do you think you’ve got such a big gay following?

I think it really comes from the music itself. It’s the way you make people feel and personally I like to make people feel really good about themselves and more confident, whether I say it in my lyrics or whether I just show it personally.

Catch Jessica Mauboy at the Mardi Gras/Daywash’s Harbour ‘11 Party from 2pm on Sunday 27 February at Sydney’s Botanical Gardens.