Cher Lloyd has branded herself a "businesswoman" rather than a celebrity.

The X Factor finalist, who became a victim of online bullying after her debut single Swagger Jagger divided popular opinion, told Heat magazine that she's not "your average celebrity, and never will be. I am a businesswoman".

The 18-year-old said: "We singers are known as public property, just because this is what we've dreamed of doing forever. [But] it doesn't mean you can knock us to the ground and treat us like s***. We're real people, and what we're doing is hard work."

Cher also hit out at critics of her recent engagement to hairdresser Craig Monk.

She said: "People are negative no matter what you do. People are always going to say 'she's too young'. I'm from a gypsy background! I'm meant to be married by now."

Cher came fourth in The X Factor's 2010 series. Her new single Want U Back is out now.