Nobody is more surprised than Gabriella Cilmi about her new disco sound and sexpot image.

With her new single, 'On a Mission', already hitting the charts and her second album released today, Cilmi stomps all over her innocent 'Sweet About Me' style with some Beyoncé-esque diva boots. But the 18-year-old was dismissive of all the attention focused on her new raunchy look.

"I just grew up. That's all," Cilmi told MusicFIX."I was young when I wrote 'Sweet About me'. I guess the new video is sexier than my last ones, but it suits the song ['On A Mission']. I'm a woman on a mission, you have to show off your bod."

And Cilmi won't rule out proving how grown-up she is by appearing in a lads mag, à la Nikki Webster. "Well, never say never," she said.

While the Victoria native is "pretty nervous" about how fans will react to her new disco sound, she is happy with the positive reactions so far.

"Of course you're always nervous before anyone hears your new stuff," she said. "And after 'Sweet About Me' there is extra pressure. But I'm really happy with how it all turned out."

Speaking to MusicFIX from her London base she explained, "I actually tried to write a big piano-type record, but I realised that sounded crap." It took one listen to a Donna Summer record handed over by a bandmate and Cilmi decided all she wanted to do was make "people dance".

But for this disco diva, mostly she is looking forward to coming home and singing the national anthem at the Melbourne Grand Prix and being spoilt by her mum. "It's always nice to come home," she said.