Introducing... Katy Perry

19 September 2008, 15:14 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

By now you will have heard her chart-topping smash hit I Kissed A Girl, but how much do you really know about new pop sensation, Katy Perry?

Read on to discover our ten essential facts...

1. She's 23 and hails from Santa Barbara, California.

2. Her real name is actually Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson.

3. Her parents are pastors and her first taste of fame came in 2001 when she released a gospel album under the name 'Kate Hudson'.

4. She cites Cyndi Lauper, Alanis Morissette and Joni Mitchell among her biggest musical influences.

5. Katy's also confessed that she's 'obsessed' with X Factor winner, Leona Lewis. Purely because of her music we should add though!

6. Madonna is said to be a big fan and Perry repaid the compliment by performing her classic hit, Like A Virgin at this year's MTV Video Music Awards.

7. Katy's already topped the singles chart in over twenty countries including the US, Australia and here in the UK.

8. Her single, I Kissed A Girl was co-written by British songwriter, Cathy Dennis, who also penned Kylie Minogue's Can't Get You Out Of My Head.

9. She's dating Gym Class Heroes frontman, Travis McCoy.

10. Her album, One Of The Boys was entirely co-written by the lady herself and is finally released in the UK this week