A confession of love for Hayley Williams

I've been intrigued by the whole Riot Grrrl movement. I have for a while now, beginning with my fad for Nirvana (grunge guitar riffs, weird lyrics), moving swiftly over to the other half of Kurt Cobain: Courtney Love and her band Hole, leading onto the likes of L7 and even a small spark for feminists Bikini Kill. I idolise their female empowerment. What female doesn't

want to feel strong, sexy and comfortable in her own skin?

But now my eyes have locked onto Hayley Williams, lead singer of male-dominated rock band Paramore, after discovering through their breakthrough single, Misery Business. At last, a 21st century Riot Grrrl with one rule only: be yourself.

Firstly, I found myself being drawn into her somewhat 'vulnerable' image. She isn't your typical "sexy" woman. If anything, she's cute; you want to take her in one arm and shield off any harm with the other.

But then, she opens her mouth. I was blown away when she tore through the chorus of Misery Business, that was when I knew that this new-found obsession was probably a permanent one. Courtney was always very outspoken, loud and dominant, but not so much Hayley. Sure, she is the front-woman of an increasingly popular band - but unlike Courtney, she doesn't dominate every Paramore interview; she isn't hounded by the tabloids for crazy behaviour; she isn't in constant legal battles over drug abuse. Instead, Paramore have worked closely with their fans to prove how accessible they are, and this is what has made them so easy to love. Hayley is modest, charming, funny... overall, she's just a normal 21 year-old girl, really - but with the world at her feet. Just take a look at her Tumblr blog: she shares random thoughts just like the rest of us.

“It’s hard when kids think you’re perfect, because I never will be and I never want to be,” Hayley says, in a recent interview with The Sunday Times. “So I make sure to explain to people that life is shitty sometimes. I want people to know I’m not perfect."

As well as this, she's a fashionista in her own right. Whether it's her everyday girl-next-door look to her red carpet appearances, she always manages to look kooky and cool. It's so refreshing that through the hoards of fake-tan, tight dresses and poppy synths, there's a small-town flaming redhead with fiery stage presence whose not afraid to be herself. She's not California, she's Tennessee.

And this is why I love you, Hayley Williams. You seem like the kinda girl you'd want to chill out, play Playstation and drink beers with - and I really couldn't think of anything better.