KYLIE MINOGUE - MINOGUE CAN'T EXPLAIN GAY STATUS

Pop babe KYLIE MINOGUE has rejected claims her gay icon status is the result of record company marketing campaigns.

The SLOW singer has acquired a loyal homosexual following since rocketing to fame in 1988, but Minogue insists her popularity within the gay community was natural.

She says, "A lot of record companies market directly towards 'the pink pound'. But I never did that. They kind of adopted me instead.

"Somebody once said to me, 'Gay icons, there's a lot of tragedy in their lives. But you don't really have that.' I said, 'I've had a lot of tragic hairdos and outfits. I think that makes up for it.'"