From shop girl to city Pride - singer Beth Sherburn is on the up

It's a long way from days spent selling perfume to shoppers at Merry Hill shopping centre and daydreaming of stardom.

For shop girl turned pop star Beth Sherburn that dream is coming true as she prepares to appear in Birmingham this weekend.

The 23-year-old from Dudley will star alongside singers Katy B, Conor Maynard and former Pussycat Doll Kimberly Wyatt at Birmingham Pride tomorrow.

It comes as the former Debenhams sales assistant is putting the finishing touches to her latest single - first conceived as she was out shopping in the Brierley Hill centre.

She scored a major coup to link up with the US rap start Lil Wayne to feature on the single Joker, which is due out in the coming weeks.

Beth has only recently arrived back from two days filming in Ibiza to shoot the video for the track on the White Isle.

"It is brilliant. I still have to pinch myself sometimes that this is happening. But when it starts to work out it just makes you determined to work even harder," she said.

"Getting Lil Wayne to do the track with me is incredible. My management took the track to Lil Wayne and heard he absolutely loved it. When I think back, even to this time last year I can't believe it."

She will be performing the song along with another new track called Put Your Stamp On It to crowds gathered for Pride.

Birmingham Pride, which is the largest Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender festival in the UK, kick started today, with acts including soul diva Gabrielle performing in the Southside area of the city.

And Beth will be in good company as she is also joined on the bill by Bewdley-born singer Becky Hill who rose to fame on BBC talent show The Voice and has been performing dance act Rudimental.

"I've performed at the Glasgow Pride and that was amazing. I'm really looking forward performing in Birmingham, which is so close to home. The line up is great too and there are so many great cats performing. I'm going to stay around backstage after I perform backstage, watch some of the other performances."

Beth has been hitting the road over recent weeks, meeting a host of famous faces at events including Hollywood actor Hugh Grant at the breast cancer charity golfing day, the Breakthrough Cup

"He was lovely and couldn't have been nicer. I was nervous meeting him because he is a big star but it was great and I enjoyed performing at the event," she said.

While facing a dizzying round of promotional work, dance rehearsals and meetings with top music producers, she still finds time to come back to see her family in Gornal.

She recently celebrated her 23rd birthday with friends and family including her parents Sarah and Graeme and sisters Leah and Ellie.

Beth will be on stage at Birmingham Pride from 2pm on Sunday.