Mother's pride for superstar Beverley

Deloris Smith beamed with mother's pride as her 36-year-old daughter launched her new make-up range, K by Beverley Knight, for darker skin tones. She may be Britain's Queen of Soul but her current mission is to bring flattering make-up for dark skins within reach of women all over the country.

And last night she was back in the West Midlands – flanked by family and friends from Wolverhampton – to launch her new range at Selfridges in Birmingham's Bullring. She also treated the crowd in the beauty department to a mini-performance, belting out such tracks as Beautiful Night, Take Another Little Piece of My Heart and Greatest Day

Beverley's 61-year-old mother Deloris, of Penn Fields, and sister Cynthia, 40, of Oxley, were among the star's supporters at the department store.

Beverley told the Express & Star her mother was her true inspiration.

"My mother is titan," said the former Highfields Secondary School pupil.

"She's my rock and my stalwart and my biggest fan," said Beverley.

Retired nurse Deloris was bursting with pride as she spoke of her daughter's success.

"We always encouraged her to work hard and she's done so well. We are all so proud of her achievements," she said.

Beverley admitted her move into make-up left her terrified.

"I'm a singer, a song writer – not a make-up artist or lab technician, so coming up with my own range was terrifying," she says.

"But I'd been moaning for ages that there wasn't any make-up which provided the full spectrum of colours needed for darker skin.

"So when the opportunity arose to do something about it, I did just that.

"I tried it on family and friends, who have been very honest, and so far the reviews have been terrific. I'm delighted by the response," she added.

l For more on Beverley's cosmetics range see tomorrow's Woman supplement in the Express & Star