Mariah Carey: Break-up hasn't stopped me

The global superstar this week begun a residency in Las Vegas, performing her chart-topping hits in a reported £200 million two-year deal.

But while she shines under the limelight of a typically extravagant Vegas show, off stage she is finalising the details of her divorce to estranged husband of six years, Nick Cannon, and managing the difficulties of sharing parental responsibility for their two children.

She told the Daily Mail’s Weekend magazine: “Stardom is a magical yet freakish situation at times. It’s a a cliche but very true that at times you feel so alone even when you’re surrounded by so many people.

“Trust is not very easy for me at all. I want to be a trusting person but I’ve been bruised so many times – not to sound woe-is-me about my life.

“I’m thankful for my fans who make up for the lack of closeness I feel to most people who start out as friends and ultimately take advantage of me. I’m a very loyal person and it takes a lot for me to actually un-friend someone. I’m actually very loyal, to my detriment.”

She added that she is still “getting used” to her four year-old twins having days out and overnight stays with their father and admits to “finding it hard” as she adjusts to the change.

In an attempt to give them “family time” the broken couple spent Christmas, Thanksgiving and Easter together which she described as “personally rough for me” but said “it was for the kids”.

Speaking of her son, Moroccan, and daughter, Monroe, she said: “They’re the greatest experience of my lives. They’re everything.”

Her latest song Infinity made headlines for its defiant break-up lyrics believed to be directed at Cannon, making it clear she has “closed the door” on their relationship which he had previously hinted at being reconcilable.

But speaking of her future she said: “Last year was not a pleasant year for me, but I’ve had unpleasant times before and it hasn’t stopped me.”