Katy Perry: Perfect pin-up

Perry on success: 'It's so intense, it's like you catch a rocket and you're hanging on for dear life and you’re like, "Gooooooo!" ' Photograph: Phil Knott for the Guardian

On fiance Russell Brand: 'One of the things that attracted me to him is his brain. He's one of the smartest men I've met. I feel smarter just standing next to him.'
Trench coat by ­Strenesse. Photograph: Phil Knott for the Guardian

'I think he [Brand] was ready for change. I mean, you just don’t have the stamina to be in bed with 80 different women a week when you’re 35 and trying to do good work.'
Dress by The Blonds; ­earrings by ­Patricia Field. ­ Photograph: Phil Knott for the Guardian

On her parents: 'They're kooky little critters. When they see a magazine cover, they're like, "Put some clothes on." But we get along fabulously.'
Swimsuit by ­Carmen Marc Valvo; cuff by Juko. Photograph: Phil Knott for the Guardian

On credibility: 'I don’t feel like I’m very pop-star lame, but I'm definitely not hipster-cool.'
Dress by NPRPA; n­ecklace by Chamal; Love ring by Erica Anenberg; cuff by Chanel; shoes by Marc Jacobs. Photograph: Phil Knott for the Guardian

On her 2008 breakthrough hit single: 'I knew I Kissed A Girl was going to have an impact. It was hooky for me. I couldn’t stop singing it.'
Dress by The Blonds. Bracelets by Dinosaur Designs.

Photography: Phil Knott at Outside ­Photographic, ­outsidephotographic.com. Styling: Krisana Palma. Stylist’s a­ssistant: Erica Siegel. ­Photographer’s ­assistant: Tom ­Winchester. Hair: Aaron Light at ­Celestine Agency. Make-up: Todd Delano Photograph: Phil Knott for the Guardian