SHE has transformed herself from a self-conscious singer to a star in the making.

And now, thanks to winning the Mail’s Talent Trail, KT Starr is putting out an album.

The 29-year-old took the prestigious award in the final held at Hull City Hall in May.

After wowing the crowds with her powerful vocals on As If We Never Said Goodbye, Someone Like You and Somebody To Love, the starlet couldn’t believe she had come first.

Now, the 2011 winner has been using her studio time and prize money to boost her singing career.

KT, whose real name is Katie Markham, has been busy recording her album at Element Studio in west Hull.

“The first thing I had to do was back away from the microphone, I was too loud,” said Katie.

“I’m used to really belting things out on stage, but I had to calm down for the studio. It was very different singing in the studio than it is performing on stage.”

Katie, who is originally from Scunthorpe, has been a singer performing up and down the country for years.

But last year, she was four stone heavier and uncomfortable.

After seeing pictures of herself in the Mail, when she came fourth in the 2010 contest, she decided to lose weight and do whatever she could to better her singing career.

She said: “I was so unhappy at that time, so I knew I needed to turn things around.

“Losing weight and getting my act together really boosted my confidence massively.

“When I came back to Talent Trail this year, I was a different person.”

Katie originally planned to record just three songs in the studio, but found she was able to put together a whole album.

“Because I got the hang of it pretty quick, I ended up recording 12 songs,” she said.

“We got a lot done in three-and-a-half hours.

“There was a mixture of old and new songs, so I thought I could put them together in an album.”

The songs Katie recorded were Someone Like You, Make You Feel My Love, I Dreamed A Dream, Simply The Best, Holding Out For A Hero, Perhaps Perhaps Perhaps, Bye Bye Blackbird, Baby I Love You, At Last, Cry Me A River, Diamonds Are Forever and Don’t Cry For Me Argentina.

She is now considering what to name the album before releasing it on her website www.ktstar.co.uk

But it wasn’t just her studio time prize which has helped boost her career.

Katie also won £1,500 which she used to treat herself to a holiday in Ibiza.

But rather than basking in both her award and the sun, Katie bagged herself a singing slot in a popular bar.

“I ended up singing at the Popeye Bar in Ibiza.

“I ended up singing a few songs each night.

“I wasn’t really paid – I was given free drinks – but the owner asked for my number for next year.

“I’ve always wanted to travel doing cabaret, so hopefully I’ll be doing that next summer.”

Now Katie is busy getting her sheet music together so she can perform on stage with a live band.

She hopes this will lead to more prestigious stints in the Manchester music scene and open up for opportunities.

She said: “Singing with a band in Talent Trail was really different.

“But it is a skill I want to develop now, because it is far better than singing to backing tracks.

“Hopefully performing with a house band will open a few more doors for me.”