Lea Michele loves being uncool

Lea Michele is proud to be uncool.

The 'Glee' star - who plays competitive singer Rachel Berry in the musical comedy TV show - revealed she is happy to be a role model for young girls and wants to show them that you don't have to be "cool" to be successful in life.

She explained: "I'm really proud [to be a role model]. I don't have any skeletons in my closet and I don't feel like I'm pretending to be someone that I'm not. Yes, I work really hard and I'm determined like Rachel but I'm also a really happy, easy-going person.

"Plus, I'm proud of the choices I made growing up and want to show young girls that you don't have to do what all the cool kids do in order to turn out OK in the real world."

While she has a demanding work schedule, Lea insists working on 'Glee' is a dream job.

However, she admits she found it difficult to adapt when she first moved to Los Angeles from New York for 'Glee'.

She said in an interview with Zest magazine: "The dance routines we learn at work are pretty punishing, especially when you have to do 50 takes of something. But when I look around and realise how much fun I'm having with my best friends, it just makes me want to do it again.

"Los Angeles is a pretty tough city. When I first moved here from New York I wasn't sure I'd fit in, as there's a definite idea of what's beautiful. Thanks to 'Glee', I think the tides are turning. The show's really shown people that you don't have to look like everyone else to be beautiful and successful - beauty can mean so many different things and differences should be celebrated."

Read the full interview in the new issue of Zest magazine, which goes on sale Thursday 17 March.