Katy Perry proves that pop is more than just cherries and bubble gum.

Story By Joe La Puma; Photography by Gavin Bond; Styling by Kelly McCabe

It makes for a great visual.

Katy Perry: I came out like this 1940s pin-up girl, and of course that has evolved a little bit here and there, but if you ever go to the spots in L.A. for the rockabilly scene where all the girls’ hair is jet black, pale skin, red lips and they all have cherries on their cardigans, you’ll see where I got it from. I like this larger-than-life fruit thing. It’s like Miss Chiquita Banana…on E…from Japan. [Laughs.]

Has a guy ever tried to pick you up before like, “I’m really into fruit”?

Katy Perry: No, because duh, that’s not something that turns me on. But I do get turned on by the fact that I was allowed to descend from the ceiling in a huge banana at the Grammys. When I pitched the idea to them, it was very innocent, but looking back at it, that looked like I just descended from a huge penis. [Laughs.] What a Spinal Tap moment it would’ve been if it just stopped in the middle.

Perez Hilton would’ve had a field day with that one. He seems to be a big fan of yours—how cool are you two?

Katy Perry: Everyone wakes up and that site is like breakfast. He shits on everyone. He draws [semen] dots on my nose, out of my vagina. I’ve gotten to know him over the past year and he discovered me through Mika, who he loves and who’s an amazing artist as well. Perez knows that I like to keep it all about the music, he knows my grind is hard and I work every single day and nothing is for free—I’m not just some fucking idiot, wasted pop starlet that’s lost on an island somewhere.

Shots fired!

Katy Perry: No, like, I have a job, I know my responsibility and I’m always trying to take it to the next level, and whether it’s Perez or anyone else, you kind of have to respect that—and I do respect tons of other new artists. People had a bet on my head that I’d have to dip out because I wouldn’t be able to handle all of it. I went and played every show and then I sold out a 50-city, around-the-world tour, which is awesome, and most of these bitches just hawk breath mints or shoes. No offense to them; maybe I’ll hawk shoes later in life.

Speaking of the gossip blogs, you’ve been linked to people who seem very different from you. [Like Josh Groban and Benji Madden, to name two.—Ed.]

Katy Perry: If you have dinner with someone or happen to be at the same restaurant that the person is at, you’re either best friends or you’re bumping uglies. That’s just how it goes. I mean, I never hooked up and dated in the first place. I’m [into] a very one-woman, one-man type of situation; all the boyfriends I’ve had have been for at least two years, and I’ve only had like four boyfriends.

Why do you think the number is so low?

Katy Perry: For me, it’s not a pastime, going out and meeting people and trying to hook up with people. That actually makes me feel disgusting. From a really early age, I was really sensitive to that. I mean, I love a good game of eye-fucking. Of course.

Who doesn’t?

Katy Perry: [Laughs.] Getting your flirt on is the best thing in the world, but when it comes to sharing bodily fluids with a person I don’t know, no thank you. Disgusting! Even if that’s saliva, you know? Some people don’t brush their teeth.

You’re not a bad girl, just a free spirit. Your parents would be proud.

Katy Perry: My parents raised me strict, but they raised me with a good foundation and sense of integrity. They had their wild-child heyday, and they definitely needed to find God and I think that they’re a lot more rock ’n’ roll than anybody makes them out to be. My dad has four tattoos, but they all say “Jesus,” just in case you forget the first one does. One says “Jesus” in Hebrew, one says “Jesus” in calligraphy, one is like a stamp. So you know, they’re very cool. Of course they don’t agree with some things that come out of my mouth, but that’s been the case since I learned how to talk.

At least now I feel a little less weird about asking the next question...

Katy Perry: Bring it, Complex. You’re so complex.

Well, the last three posts about you on the blog Egotastic have been…

Katy Perry: About my boobs? Home // GIRLS // COVER GIRLS // KATY PERRY