Britney Spears’ lookalike earns £300,000 a year

London: A pretty blonde from England, who makes heads turn while walking down the street in her local town, makes a living as a Britney Spears lookalike.

Michaela Weeks from Ilkeston, Derbys, quit serving tables to become a professional Britney double and her incredible likeness to the star has earned her a staggering 300,000 pounds as a full time doppelganger. It has allowed her to live her own life of luxury with two houses, sports cars, hot tubs and an enviable wardrobe of designer clothes. The 24-year-old says she is forever grateful to Britney for helping her have such a life. “I feel very blessed to look like Britney and to be living the life I am now,” a leading daily has quoted her as saying. “I bought my first house when I was 19. I couldn’t believe how well paid just looking like someone else was and even now I imagine how different my life would have been if Britney had never made it. Being a lookalike has allowed me to spend tens of thousands on sports cars, two houses, clothes, shoes and my pedigree chihuahua, Charlie. It feels like fate that I was born in this body and that I look like someone famous. I’m a huge Britney fan - it would be awful if I had to impersonate someone I hated. If I ever get to meet her I want to thank her for giving me this life,” she said. During her eight-year career Michaela has travelled the world for lookalike appearances, starred in a Kaiser Chiefs video and posed for renowned celebrity spoof photographer Alison Jackson. But it has not all been plain sailing as Michaela faced financial crisis and nearly lost her home when Britney suffered her much-publicised breakdown in 2007. The troubled singer spent spells in rehab, attacked paparazzi and famously shaved her head. Michaela’s fortunes also began to mirror the singer’s career – as it began to wane, so did Michaela’s. “When Britney had her meltdown and shaved her head I was still getting bookings and even went out to LA for a job,” she said. “My partner Craig and I moved house as we figured no matter what Britney did there was nothing that would stop my busy work schedule. But then Britney stayed out of the limelight for a long time and people took a dislike to her, so work started to dry up. We fell behind with our mortgage and I had to sell my sports car to pay off our debts. It was a difficult time and I began to feel guilty for getting us into such a mess. I thought my career as a Britney lookalike was over, so I took up work as a beautician to try to keep up with the bills. We went through the winter without the heating on because we couldn’t afford it,” she said. Thankfully for Michaela, work took off again as Britney released her Circus album in 2008. “Just when I thought my career was over, people started wanting me to perform her latest song,” Michaela said. “It was such a relief and I worked harder than ever when I was booked to make sure I could get second jobs. “Since Britney was named as a judge on the US X Factor this summer, I’ve been so busy. For a small event I get paid 300 pounds but a big event with a performance involved can pay 3,500 pounds,” she added. ANI