Jessica Simpson: 'My weight is good for branding'

Jessica Simpson is happy with her famous curvy figure because "putting on extra pounds" has been great for her brand.

The singer-turned-designer has built a booming $1 billion fashion empire, complete with various clothing, shoe and beauty lines and Simpson credits her mega success to her own fan-friendly image - because shoppers are drawn to stars with a healthy body.

Simpson, who has confirmed she is pregnant with her first child, has faced criticism and media taunts over the years for her fuller figure, but she has learned that her look has given her an edge among shoppers.

She tells Lucky magazine, "I got so much scrutiny for putting on extra pounds, but I think that the decision not to make myself anorexic was actually great for branding. Because when you’re really, really skinny, not everybody can relate to you.

"I like the way I look... Everybody fluctuates, but I’m open about my weight and I’m still confident."