Britney Spears extends a honeyed thigh across the length of the sofa, keeping one foot on the floor as she does so. Her blond-streaked hair is piled high, exposing two little diamond earrings on each ear lobe; her face is fully made- up, down to carefully applied lip liner. The baby phat logo of Spears' pink T- shirt is distended by her ample chest, and her silky white shorts -- with dark blue piping -- cling snugly to her hips. She cocks her head and smiles receptively.

"All I did was tie up my shirt!" ~ Britney, re: Baby One More Time video

"Sure, I'm wearing thigh-highs, but kids wear those -- it's the style. Have you seen MTV -- all those girls in thongs?" ~ Britney, trying (unsuccessfully) to defend her *gag* provocative outfits

"It doesn't mean physically hit me," says Spears. "It means just give me a sign, basically. I think it's kind of funny that people would actually think that's what it meant." ~ Britney, re: the "hit me" in "Baby One More Time"

"I asked them to change the words to 'Born to Make You Happy.' It was a sexual song," reveals Spears,

"If I come out being Miss Prima Donna, that wouldn't be smart."

"You want to be a good example for kids out there and not do something stupid," Spears says. "Kids have low self esteem,"

"Nestled among them......is a picture of the star with her prom date......This is Reg, Britney's only boyfriend......"

She had vaguely imagined herself singing "Sheryl Crow music, but younger - more adult contemporary," she says.

Britney Spears sits in her mom's kitchen......Hot rollers have been dutifully applied; makeup and jewelry are in place.

The knee is feeling a little better, but Spears is growing impatient with her local physicians. They don't seem to understand that she's got a new video to make.

Spears fancies the Madonna model, praising the singer as a "smart businesswoman" and expressing a desire to shape her own career.

She has seen one episode of South Park, which she found "sacrilegious".