Whinnie Williams: I was cured of my crippling shyness by a hypnotist

International DJ Whinnie Williams has told how a hypnotist cured her crippling shyness, allowing her to launch her career.

Williams and Zara Martin perform around the world as Ooh La La and have played for Mark Ronson, P Diddy and the party-goers of the Monaco Grand Prix.

However, Williams admitted that she was “really scared” of performing before her mother took her to a hypnotist when she was 17. Williams, originally from Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, said the treatment cured her shyness and let her pursue careers in singing and modelling before she turned to DJ-ing.

In an interview with Hello! Fashion Monthly, Williams, whose real name is Jade, said:

“I was so shy. Every year in my diary I’d write, ‘This year’s New Year’s resolution will be: I’ll be in a band or I’ll sing’, but I was just really scared.” Of visiting the hypnotist, she said:

“I was 17 and told her I wanted to be able to sing in public and not be scared. I only went once and I was cured!”

Williams, 27, who broke into music as solo artist Sunday Girl, said Martin, 31, who is regularly seen out in London with the likes of Millie Mackintosh and Amber Le Bon, could be demanding when they are on tour.

She said: “She’s the most high-maintenance, funniest person I’ve ever met. She’ll kill me for saying this, but we’ve been in hotels before and she’ll ring down at 1am asking for a harder pillow and gluten-free bread. Whereas I’m just happy with a builder’s tea. We’re very different, but get on really well.”

The full interview is in the October issue of HELLO! Fashion Monthly, on sale on September 1.