Katie Waissel's 'high class escort' grandmother has spoken out, insisting she has done nothing wrong by sleeping with clients for £250 an hour.
Sheila Vogel, who turns 82 next month, said her granddaughter was 'very upset' when the revelations about her grandma's private life were first printed, but has now started to accept it.
In an exclusive interview with new! magazine, Sheila said: 'I haven’t done anything wrong. It’s a free world and I haven’t killed anybody. I’m just trying to make a living.
We are family: Katie Waissel with her grandmother Sheila Vogel. Sheila revealed she has spoken to Katie, but it will take some time for her to come around
'Katie was very upset at first. We spoke on the phone but she wouldn’t let me talk. She was screaming at me. It was very hard. In the end she hung up - as did her mother and father.
'But then she phoned me and said, “Hi Grandma, I just phoned you to tell you I love you.” And I said, “Katie, I love you too." '
However, Sheila, who insists she has no intention of giving up being a prostitute, says she is disappointed with the way her family have treated her overall.
She said: 'Do I think I’ve let Katie down? No, I don’t think so at all. If anything she’s let me down.
'The family released a statement saying that they want to disassociate themselves from me. I don’t think they’re being very sensible about it, but if that’s what they want to do, then fine.
'I find it very hard. I have the right to live my life the way I want to, but it’s sad we can’t discuss it as grown-ups. If they’re not going to accept me for what I am, I’m not going to say sorry.'
Proud: Sheila insists she has nothing to apologise for about her choice of career
Asked if Katie and her family will ever accept the fact that she's a prostitute, Sheila replied: 'It’s very difficult to answer that.
'It’s still very raw and I understand it was a shock. I’d like to think they can come into this century and become more liberal.'
Sheila, who goes by the name Grand Dame Cecilia Bird on the website for escort agency Mature Courtesans, also spoke about what her work entails, admitting she has slept with over 100 men, ranging in age from 22 to their mid-60s, and earns around £300 to £400 a week.
And Sheila insisted she is proud of her career, adding: 'I have no inhibitions. I’m a good example for prudish people. It’s not the end of the world to be 70 or 80 years old. Live your life!'
Hard talk: X Factor reject Katie Waissel was on ITV1's This Morning when she came in for some uncomfortable questioning from Holly Willoughby and Ben Shephard, standing in for Phillip Schofield
On screen: Katie appeared to be remarkably positive and upbeat during her chat on the show despite being booted off the X Factor on Sunday night
Sheila has even set her sights on one of Katie's former X Factor pals, Wagner Carrilho.
She said: 'I usually like younger men but I would be happy if Wagner paid me a visit!'
Sheila also spoke about how it was having Katie as a grandaughter, saying her 'attention-seeking' side is anything but an act.
She said: 'She has always been a drama queen! Always seeking attention, right from the beginning!'
Katie, who was voted off The X Factor on Sunday night, spoke about the sex scandal on ITV1's This Morning yesterday, when she was asked by Ben Shephard - standing in for Phillip Schofield - whether they had been in contact.
Songbird: Katie arriving in the dark at the London Studios for her appearance on Daybreak after being voted off the X Factor on Sunday
That's my girl!: Katie catches up with her mother Diana for lunch after her day of breakfast television
Looking distinctly uncomfortable talking about the family feud, Katie said: 'Yes I have, but there wasn't really an explanation. I just think in life stuff happens and life is too short, you just have to pick yourself up and deal with things.'
She added that it hadn't affected her performances on the X Factor, saying: 'It's a personal and private matter. I separated that from the competition and kept my head held high.'
Katie's sister Natalie Davis said in a statement after the revelations: 'We were completely shocked and devastated to hear the news that my grandmother has been conducting immoral activities, including prostitution and pornography.
'We, as a family, disassociate ourselves wholly from these activities and from any future stories that arise from them.'
Also on This Morning yesterday, Katie slammed reports at the time that she had deliberately collapsed on an outing to Top Shop with other finalists in order to draw attention to herself and garner more column inches.
She stormed: 'That's so bad - I was actually really ill that day. I suffer from panic attacks... and I think that panic attacks should kind of be taken a little bit more seriously. I'd love to make people more aware of how many people do suffer from panic attacks.'
Ladies' men: One Direction's Liam Payne, left, and Harry Styles, right, get mobbed by fans as they arrive at a rehearsal studio in Battersea
Love in: One Direction's Zain Malik and Louis Tomlinson show their affection for Mary Byrne as they arrive at rehearsals yesterday
The wannabe also nixed speculation that she started the rumours that she and Matt Cardle had been found in bed together at the X Factor house, sparking a furious row with the former painter and decorator.
'No way!' she gasped. 'Matt is an amazing guy and very talented and it was so blown out of proportion, I didn't say anything. I'm still really surprised about where all these sparks come from. But he's a great guy. It's just really weird and I find it really bizarre.'
The finalist also said she was 'nervous' leaving the X Factor house after death threats had been made about her on the internet.
Countdown is progressing: Cher Lloyd and Matt Cardle arrive at rehearsal studios in south London ready for the semi-finals this weekend
Chic: Rebecca Ferguson arrives to practise her next song having survived through to the semis
She told Ben and co-host Holly Willoughby: 'I am a little nervous because we've been kept in this bubble for such a long period of time and protected but I just feel like this is a new chapter, and I'm just going to embrace whatever comes. Some [of the threats] did get serious and it's a weird one because I don't really want to think about it too much.'
It was Katie's third ITV1 interview of the morning, after chats to Christine Bleakley and Adrian Chiles on Daybreak, followed by an appearance on Lorraine Kelly.
Despite her diva reputation, Katie appears to be making a good impression post-X Factor.
Myleene Klass was also at ITV yesterday morning and told her fans on Twitter: 'In TM studios and just bumped into Katie Waissel. Can report not only does she not have horns, she's extremely sweet and humble.'
Source:Dailymail