Unleash the diva: Cheryl Cole employs umbrella carrier to give her curls X-tra protection

Cheryl Cole was displaying some uncharacteristically diva-like behaviour when she was escorted into X Factor auditions in Wales.

The Girls Aloud singer was sheltered by a burly colleague to protect her pristine hair and make-up from the rain as she arrived at a Cardiff event centre.

Pampered: Cheryl Cole's trusty umbrella holder ensures her hair and make-up is left pristine for X Factor filming

Despite the wet weather, Cheryl showed off her super-skinny figure in grey shorts, white blouse and red patent high heels.

Wannabe popstars queuing outside the venue were stunned to see Cheryl arrived with her own brolly holder - despite having both of her own hands free.

Fan Lucy Rider, 19, said: 'I couldn't believe when I saw her walking in with someone else holding her umbrella for her.

"But I guess after all those hours in make-up getting ready for the show she couldn't risk it getting ruined by a spot of rain.

'And her umbrella-holder was really careful to make sure she didn't get a drop on her.

'I think she's a bit more of a diva than I gave her credit for - I think a couple of years ago she could have managed to carry her own brolly!'

Cheryl also stunned the crowd with her tiny frame.

Protect that hair Cheryl: The tiny singer makes sure her hair stays in place on her way to filming

Onlooker Rachel Mannings, 32, said: 'She's a beautiful girl but there's hardly anything of her anymore - she's wasting away.

'She used to have a stunning figure but she's too thin now. I just hope she can get over everything that's happened in the last few months and get back to how she used to be.'

It was back to work today for the stunning singer after she celebrated her 25th birthday with friends and family.

On Monday night, Cheryl joined her husband Ashley Cole at a Chinese restaurant in Manchester - one of the first times the couple have been seen together in public since press allegations that the footballer had cheated on her with a hairdresser.

Ashley and Cheryl enjoyed a meal with her mother Jo Tweedy and Girls Aloud bandmate Nicola Roberts.

Cheryl has signed a reported £250,000 deal to replace Sharon Osbourne as a judge on The X Factor.

She joins long-standing judges Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh, as well as last year's new addition Dannii Minogue.