The singer-and-actress says she started puberty quite early and during her first TV acting role, producers deemed her chest too big, so it was strapped down.

She said: "I was actually doing 'Good Times' and on our first day of shooting they bound my chest because they thought my breasts were too big. I got the part when I was 10, we started shooting when I was 11 - I was developing early.'

The 44-year-old star says the incident left her feeling self-conscious about her body and it is something she talks about in her new self-help manual, 'True You'.

She explained in an interview with ABC News: 't made me feel that the way that I am, it's not good enough. That's why I decided to call the book 'True You'."

Since the incident, Janet's breasts once again caused controversy.

In 2004, during the halftime show for the Super Bowl, Janet was performing with Justin Timberlake, when he tore open her top and exposed her right breast.

Although Janet insisted it was an accident, she later apologised, saying: "I am really sorry if I offended anyone. That was truly not my intention."