Paloma Faith doesn't do chat-up lines, Pixie Lott's boyfriend does all the cooking while presenter Jameela Jamil says she's never been in a fight ("People don't fuck with women who are 5'11").
Campaigner Caroline Criado-Perez says she supports "The England football team. You know, the one that made it to the semi finals", Green MP Caroline Lucas confesses she has broken the law before, "but never doing anything that I wouldn’t want my children to be doing" and racing driver Simona Silvestro has (perhaps unsurprisingly) been caught for speeding.
All these successful women have joined cook and writer Rachel Khoo, radio DJ Alice Levine, interior designer Kelly Hoppen and agony aunt Virginia Ironside in answering all the questions high-profile men often get asked, but women rarely do.
After The Huffington Post UK asked male celebrities all the questions female stars get asked last year, the nine well-known women gave us their thoughts when we flipped the idea around for International Women's Day 2016.
Ironside explains why she loves her car, and Levine reveals why she isn't a huge fan of chivalry: "I've had male colleagues be fully through the door, and then double back so I can go first - let's just get out of the building, shall we?"
Singer and The Voice UK judge, 34
Were you much of a troublemaker when you were young?
No, I was quiet as a mouse. I used to feel guilty if I had done the slightest thing wrong, and always thought I was in trouble for next to nothing.
Do you do your own cooking, washing and ironing?
Ha! Yes! But I hate ironing so I tend to wear wrinkled clothes, and my boyfriend and assistant do the washing. I am obsessed by cooking though, so when I have time off I love to cook. But I tend to eat out a lot because I work all the time.
What’s your best chat-up line?
I don't really do chat up lines cause I'm always in a long-term relationship, and I love the slow wooing process rather than a quick thrill.
What sports team do you support?
I hate all competitive sports.
What's the most expensive thing you've ever bought?
A house!
What’s your secret to success?
Never give up, even if it feels like the world's ending.
What car do you drive?
I don't like driving: I don't have one.
Have you ever broken the law?
Yes, lots of times but I have never been caught!
What's your guilty pleasure?
Chocolate.
Have you ever got into a fight?
I've been hit by cowardly men a few times and I will never hit back, but on the flip side I will never go down either!
What would you do to take a man out on a great date?
I would take him in a hot air balloon for a picnic.
Do you believe in chivalry?
I don't necessarily believe in chivalry. I believe in good manners and consideration.
Do you work hard or play hard?
Work hard.
Presenter and model, 30
Were you much of a troublemaker when you were young?
I was a clown. I definitely used to disrupt lessons, and I spent a large amount of afternoons in detention for being entirely unable to take my teachers seriously. It wasn't until I became a teacher myself a few years later that I realised what a little shit I had been.
Do you do your own cooking, washing and ironing?
I don't cook. I sneak my washing into my boyfriend's wash. And I don't iron, I hold clothes over my kettle to steam them. I'm an animal.
What’s your best chat-up line?
When one has breasts, one needn't bother with chat up lines.
What sports team do you support?
I am partial to India's cricket team.
What's the most expensive thing you've ever bought?
A Chanel bag. I've never experienced such pride or shame in one moment before that.
What’s your secret to success?
Don't be an arsehole. Ever.
What car do you drive?
I don't drive. I can just about walk safely.
What's your guilty pleasure?
Other people's food. It always tastes better than mine.
Have you ever got into a fight?
I'm 5'11. People don't fuck with women who are 5'11.
What would you do to take a man out on a great date?
I once told a boy to meet me at 7am at my house for a date and I surprised him with a ticket to Disneyland Paris. Mostly because I wanted to go, but the brownie points lasted a while...
Do you believe in chivalry?
Yes. God yes. I love it. Today my boyfriend drove an hour to give me a cuddle and bring me some food because I was sick at work. Winning. And I think it should go both ways.
Do you work hard or play hard?
Neither. I don't do anything hard. I make as little effort in life as humanly possible and I only believe in the active pursuit of laughter. And cake.
Member of Parliament for The Green Party, 55
Were you much of a troublemaker when you were young?
I think it’s fair to say that I’ve always been a bit of a rule breaker. I went to quite a strict school, and I took particular pleasure in sneaking off at lunchtimes in my much-older boyfriend's car.
What’s your best chat-up line?
I can’t even remember the last time I tried to chat someone up. But, if I was forced to, I’d probably take inspiration from the brilliant activist chat-up lines online and go for something like: “I don't wanna stop protesting...but you're absolutely arresting”.
What sports team do you support?
I’m not the biggest sports fan in the world – and I’m not the kind of person who would pretend to be a die-hard supporter because I feel like I have to. Having said that, the more I’m involved with Brighton & Hove Albion, the deeper my support. They’ve had a remarkable couple of decades – moving from the very fringes of the football league to now banging on the door of the Premier League.
What's the most expensive thing you've ever bought?
By far the most pricey purchase I’ve made is my house (although the bank still owns a large proportion of it!) and I never forget how lucky I am to have been able to afford that. The housing market is a a nightmare across the country, but it really is hitting my own constituency particularly hard. I do worry that my generation will be the last to enjoy relatively affordable housing – whether that’s council houses or not-exorbitant homes to buy. For my children, and the their peers, it’s going to be a real struggle.
What’s your secret to success?
I worry about everything! In all seriousness, I think I wake up quite often in the middle of the night feeling overwhelmed by scale of the challenges we’re confronting. My only solution is to spend my days trying my best to make things better – a process which can often be frustrating but is, generally, hugely rewarding. I’m incredibly lucky to have huge amounts of support in the work I do. Campaigners, activists, friends and family all chip in to make the work I do a real collective effort.
Have you ever broken the law?
Er.. yes. But never doing anything that I wouldn’t want my children to be doing.
What's your guilty pleasure?
Flowers. I’d very much like my office to resemble a florist but I’m all too aware that the cut flower industry isn’t one without its problems!
Have you ever got into a fight?
I’ve had my fair few altercations with politicians from other parties – but never anything physical! I’m happy to stand my ground – but I can’t say I’m much of a fighter.
What would you do to take a man out on a great date?
As I live in the most romantic city in Britain [Brighton], I wouldn’t struggle. I’d probably start with a walk along the beach (can I bring my dog?) then grab a pint in a cosy pub before walking out onto the Downs to the North of Brighton.
Do you believe in chivalry?
I’m not sure a word that was used to describe the behaviour or Knights in the Middle Ages is really appropriate for the modern day. People should be polite to each other but that shouldn’t be defined by their gender.
Do you work hard or play hard?
I’m the one MP for an entire political party and I still haven’t given up on thinking that I can help change the world. Unfortunately that means I am firmly in the ‘work hard’ category. I’ve never been interested in the social side of life in Westminster as I much prefer to spend my free time back in Brighton with friends and family.
Interior designer and Dragon's Den 'dragon', 56
Were you much of a troublemaker when you were young?
A little but who isn’t!
Do you do your own cooking, washing and ironing?
During the week, I am barely at home! I work long days and travel a lot for work so during the week it is certainly a struggle so I bring in some extra help. On the weekend I am a domestic goddess though.
What's your best chat-up line?
I’ve never needed one if I was honest but I am a sucker for the real old school ones. A couple of my favourites include: "Jumping Polar Bear (they say "What?") "I just wanted to say something that break the ice". Or: "Touch this," (touch the boy's shirt) "That’s boyfriend material…"
How involved were you in your children's upbringing?
100% involved, my kids are my world. I had my business which was booming by the time Natasha was born, however I always found time to pick her up everyday from school, complete the homework tantrums and cook the Sunday lunches. Being involved 100% with your kids upbringing I feel is essential to shaping them into the best versions of themselves they can be, so super important.
What sports team do you support?
Arsenal
What's the most expensive thing you've ever bought?
Definitely a piece of art and I couldn’t possible disclose the final amount but it was enough. I am a huge fan of art and have collected key pieces for years now and I have a warehouse filled with iconic pieces which I love. I don’t think I will ever have a house big enough to keep it all in one place!
What's your secret to success?
Focus, belief, confidence and hard work! The four key factors and if you are missing one of them then it is hard to maintain success.
What car do you drive?
A Bentley and I love it!
Have you ever broken the law?
Definitely not!
What's your guilty pleasure?
Crisps and cocktails!
Have you ever got into a fight?
Never, it isn’t in my nature.
What would you do to take a man out on a great date?
Totally depends on what kind of a man he is, but to be honest – great food, great company and a relaxed atmosphere is always best for a first date. It really allows you to get to know them. Or you could just jump straight in the deep end and do something super adventurous like head to a roller disco and break out your best 80s moves. They may as well know now exactly what you are like!
Do you believe in chivalry?
Yes, absolutely. A man with manners is very attractive. A man should always be chivalrous whilst remaining in manly and true to himself. A sense of humour is also very important.
Do you work hard or play hard?
A bit of both but at the moment I probably do work harder. My resolution for 2016 though is to take more time to myself. I love my job, sometimes a little too much which means I forget to take a break which isn’t good!
Singer, 25
Were you much of a troublemaker when you were young?
No, I went to a performing arts school so I was just really involved in that and I just had the best time. We had lots of fun.
Do you do your own cooking, washing and ironing?
No really. I’m not really much of a cook: my boyfriend loves cooking so I let him do that. Washing and ironing, obviously yeah I do, but I have a cleaner who helps out.
What’s your best chat-up line?
I don’t really use chat-up lines. I guess my theory is just to be open and friendly.
What sports team do you support?
West Ham. I haven’t been for ages, but I always support them. When I was little we used to go and see them, so it’s more just my family are big West ham supporters. I support Charlton a bit too because my dad is a Charlton supporter.
What's the most expensive thing you've ever bought?
Apart from my flat where I live, I think it’s holidays. I always take my family and we’ll do like two family holidays a year, we always go skiing in Verbier, and we usually go to like Portugal in the summer. I took my friends to Vegas for our 21st - that was fun.
What’s your secret to success?
Be kind, work hard and have fun.
What car do you drive?
I don’t drive, actually. I started learning when I was 17, I got lessons for my birthday, and then I just got too busy – my single came out not long after that and then I couldn’t finish the course. It’s always my New Year’s resolution and then I never get round to it.
Have you ever broken the law?
I don’t think so..
What's your guilty pleasure?
I love TV shows, like the Jeremy Kyle Show, Embarrassing Bodies and shows like that.
Have you ever got into a fight?
I’ve been started on before, when I was about 14. Me and my friend were shopping in Bluewater and there were a bunch of rude girls who just started staring at us, and they started on us, but we didn’t really get into a fight. That’s happened as well in the last few years, in Brentwood we were in a bar one time and these girls started on us. They were all dressed in these onesies. I was with my sister and we just made a run for it.
What would you do to take a man out on a great date?
I always think going to a really nice restaurant is good. Obviously everyone does that though, but it’s good because you can actually talk rather than going to see something. I know that Oliver [my boyfriend] loves cars, so one of those days where you can ride around in a dream car, I’m sure boys would love something like that.
Do you believe in chivalry?
Yes. Gentlemanly manners are good, I think it shows good manners and it’s nice.
Do you work hard or play hard?
I’m going to say both. I think you have to have a balance. If you work hard then it gives you the allowance to have more fun. I love going out and having fun with the people I love, but luckily I enjoy my job as well, so the aim is to have as much fun as possible all the time.
Feminist activist and journalist, 31
Were you much of a troublemaker when you were young?
I certainly didn’t obey all the rules but I was also very good at not getting caught – or if I was caught at talking my way out of trouble.
Do you do your own cooking, washing and ironing?
Yes…but I try to avoid them all as much as possible. I barely cook and if I do try to limit the whole exercise to a single pot to limit washing up.
What’s your best chat-up line?
I literally used this on someone last night: “Don’t freak out or anything…” I find it’s a real winner.
If you’re single – is your home a real bachelorette pad?
Probably. I live on my own in a tiny flat in London with my adorable dog.
What sports team do you support?
The England football team. You know, the one that made it to the semi finals.
What's the most expensive thing you've ever bought?
I once bought a second hand VW Polo GTI for a few hundred quid.
What’s your secret to success?
I’ll let you know when I’ve achieved it.
What car do you drive?
I don’t own a car anymore. The Polo kept breaking down.
Have you ever broken the law?
Yes. That’s all you’re getting.
What's your guilty pleasure?
Picking out all the cookie dough out of a tub of Ben & Jerry’s.
Have you ever got into a fight?
With my brothers, sure.
What would you do to take a man out on a great date?
I would give him the pleasure of my company.
Do you believe in chivalry?
Nope.
Do you work hard or play hard?
I laze hard.
Caroline Criado Perez is a speaker at the Omniwomen Summit 2016
Cook, broadcaster and entrepreneur, 35
Were you much of a troublemaker when you were young?
I don't think I was particularly naughty. I was quite loud, assertive and had a lot of imagination. I spent a lot of time playing pretend games (from running a bakery in my sandpit, to making cakes out of sand and decorating them with daisies, to pretending to run an office with my typewriter and a play phone). I think even as a kid I was an entrepreneur.
Do you do your own cooking, washing and ironing?
Sometimes. I do have a cleaner who comes twice a month. It helps, as I currently run my new business venture Khoollect from my living room, which means I have several people coming in every day Monday-Friday.
What’s your best chat-up line?
I never really used them. I spent eight years in Paris and learnt the best way to chat someone up was to be a bit nonchalant about it. Don't look like you're trying too hard.
What sports team do you support?
I don't support a particular team. I've been following some of the football and it's been amazing to see how Leicester city has been doing. Really hope they win the league!
What's the most expensive thing you've ever bought?
My apartment in London.
What’s your secret to success?
Hard work and persistence.
What car do you drive?
I don't have a car, but I have a bike that I've had for 15 years. It's not the most attractive, but my theory is 'ugly bike = nobody steals it'.
Have you ever broken the law?
No.
What's your guilty pleasure?
Salt and vinegar crisps - the cheap kind.
Have you ever got into a fight?
Yes, at primary school. There was this boy who was two years older and twice my size. He started bullying my friend, so I punched him. I then got told by the dinner lady to go and see the headmistress. I told her 'You don't rule my life!' and ran off. Needless to say it ended with me seeing the headmistress.
I also had a fight with a guy in a mosh pit in Paris. He got chucked out by the bouncer. Even though I'm short I'm pretty feisty.
What would you do to take a man out on a great date?
Depends on the guy. I dated a DJ once, and took him on a picnic where I packed all his favourite foods into a cardboard boombox I had made (think Michel Gondry movie style 'Be kind, Rewind').
Do you believe in chivalry?
Yes, however I believe that both women and men can be chivalrous.
Do you work hard or play hard?
I try to do both, but I have a tendency to work hard rather than play hard.
Rachel Khoo is founder of the lifestyle site Khoollect that celebrates inspiration found in unlikely places.
Agony aunt and writer, 72
Were you much of a troublemaker when you were young?
No, I was the goodest girl in the class. Sometimes if somebody had forgotten to give us homework I would put up my hand and remind her. For a couple of reasons: one is I was absolutely terrified of punishment and petrified of putting a foot wrong, I was an extremely anxious child. The other is that the school was run by my great aunt, and she was giving me all my education for nothing. It was a private school but it was free for me.
Do you do your own cooking, washing and ironing?
Yes, of course I do. But I do employ a cleaner to clean the house. I cook, wash up, mend, change light bulbs, take the in to be serviced, fill it up…
What’s your best chat-up line?
Well I don’t do a lot of chatting up to be honest, because I’m now 72. But the sadness about the ban on smoking not being allowed any more is that you can’t ask somebody for a light. It was hardly a chat-up line, but it was a way of getting a conversation going. It brought people together in groups, you could offer strangers a light and ask for a light, you could get to know people. Sometimes, if I’m desperate and sitting next to someone and can’t think of anything to say I say will you tell me exactly what you’ve been doing all day, from the moment you got up? Did you make breakfast? What did you have? What paper do you get? Men love being asked that question – anyone does, actually. It shows a great interest in them and not only in them but in their essential details. It’s a kind of intimate probing and they can give away what they like. You can get a terrifically good picture actually just by knowing whether they wear pyjamas or not.
How involved were you in your children's upbringing?
I have one son of 43. I was totally involved – I was a single parent for quite a long time. I was married but then we parted when he was 18 months. I was extremely lucky because I always had a job that meant that I could take him to school and pick him up every day. That was very important because my own mother was a career woman and I had to make my own tea, get back from school – latchkey kid. I was very unhappy, and one often wants to put right what went wrong in one’s own childhood.
What sports team do you support?
The word sport is not really one that’s used in this house. My idea of sport is going down to the kitchen, putting a piece of toast in the toaster and coming up the stairs. Though with my grandchildren we did break out a ping pong table on the kitchen table, and that was terrifically successful.
What's the most expensive thing you've ever bought?
Well a house, or a car, and then going down from there, I suppose a picture. I think I spent 5000 on a picture. It was by my uncle Robin Ironside, and I collect them, so I’d venture that I’d pay anything to have one. But I’m not a spender, and spending money doesn’t give me any great pleasure, luckily.
Is your home a real bachelorette pad?
I don’t think you could possibly describe me as a batchellorette if you ever met me. The ‘ette’ at the end of the word does imply a kind of frivoloity, and there’s not much of that round here. I don’t have a bachetllorette pad, I have a house with two lodgers in it, who I am extremely fond of, and I’m vey fond of my house. To come round to my house is quite an experience because it is, I have to say, remarkably pretty. I’m always repainting, rewallpapering and I have lots of collections of things.
What’s your secret to success?
Insecurity. I think I’m fairly driven, not just to earn money and be independent, because of insecurity. But also to be known in some way, to be read, to be heard, and that all comes I think from feeling unheard as a child.
What car do you drive?
A blue Fiat 500. I’ve had it for four years. I despite people who love their cards, but I love this one. It’s an extraordinarily good blue, it’s extraordinarily small, I can park where I like. And because of its design I feel it cares for me. What I love is when get in, I turn on the engine, I drive off, and then about two seconds later I hear the click as it locks me in. And it’s like being tucked in at night by a kindly nurse, I’m just so touched by those aspects of it.
Have you ever broken the law?
This shows you what a goody-goody I am: I still remember going into a delicatessen when I was about fourteen, and taking an olive, and eating it.
What's your guilty pleasure?
I certainly don’t like cream cakes, I don’t drink, I don’t smoke, and I don’t watch a lot of telly. Walking out of the theatre half way through. I very much like having the confidence to do what I like now that I’m older.
Have you ever got into a fight?
I think twice yes, and I’m deeply ashamed of it. I simply lost control, and my feelings of guilt and misery the next day and the apologies, the bunches of flowers, the shame which I still carry. On the whole I don’t let myself go.
What would you do to take a man out on a great date?
In the past I suppose I’d pretend that I got free tickets for something, and ask him to it. But I don’t think that any man of my generation would particularly like me to drive them somewhere or pay for a meal. I do take men out to dinner now, obviously, but they are usually people who don’t have as much money as me, and automatically I pay, as I will for anyone who is younger and struggling. If they were young and broke I’d pay, but I still think it’s slightly humiliating, if they were much younger than me would they really want to be paid for by me? I think they might feel a bit like a toy boy.
Do you believe in chivalry?
Well, yes, but I believe in it for both sexes. I think you should be a perfect gentle knight whether you are a man or a woman. I’m particularly chivalrous with older people, I’m mindful of getting up on the Tube.
Do you work hard or play hard?
I think I work hard really. I’m not much of a playing person. I’ve led a very rackety life when I was young, if you call that playing. But it wasn’t much fun – it was just getting drunk and sleeping with every man I saw. I don’t think I’d called that playing, it was kind of grisly.
Radio and TV presenter, 29
Were you much of a troublemaker when you were young?
I think at the very worst, I was precocious and I used to get told off for chatting when I was supposed to be listening.
I did once get scolded for stealing sequins from the sequin bag, me and my friend Emma had a bit of a racket going on in year one. But I was a real goody-two-shoes, I was so scared of being shouted at. I actually still am.
Do you do your own cooking, washing and ironing?
I am very keen on cooking so that's not really a chore, in fact me and Laura Jackson run a supperclub together so we spend a disproportionate amount of time thinking about food. I hate washing, which is why I own about 45 pairs of pants. And ironing I am really lax with - Michael Fassbender in an interview recently told me I looked a bit creased.
What’s your best chat-up line?
These never, work do they? I feel like "chatting someone up" is so 90s.
What sports team do you support?
England?
What's the most expensive thing you've ever bought?
My flat, which is also the most expensive box I've ever bought, coincidentally.
What’s your secret to success?
When I get there I'll tell you.
At the moment, and this isn't a secret, I just pick jobs I like. It's a pretty easy system, it just took me a while to get to the point where I could implement it.
What car do you drive?
I started to learn when I lived in Leeds 10-ish years ago but it took me about eight lessons to be allowed into 2nd gear. So like the proud and dedicated person I am, I gave up. I think 2016 is my year to try again.
Have you ever broken the law?
I sometimes take a plastic bag at the self service check-out at the supermarket... and say I haven't! I'm going down for a long time, aren't I?
What's your guilty pleasure?
I’ve just realised they are all types of cheese!
Have you ever got into a fight?
Verbal? Often. Physical? Never. Although Natasha at secondary school sprayed Vanilla Impulse body spray in my eyes in the PE changing rooms - I thought that might be my PJ & Duncan paintballing moment. But I didn't fight back, I just sat clasping my eyeballs, smelling sweet.
What would you do to take a man out on a great date?
My friend says his standard third date is a hot air balloon ride. If I tell you he's never had to fork out for that, I think you can do the maths.
Basically anything too showy and contrived is going to be awful. What's wrong with a good restaurant and good conversation!?
Do you believe in chivalry?
Well all that means is being courteous and considerate towards women - and I think all the men I know definitely do that - otherwise they wouldn't last very long!
I personally find the incarnation of chivalry that involves "ladies first" and having your chair pulled out for you and all of that stuff a bit eggy. I've had male colleagues be fully through the door, and then double back so I can go first - let's just get out of the building shall we!
Do you work hard or play hard?
I know I work a lot, but do I work hard? Yes, I think I do. Most of the time. And I like working hard, I feel really satisfied when I have. I like progressing at things and improving, I do get a kick out of that. I don't really play hard, how hard is it to sit and watch Making A Murderer?
Formula E racing driver, 27
Were you much of a troublemaker when you were young?
Yes, I could never sit still in the one place. I had a lot of energy and was always running around. I think from an early age you could tell I wasn't going to end up with a desk job!
Do you do your own cooking, washing and ironing?
Yes I do, although it’s definitely not my favourite pastime! Being a professional racecar driver means I’m often on the road, so I get away with not doing it when I’m away from home competing. It's one of the perks!
What’s your best chat-up line?
I need sponsorship! Does that count as a chat-up line?!
What sports team do you support?
I like to follow a range of different sporting disciplines, although I don’t have a favorite team. How about Andretti Autosport?!
What's the most expensive thing you've ever bought?
To be honest, I have never bought anything too crazy - I'm usually pretty sensible. But if I was going to splurge, it would have to be on a Porsche 918.
If you're single - is your home a real batchelorette pad?
No, just a normal home. As I spend most of the year travelling sometimes I see the inside of hotel rooms more than my own place!
What’s your secret to success?
It sounds obvious, but just to never give up and keep working at it. Being a Formula E race car driver my job is both physically and mentally demanding. To remain competitive, a typical day off the track consists of biking, running and gym so I need to maintain a constant drive (excuse the pun!).
What car do you drive?
At work I drive racecars for Amlin Andretti but during my spare time I drive an Autobianchi.
Have you ever broken the law?
Yes, I got caught for speeding once. But I’m a racecar driver, so it’s probably not that surprising.
What's your guilty pleasure?
I’m from Switzerland, so Swiss chocolate of course!
Have you ever got into a fight?
Yes, once but I was about five years old, so I'm sure it was pretty harmless!
Where would you go on a great date?
I'd have a BBQ at the lake near my home in Switzerland, it’s really chilled and beautiful spot and I love the outdoors.
Do you believe in chivalry?
Of course! Chivalry isn't dead and I believe it is always well received.
Do you work hard or play hard?
I would say a little of both. As a professional sportswoman, it’s important to keep the balance but I still like to enjoy myself and have fun. The Formula E afterparties are alway a good place to start!
Simona de Silvestro is currently the only woman competing in the Formula E Championship. She will be racing in Mexico, on 12 March. For more information visit the Formula E website.