Taylor Swift: `Being open isn`t being weak`

The 21-year-old country singer is believed to have penned tracks about romances with John Mayer, Taylor Lautner and Joe Jonas, but said that just because she sings about her pain, it doesn't make her 'weak'.

She told Sugar, 'I don't think that being a strong person is about ignoring your emotions and fighting your feelings. Putting on a brave face doesn't mean you're a brave person.

'That's why everybody in my life knows everything that I'm going through. I can't hide anything from them. People need to realise that being open isn't the same as being weak.'

She also admitted that despite her fame and success, she still hurts when people insult her.

'I'm not stronger than anybody else,' she said. 'I feel everything that happens to me, whether it's a mean comment from a friend or a stranger. At no point in this process did I grow a thick skin.'

She added that when the time comes for a confrontation, she always tries to remain calm.

She explained, 'I've learned that I respect people less when they scream and yell. So when I'm mad, I try to keep the volume level of my voice really even.

'It's more impressive if you can remain calm when you're mad than if you lose control. I just hate the idea of taking my emotions out on other people.'