Mariah Carey's 'diva' joy

Mariah Carey's diva pride

Mariah Carey loves being called a diva.

The 'Hero' singer - who is renowned for her outrageous demands - says it's a compliment to have that reputation because it means she's successful.

She said: "They throw that word around like it's a friggin' Frisbee!

"I grew up hearing it, because my mother is an opera singer. The actual definition is 'a talented female singer.' Definition two is 'a difficult woman who is successful,' I believe. So I take it as a compliment."

Despite her reputation, Mariah insists she doesn't make enough demands.

The 38-year-old star told Parade magazine: "You know what? I guess I am a diva in many ways! When it comes to certain things, yes, I can be difficult and a little bit rigid about what I want. Am I demanding? I don't think I'm demanding enough. I think if I were more demanding, I would have felt that I had some sort of power, as opposed to feeling like a pawn, which is something I had to grow out of."