By Jenny Eliscu

Sitting cross-legged on the floor, slouched over a plate of Chinese food that she pokes at suspiciously, Avril Lavigne looks like the little girl that she is. She is wearing a white tank top, an oversize men's tie, a pair of baggy Dickies and, as she puts it, "shit on my wrists" -- studded wrist cuffs and black rubber bracelets stacked in messy piles.

In the four months since the release of her debut disc, Let Go, the eighteen-year-old from the tiny town of Napanee, Ontario, has sold 3 million albums and won MTV's Best New Artist award. She is, you could say, superfamous. So why is she so freaked out? "There's me, Avril Lavigne, this girl who likes to be herself, write her own music," she says. "So many people are like, 'Oh, she's cool. She's just herself, wears different clothes' and whatever. And then there's all these other people who are like, 'Oh, my God, she's just a product of the record company.' This is all new to me, and I don't know how to deal with it. Lately I've been thinking about this kind of stuff a lot."

Who are your heroes, male or female?

I always say I don't have a hero. When people ask who my hero is, I say Spider-Man. But I really admire Johnny Rzeznik from the Goo Goo Dolls. And [whispering] Alanis. I think it's really cool she's going to be in this issue, too. But with Johnny, first of all, I think he's really hot. And his music really moves me.

Why Alanis? Is it a Canadian-pride thing?

Yeah, definitely. And Jagged Little Pill? I loved that she would curse in her songs and be so honest and blaah! People would be like, "Oh, my God, as if she's doing that!" But she was so successful, and she was like, "No, I'm doing this." And that's so cool. Do you consider yourself a feminist?

I don't really know. What exactly is that?

Basically, it means you think women and men should be treated as equals.

Musically, girls can rock. Fuck that, who says they can't? My brother used to be like, "You're a girl. You can't go hunting or fishing." I'd be like, "You're stupid." And we'd get into a huge fight.

What effect do you think being a woman has had on how you write songs?

Girls seem to be more sensitive, right? That might help you write better. Guys like to hide their feelings. One thing being a woman that I don't do, though, is sell my body. I want people to respect me, and I don't go around shaking it or [grabs her chest] wearing a push-up bra.

What effect does that have on young girls?

I think a lot of girls look at that stuff and it makes them self-conscious because their body doesn't look that good. And they don't want their boyfriend staring at that shit. It's just not my thing. I want people to watch my video and not be staring at my girl parts but to be listening to my lyrics and hearing what I have to say and watching me rock out on my guitar. I've been to photo shoots where they're like, "Can you just wear this? Can you just smile? C'mon, pink lips." They try to make me look like other girls out there, and I'm just like, "Fuck off!" I was wearing a tie the other day, and people were like, "You're rocking the Avril look." Every show I play, every girl is wearing a tie. It's funny -- there's little Avrils everywhere. It's funny, because I always liked to be different, and now, in this position, whatever I do everyone else is going to do.

Were you always different?

The prep group always looked at me like, "Who is she?" They totally looked down on me. I'm not going to call myself punk, because punks aren't on MTV. But normally I would say I was this little punk messing around, getting myself in trouble. But I can't say that, because I'm not punk.

Call yourself punk if you want.

Punk is such a touchy word. I go on TRL and all that stuff, and I don't think there's anything wrong with wanting the world to hear my music. Now, so many people have labeled me skater punk. I'm not some fucking Tony Hawk. I skateboarded in high school, and they have to make me sound like some big-ass skater. There's more to me than that.

Do you remember when you first had an inkling you could write songs?

I knew probably when I was ten that I was going to be a writer somehow. I'd write books and make little novels. I'd write poetry and lay down on my floor and be like, "Whoa, I think I'm a poet." I used to run around the house screaming rhymes. I started writing chords and lyrics on the guitar when I was twelve. As soon as I learned how to play a G chord -- which is still my favorite chord -- I'd bang away and write a song.

What's the first one you wrote?

The first one I remember was called "Can't Stop Thinking About You." I was fourteen, and it was just about a crush on a boy. I even put in the song "I'm only fourteen years old/Really, I'm not that old." My mom loved that line.

What's the first record you ever bought?

This is going to sound really bad, but I've never bought a CD in my life. The first one I ever got was a Faith Hill CD my parents gave me. I only had a few growing up, because they were expensive and my family didn't have a lot of money. I had Faith Hill, Shania Twain and Dixie Chicks. Now when I want a CD, I'll go to the label and get stuff.

What have you heard recently that you liked?

Do you know Dillinger Four? They're punk. The most recent thing is the new Goo Goo Dolls, Gutterflower. System of a Down I'll blare and jump around. I'm not that person who goes out and gets new stuff all the time. I find stuff I like and put it on when I'm in my bath. Sum 41, Green Day, Alanis Morissette, and then there's my CD. I need to get out more! [Laughs] I started listening to music when I was twelve, and I'm still learning what I like.