Cheryl Cole is glad her 20s are behind her.

While the brunette beauty - who turned 30 on June 30 - admits her 20s were ''amazing'', she is delighted to see the back of them because it was such a hectic time in her life and she now feels able to spend time chilling out.

She said: ''[Turning 30] always felt like a sigh of relief. I'm glad to put my 20s behind me. They were amazing - don't get me wrong - and I've crammed so much in, but I'm like, 'Relax.'

''I'm a woman. I can just breathe now and not worry about life any more. The good, the bad and the ugly ... it's all character-building and makes the woman you are.''

Cheryl - who is dating dancer Tre Holloway and was previously married to soccer player Ashley Cole - feels her attitude to life has changed for the better since she turned 30 earlier this year, and she is focused on looking to the future.

She added to HELLO! magazine: ''I feel my mentality has changed. I feel calmer and more centred; I feel settled. I'm a grown-up woman now - it's official.

''I feel much better than I did in my 20s. I look back at 21-year-old me and I definitely don't want to be her again.''