Cheryl Cole. [Photo/Agencies]

Cheryl Cole loves Rihanna because she "doesn't give a f**k" about what people think.

The 'Call My Name' hitmaker - who has previously claimed the 'You Da One' singer is her "girl crush" - admires Rihanna because she is the "perfect pop star" thanks to her care-free attitude.

She said: "You know what I love about Rihanna? I know she gets a lot of criticism, too, about what she wears and what she sings about, but she is so free.

"She doesn't give two f**ks. I love that in her. I love that sense of freedom about her. She's gorgeous and free. A perfect pop star."

She also enjoys Rihanna's liberal attitude to life, and believes the pair have had similar experiences in their past relating to their partners.

Cheryl added to GQ magazine: "She's been through the same thing absolutely. And you can imagine how intense it is when all the world's eyes are on you. So she knows that feeling. But she's free-spirited, she just doesn't give a s**t.

"Maybe it's going through everything she's gone through that has enabled her to get to that point. She's like, 'Whatever. What more can you say about us? You can't hurt us any more.' I love that about her. It's liberating. She's liberal."