Susan Boyle is back with a super-chic makeover (and we've got the behind the scenes!)

Hugh Stewart for Harper's BazaarRemember back in April when it seemed like the whole world had Susan Boyle fever? When every news outlet you turned to was practically shouting her praises and the 47-year-old "Britain's Got Talent" star was being exalted for her unpretentious persona and angelic voice? Next came the speculation: Would she or wouldn't she get a makeover? A new jacket for Susan! Today she's wearing a designer scarf! OMG, are those new eyebrows?! But then things took a turn. After weeks of constant and increasingly nasty media attention, the Scottish singer needed a break. And, directly after coming in second place in the "Britain's Got Talent" finale, Boyle checked herself into a clinic for exhaustion and kept a low profile. Now she's stepping back into the spotlight in a big way.

Boyle is featured in the September issue of Harper's Bazaar with a completely revamped look and a positive, seemingly stronger attitude. The interview is unbelievably sweet in that authentic Susan Boyle way, but we were also weirdly excited to find out about the makeover...
First, for the hair:
"We gave her a slight trim designed to attract attention to her eyes, which really twinkle, especially when she sings or laughs (which she does a lot)," says Kristina O'Neill, the executive editor of Harper's Bazaar. "We curled her hair up at the ends and teased it up top to better frame her face and give it some needed volume." Pretty!
Next came makeup:
"We played up the natural rosy glow in her cheeks with a cool-toned pink blush, and echoed the same color on her lips with a hot-pink lipstick that really popped and looked great with the brighter clothes, explains O'Neill. "When you have a light complexion, a brighter lip brings a zing of color to your face."
And the clothes?
O'Neill's strategy was thus: "Susan has amazing, creamy skin, so for the clothes, we primarily chose jewel tones to complement that. Some of our favorites were the kelly green Acne top, the royal blue Donna Karan New York satin top, and and the eye-catching bright-blue trench by DKNY. The black dress by Tadashi Shoji she wore was really figure-flattering and would look slimming and create desirable curves on anyone."
Let us not forget the shoes:
"Susan was very keen on the heels she wore for the shoot. The Giuseppe Zanotti shoes were her absolute favorite." (the eds at Harper's Bazaar editors say Boyle did a little Moonwalk in her pricey shoes, in honor of Michael Jackson.)

Hugh Stewart for Harper's Bazaar In the accompanying HB story, Boyle comes across as a woman who's been through a lot in the past few months, but might be better for it:

On why she checked herself into the Priory clinic:
"[I was] overwhelmed. It was a necessary thing. I'm glad I went because I feel really charged now and ready to go."

On fame: "It does feel unreal," she says. "It will take a bit of adjusting to because I've led a sheltered life, I know. I've got life experience, but mentally I have to adjust. But it's all good. All good."

On why she auditioned: "I did the audition for her [her mom] because she always wanted me to make something of my life, but I had to wait a bit because her death prevented me from singing for a while. I couldn't put my heart into it. So I was singing about wanting things to be like they were before she went. You know, it was a double-edged sword because it was about what I wanted to do, but it was also about wanting to turn back to when she was with me."

Famous people she'd like to meet: The unlikely combination of...Madonna and Donny Osmond. Of the former, she says, "I like that she is a diverse pop star and controversial." Of the squeaky-clean latter? "I bought all of the Osmonds' records and liked Donny's singing and his boyish charm."

For more on Susan Boyle, check out the new issue of Harper's Bazaar. There's a video too!