Cheryl Cole has already come up with a canny way for us to tell her apart from the waxwork figure she unveiled at Madame Tussauds today.

Check me out: Cheryl Cole was sporting what appeared to be a new tattoo on her left leg as she attended a photocall for her waxwork at Madame Tussauds

Inked: The singer showed a tantalising peek of the tail-like design, which was snaking around the top of her thigh, complementing her barbed wire etching, right

A spokesperson for the star confirmed to Mail Online that she had acquired the new ink, but refused to be drawn on further details about what the etching is and when Cheryl had it done.

She has five other known tattoos - her much-copied hand design, barbed wire around her right upper thigh, a large butterfly design on her back, as well as one on the left side of her bottom and 'Mrs C' on her neck - something she is said to be keen to remove.

While the wax figure is indeed the spitting image of the star physically, her hair and clothing style are a little out of date thanks to Cheryl's ever-changing style.

The 27-year-old says seeing her double up close is 'amazing and mindblowing,' and adds: 'I can’t explain how strange it is. It will take a little while to take in!'

Seeing double: Cheryl with her waxwork at Madame Tussauds in London today

Out of date: With the singer's ever-changing clothing style and hair, her waxwork looked more like Cheryl circa 2008

The £150,000 waxwork will take pride of place with other English celebrities in the A -list Party Area, but despite their close friendship, Cheryl has pleaded, 'keep me away from Simon!'

The aesthetic differences between wax Cheryl and the real deal were obvious as the X Factor judge, who teamed the short puffball skirt with a leather jacket and Brian Atwood heels, posed next to her double this morning.

The wax figure is modelled on the Girls Aloud star's appearance at the Fashion Relief show at London Fashion Week in 2008.

Wearing the same sequinned Jean Paul Gautier gown and tiara she donned to strut the runway at Naomi Campbell's charity event two years ago, the waxwork also sported Cheryl's highlighted hair from her days as Ashley Cole's wife.

Original: Cheryl's double was modelled on the Girls Aloud star's appearance at the Fashion Relief show during 2008 London Fashion Week

Of course, the pop star is constantly reinventing her style, and these days prefers a more fierce, chic style to the over-the-top frocks preferred by WAGs.

Cheryl has changed her hairstyle a number of times in the past year, including removing her extensions for a sleeker, short 'do and at the moment is sporting long, red hair.

She debuted the red hair on last weekend's live shows, and has revealed she used a £5.99 L'Oreal home-dye kit (specifically Casting Creme Gloss in shade #550 Mahogany) to create her new look.

Tattoo happy: Cheryl's hand ink is well-known, while she is said to be removing the 'Mrs C' etching on her neck

Six and counting: She also has a large butterfly design on her back and barbed wire on her right upper thigh...

Risqué... as well as one on the left side of her bottom

Despite the waxwork's seemingly out of date appearance, Mail Online has learned that it was Cheryl who chose the outfit.

A spokesperson for Madame Tussauds said the singer 'worked closely with stylists' throughout the four-month creation process.

Reports in June suggested that she was having trouble deciding on what outfit to donate, but the spokesperson said she wanted to pinpoint that particular moment in time, from the 2008 Fashion Relief show.

Heart to heart: Stills were released today of Cheryl appearing on Piers Morgan's Life Stories where she talks about her divorce from Ashley Cole and rise to fame