Solange Knowles has defended her superstar sister Beyonce, insisting their differences shouldn't prompt fans to pick sides between the pair.

The singer has hit out at the press since embarking on her own music career, admitting relentless comparisons to her older sister have made it difficult to step out of the Crazy In Love star's shadow.

She says, "There are a lot of things that people don't realise about the differences between Beyonce and me. Our age difference, for one. Sure, we're tight now, but we weren't as close when we were kids because Beyonce is five years older... I was barely aware of what she was doing, so it's not like I grew up saying, 'I want to do what Beyonce does and be just like her!' It wasn't a Disney story."

But Solange insists despite their differences the pair have always supported each other's artistic endeavours.

She continues, "Even though we're very different people, I do not want to be cast as 'the anti-Beyonce'. They call me that on the internet. It bothers me to think that people who don't like her want to like me - for that reason alone. These people don't even know her."