In her first interview since the start of her relationship with Nicolas Sarkozy, Carla Bruni has opened up about their whirlwind romance and her new status as First Lady of France with French news magazine L'Express.

"They tell me that it all was too rapid. That's not true between Nicolas and me. It didn't happen rapidly. It was immediate," Bruni said, making a confusing distinction.

While the couple appeared to get married a lot faster than it takes certain Britney Spears nude photos to sell, "for us, it even seemed slow," said Bruni. "I know you don't get married in an instant and that even more, we were in the spotlight. But lovers, you know, have their own sense of time."

We're sure Casey Aldrige and Jamie Lynn Spears can relate.

Hot First Lady alert! In her former life, Carla Bruni posed like this.

Overall, Bruni does wish to make one thing clear regarding her notoriety, saying: "I'm 40 years old, I am normal, serious, conscientious, simple, even if I come from a privileged background.

I'm honest. I'm the mother of a small boy, I write songs and I've been married to your President for two weeks. ... I'm proud and happy to be the first lady of France. I'll do my best."