Infamous Geordie lass, Cheryl, rose to fame in 2000 when she auditioned for popular TV show Popstars: The Rivals. Fast forward just 15 years and the child who grew up on a council estate in Newcastle is literally demanding six figure sums and has just been announced as the only female judge on this year’s X Factor, a first for the UK judging panel.
From Rags to Riches
Previous to her rising stardom Cheryl, formally know as Tweedy, was born 30th June 1983 in Newcastle upon Tyne and grew up on council estates in Walker and Heaton. Being one of five children, she was always fighting for the attention of mum Joanne and father Gary.
Although her parents were together for more than ten years they decided to split when Cheryl was just eleven years old causing heartbreak for the Fight For This Love singer.
Cheryl became interested in dancing from an early age; she began sequence dancing at the age of four before joining The Royal Ballet‘s summer school at the age of nine.
After being recognised for her dancing ability, she occasionally appeared doing dance recitals on different television shows in the UK, such as Gimme 5, in 1993.
Not only did her dancing talents allow her to be acknowledged, She also won recognition in several modeling competitions, including the titles of Boots Group‘s “bonniest baby”, Mothercare’s “Happy Faces Portrait” competition, “Best Looking Girl of Newcastle”, The Evening Chronicle‘s “Little Miss and Mister”, and “Most Attractive Girl” at the Metro Centre. She made appearances in adverts for companies such as; British Gas, an SCS Furniture store advert, and an Eldon Square Christmas advert with her younger brother.
Although her media career seemed to be taking a turn for the better, it seemed to be taking a toll on her school life. She attended Walker Comprehensive School in Newcastle between September 1994 and July 1999, and left at 16 with little qualifications.
Just a year after leaving school Cheryl bagged herself a spot on Popstars and became part of the sensational new band Girls Aloud.
Cheryl joined the gorgeous line-up consisting of bandmates: Nadine Coyle, Sarah Harding, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh. Their debut single Sound Of the Underground was voted Christmas number one in 2002 and earnt them their first UK number one.
The girl success is evident, as their songs I’ll Stand by You, Walk This Way and The Promise, have all charted at number one. Not only did their singles do well but also two of their albums have reached the top of the UK Albums Chart: their greatest hits album The Sound of Girls Aloud and 2008’s Out of Control, both immediately became number and sold over one million copies.
Not only was their talents acknowledged by the UK music charts, they were also nominated for five Brit Awards, winning Best Single in 2009 for The Promise. They also had seven certified albums and won the Guinness Book of Record Award for most successful reality TV group.
Unfortunately for the group, rifts started to form between members and Cheryl announced in a statement that it was the right time for the girls to split after their successful ten years together.
GOING SOLO
Before the girls split, Cheryl, then known as Cheryl Cole due to her relationship with Chelsea FC football player Ashley Cole, was asked to become a judge on ITV’s The X Factor.
Knowing that it was an opportunity that couldn’t be missed, she was quick to say yes and was given the girls category where she went on to win with the amazing Alexandra Burke.
Luck seemed to be in Cheryl’s favour when she returned to Series Six and bagged her second consecutive win with Joe McElderry.
It wasn’t until after 2008 when Cheryl was asked to be part of infamous black-eyed peas artist Will.I.Am’s single Heartbreaker that she started off on her solo career.
Unfortunately in July 2009, Girls Aloud released a statement announcing that they was taking a year break to focus on their solo careers, but claimed they would create a reunion album in 2010.
Having split from the girl band Cheryl released her debut solo album 3 Words. Cheryl’s success was unstoppable. The album went platinum in November 2009 and after performing the single Fight for the Love’ on the X Factor it became the fourth best selling single of 2009. Not only this, the single became certified silver in the UK and her third single in the album Parachute was certified gold.
It is no wonder that ITV were quick to give Cheryl a one-off TV programme. The show called Cheryl Cole’s Night In was hosted by popular television presenter Holly Willoughby and featured music and interviews with Cheryl as well as other artist and friends of Cheryl including Alexandra Burke Rhianna, Will Young, Snow Patrol and Will.i.am.
Similar to most of Cheryl’s ventures the TV programme was a success and gained over 5 million viewers in its first airing.
Since then Cheryl has released three more studio albums; Messy Little Raindrops, which went platinum in 2010, and A Milllion Lights which was released in 2012 and doubled the number of pre orders than Justin Beiber (the most popular artist of the time) and Only Human, which featured, hit single I Don’t Care.
THE X FACTOR
Although the X Factor was successful for Cheryl after her two initial consecutive wins with Alexandra Burke and Joe McElderry, Cheryl faced scrutiny when she returned for Series Seven after she rejected popular contestant Gamu Nhengu to go through to the live shows in favour of Cher Lloyd and Katie Waissel, even though both failed their performances at judges’ houses. She then received more criticism after she refused to vote for an act in the fifth week, which resulted in claims that the show was fixed.
Although her contestant Rebecca Ferguson lost out to rival judge Danni Minogues Matt Cardle, Cheryl was offered the opportunity by Simon Cowell to work along the side of himself, LA Reid and Paula Abdul to work on the X Factor US. Unfortunately for Cheryl, only after 3 weeks of the show it was announced that she would not be working on the show amid claims from Simon Cowell was that she was better suited for the UK version, she lost her place on the panel to N-Dubz performer Tulisa Constalvos.
Cheryl claimed that she had quit the US show and also snubbed the decision to return to the UK version of the show of her own accord. In December 2012, she sued the American producers of The X Factor for £1.4 million She received £1.1 million for the first season, and then sued for £1.25 million for the second season, plus additional damages.
In 2014 Cheryl shocked the world when she signed a £1.5 million contract to return as a judge on the UK X Factor alongside Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh and Mel B. This year it is tipped that Cheryl will be the only female judge on the panel. Long timer panelist Louis Walsh is being replaced by Radio 1 DJ Nick Grimshaw and former Spice Girl Mel B has been axed.
PERSONAL LIFE
As well as being a well-known model, singer and dancer Cheryl also earned a WAG status in 2004 when she began dating Chelsea football player Ashley Cole. After only a year of dating they were engaged in Dubai in June 2005.
On 15th July 2006 they were married in a huge ceremony in North West London. It was rumored that the deal that they signed with OK Magazine regarding sales of the wedding photos was worth £1 million.
Cheryl’s relationship with the slimy football star was a rocky one amid claims that he cheated on regular occasions with lap dancers, girls in nightclubs and X-rated video stars.
In 2010 Cheryl made the decision to divorce Ashley after explicit photos of him appeared on a topless website. Although it was revealed that Cheryl and Ashley reunited on several occasions after their split, she was keen to move on and had relationships with several other men such as her backing dancer Tre Holloway.
It was then revealed in July 2014 that Cheryl married her partner of 3 months Jean- Bernard Fernandez Versini in a secret marriage—Cheryl announced she was a newly wed by posting a photo of her ring to her 1.4 million Instagram followers.
It is clear that Cheryl is a woman of many talents; she has excelled herself in all paths of her career and is a clear example of a strong, independent woman.
CHERYL’S RISE TO FAME
1983- Born in Nottingham-on-Trent
1992- joined the Royal Ballet Summer School, aged 9
2000- Won reality TV show Popstars and joined Girls Aloud
2002- Won Christmas No.1 for Sound of the Underground
2003- Charged for assault after a nightclub altercation with a toilet attendant
2004- Began relationship with Chelsea football player Ashley Cole
2005- Engaged to Ashley Cole
2006- Married Ashley Cole in huge white wedding
2008- Asked to become a judge on UK X factor
2009- Won Guinness World Book of Records most successful reality TV group with Girls Aloud
2009- Released her first solo album
2010- Second solo album went platinum
2010- Split with long-tern partner Ashley Cole amid cheating claims
2012- Joined and quit US X Factor after 3 weeks
2014- Signed £1.5 million contract to return to UK X Factor
2014- Released fourth studio album
2014- Secret marriage with Jean Bernard Fernandez Versini
