Cheryl Ann Cole (née Tweedy; born 30 June 1983) is an English singer, songwriter, dancer, fashion designer, author, and television personality. Cole rose to fame in the 2000s after becoming a member of pop group Girls Aloud through ITV's reality television programme Popstars: The Rivals. They have become one of the few UK reality television acts to achieve continued success, amassing a fortune of £25 million by May 2009. With Girls Aloud, Cole has been successful in achieving a string of 20 consecutive UK top ten singles (including four number ones), two UK number one albums, and received nominations for four BRIT Awards, winning Best Single in 2009 for "The Promise".In 2008, Cole became a judge on the British reality television show The X Factor. Cole's first solo single, "Fight For This Love", was the fastest-selling single of 2009 when it entered the UK Singles Chart and Irish Singles Chart at number one. Her debut solo album 3 Words achieved similar success.
Cole has become recognized as a style icon, appearing on the cover of British Vogue and Elle. She is married to the Chelsea and England football player Ashley Cole.
Early life :Cole was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, England and lived on an estate which lies between the inner city districts of Heaton and Byker. Cole was raised on a "heroin-ridden" council estate. She is one of five children – one younger brother, Garry, and two half-brothers – Andrew and Joseph, and one half-sister Gillian.
Interested in dancing from an early age, Cole joined the Royal Ballet's summer school at the age of nine. In addition to dancing, Cole won many modelling competitions, including Boots Group's bonniest baby, Mothercare Happy Faces Portrait competition, Best Looking Girl of Newcastle, The Evening Chronicle "Little Miss and Mister", and "Most Attractive Girl" at the MetroCentre. She also appeared in two British Gas adverts, an SCS advert, and an Eldon Square Christmas advert with younger brother Garry. Cole also appeared in dance recitals on some television shows.
CareerGirls Aloud:
Cole auditioned for Popstars: The Rivals in 2002, singing S Club 7's "Have You Ever". Cole joined Nadine Coyle, Sarah Harding, Nicola Roberts, and Kimberley Walsh to comprise the new girl group Girls Aloud, formed through the show by a public vote on 30 November 2002.
The group's debut single "Sound of the Underground" peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart, becoming the 2002 Christmas number one. Girls Aloud hold the record for the shortest time between formation and reaching number one. Since 2003, Girls Aloud have released twenty additional singles, with all but one charting within the top ten. Their singles "I'll Stand by You", "Walk This Way", and "The Promise" have charted at number one. "The Promise" won Best British Single at the 2009 BRIT Awards. Their greatest hits album The Sound of Girls Aloud and 2008's Out of Control entered the UK Albums Chart at number one, with over one million copies of the former being sold.
In 2009, it was announced that Girls Aloud would partake in a year-long hiatus to pursue solo projects, but would reunite for a new studio album in 2010.
Solo music artist:
Cole's first foray into a solo music career occurred when she featured on will.i.am's "Heartbreaker". After taking streetdancing classes during the filming of Passions of Girls Aloud series, Cole was picked to appear in the song's music video. She was later asked to sing additional vocals on the track.
In April 2009, it was confirmed that Cole was working on solo material. Her debut album, 3 Words, was released in the UK on 26 October 2009. Cole reunited with will.i.am for a majority of the album, in addition to collaborating with Fraser T. Smith, Syience, Danish production team Soulshock & Karlin, singer-songwriter Taio Cruz, and Wayne Wilkins. The album spent two weeks at number one. On 6 November 2009, the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) certified the album Platinum denoting shipments of 300,000+ units. The first single from the album, "Fight for This Love", was written by Andre Merritt and produced by Steve Kipner and Wilkins. According to Cole it was released as the lead single because she "connected with the song so well". Following a performance on The X Factor live results show, "Fight for This Love" became the fastest-selling single of 2009 in the UK. It charted at number one on both the Irish and UK Singles Chart.
The X Factor and television:On 10 June 2008, it was announced Cole would replace Sharon Osbourne as a judge for the fifth series of The X Factor. Cole was given the girls category, subsequently ending up as the victorious judge when Alexandra Burke was crowned the fifth X Factor winner on 13 December 2008. Cole returned for the sixth series in 2009 and was given the boys category.
Cole will host Cheryl Cole's Night In, a one-off television programme for ITV1, on 19 December 2009. Alexandra Burke, Rihanna, Will Young, and will.i.am will make appearances. Cole told the press, "I couldn't be happier that ITV have asked me to round off the year with my own show, working with some of my favourite artists."
As a member of Girls Aloud, Cole has also appeared in the fly on the wall documentary Girls Aloud: Home Truths, the E4 documentary series Girls Aloud: Off the Record, an episode of Ghosthunting with..., and a one-off variety show entitled The Girls Aloud Party.
Books:
Cole contributed to the book Dreams that Glitter - Our Story, an autobiography with her Girls Aloud bandmates, in October 2008. The book was written with a ghostwriter and published by the Transworld imprint Bantam Press. The book featured unseen photographs and included insights into the members' personal lives, their success together, style tips, and "everything we've learned about life, love and music." The book was previewed and serialised by OK! prior to its release. Girls Aloud held a book signing at Waterstones in Piccadilly, London to promote the release. The title Dreams that Glitter comes from a line in the group's 2007 single "Call the Shots".
In April 2009, it was reported that Cole signed a £5million deal with HarperCollins to author five romantic novels for the company.
Personal life :On 11 January 2003, Cole was involved in an altercation with a nightclub toilet attendant, Sophie Amogbokpa, in "The Drink" nightclub in Guildford (later "Harper's" and now called "The Casino"). Cole was subsequently charged with racially aggravated assault (she had allegedly called Amogbokpa a "jigaboo") and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. During her trial, Cole claimed she acted in self-defence (claiming she had been punched first) and denied using racially abusive language. The jury found her guilty of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, but cleared her of racially aggravated assault. The judge sentenced her to 120 hours of community service and ordered her to pay her victim £500 in compensation, as well as £3,000 prosecution costs.
Cole began dating England and Chelsea footballer Ashley Cole in 2004, announcing their engagement after he proposed in Dubai in June 2005. The couple were married at a ceremony at Barnet, North West London on 15 July 2006. They signed an exclusive deal with OK!, reportedly worth £1 million, regarding the rights of the photographs. In January 2008, a hairdresser named Aimee Walton alleged that she had engaged in drunken extramarital sex with Ashley Cole in a kiss-and-tell interview with The Sun. Glamour model Brooke Healy claimed that she had spent the night and had sexual relations with Ashley Cole in December 2006. Promotion for Girls Aloud's "Can't Speak French" was put on hold, and Cole also stopped wearing her wedding ring. The couple, however, have since reconciled and stayed together. Following tabloid reports of marital issues in November 2009, Cole posted a picture with her wedding ring in plain sight on Twitter, with the accompanying message: '3 words. Diamonds Are Forever.'
Recognition:In 2006, Lily Allen included a song entitled "Cheryl Tweedy" as a b-side to her debut single, "Smile". Tweedy took the song as a compliment to her, but Allen later pointed out that it had been tongue in cheek.
Following her appearance on The X Factor, the media have referred to Cole as "the nation's new sweetheart". A pop art portrait depicting Cole as the Angel of the North was created by Lee Jones. He commented, "I see her as a new icon of popular culture for the 21st century, a beacon of light in these bleak times – a fine example of a northern lass making good."
Cole is widely regarded as a sex symbol. After reaching Number 7 in FHM's 100 Sexiest Women 2008 poll, Cole was voted "Sexiest Woman In the World" in the 2009 poll.
Cole has become recognized as a style icon, and revered as a fashionista. In February 2009, Cole appeared on the cover of British Vogue. Media coverage of her appearance boosted Vogue's circulation to 240,000 – its best ever February figure. Cole also graced the cover of Elle UK's November 2009 issue.
In Autumn 2009, Cole became the new face of L'Oréal.
Following her appearance on The X Factor, the media have referred to Cole as "the nation's new sweetheart". A pop art portrait depicting Cole as the Angel of the North was created by Lee Jones. He commented, "I see her as a new icon of popular culture for the 21st century, a beacon of light in these bleak times – a fine example of a northern lass making good."
Cole is widely regarded as a sex symbol. After reaching Number 7 in FHM's 100 Sexiest Women 2008 poll, Cole was voted "Sexiest Woman In the World" in the 2009 poll.
Cole has become recognized as a style icon, and revered as a fashionista. In February 2009, Cole appeared on the cover of British Vogue. Media coverage of her appearance boosted Vogue's circulation to 240,000 – its best ever February figure. Cole also graced the cover of Elle UK's November 2009 issue.
In Autumn 2009, Cole became the new face of L'Oréal.
