Cheryl Cole Bio

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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 has become recognized as a style icon, appearing on the cover of British Vogue. She is married to the Chelsea and England football player Ashley Cole. Cole will release her debut solo album Three Words on 26 October 2009.

Cheryl Cole: Early life

Cole was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, England and lived in an inner city district called Heaton. 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.

Cheryl Cole: Career

Cheryl Cole - Girls 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.

Cheryl Cole - 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. The song peaked at number four on the UK Singles Chart.

In April 2009, it was confirmed that Cole was working on solo material. Her debut album, Three Words, is scheduled for release in the UK on October 26, 2009. Cole has reunited with will.i.am and Girls Aloud producers Xenomania, in addition to collaborating with Bloodshy & Avant, Soulshock & Karlin and Taio Cruz. Cruz said he has written an "absolute club banger" for the album. The first single from the album is called "Fight for This Love" and was written by Steve Kipner, Andre Merritt and Wayne Wilkins. The album's cover has been photographed by the prestigious fashion photographer Nick Knight.

Cheryl Cole - The X Factor

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.

Cheryl Cole: 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 (now called "Harper's"). 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.

In July 2006, she married footballer Ashley Cole in Barnet, North West London.

Cheryl Cole: 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."

After reaching #7 in FHM's 100 Sexiest Women 2008 poll, Cole was voted "Sexiest Woman In the World" in the 2009 poll.

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.

Cheryl Cole: Discography

Cheryl Cole - Albums

Cheryl Cole - Singles

Cheryl Cole - Featured Singles

Cheryl Cole: Awards

Cheryl Cole: References

Cheryl Cole: External links

• Cheryl Cole official site
• Girls Aloud official site
• Cheryl Cole at the Internet Movie Database