PICTURES Jade Goody - an extraordinary life

Jade Goody May 2002

Caught shoplifting in a department store as a teenager, Jade Goody escapes a prison sentence and promises not to steal again. She trains as a dental nurse and at the age of 21, quits her job to appear as a contestant in the third series of Channel 4 reality show Big Brother. Her audition video shows her party trick - climbing through an elastic band.'I had to find an escape from my mum,' says Jade, 'I also had to get away from my boyfriend...he was heavily into coke and liked to beat me in his spare time.'

VIDEO Special: We remember Jade Goody...