Name Cheryl Cole

Birth name Cheryl Ann Tweedy

Birthay 30 June 1983

Star sign Cancer

Birthplace Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

Marriages Ashley Cole, 15 July 2006

From talent show winner to global superstar, Cheryl Cole (née Tweedy) is one fifth of pop icons Girls Aloud.

Earmarked from an early age as a star of the future, Newcastle-born Cheryl won everything from children's modelling competitions to a place at London's Royal Ballet School.

While working as a waitress, aged 16, she auditioned for ITV talent show Popstars: The Rivals and beat off thousands of hopefuls to make it into Girls Aloud, along with Sarah Harding, Nadine Coyle, Kimberley Walsh and Nicola Roberts.

Despite clinching the 2002 Christmas No 1 spot with debut single Sound Of The Underground, Cheryl's joy was short-lived. She was involved in an altercation with a nightclub toilet attendant in January 2003 and was found guilty of assault.

Cheryl and professional footballer Ashley Cole tied the knot in a lavish wedding in July 2006 but were dogged by reports of Ashley's infidelity in 2008.

Cheryl was signed up as a judge on The X Factor, quickly becoming the nation's sweetheart.

Her look was copied by women up and down the country and she became the face of L'Oreal. 

But her marriage did not last. After further allegations about Ashley's behaviour, the couple divorced in 2010.

And after joining US X Factor with Simon Cowell in 2011, Cheryl was sacked.

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