Nicola Roberts
Nicola Roberts | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 5, 1985 Stamford, Lincolnshire, England |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter |
| Years active | 2002–present |
| Known for | Member of Girls Aloud, solo album Cinderella's Eyes, winner of The Masked Singer UK (2020) |
Nicola Maria Roberts (born 5 October 1985) is a British vocalist and songwriter. In 2002, she became a member of Girls Aloud, a pop girl group created through ITV's reality competition Popstars: The Rivals. The ensemble enjoyed remarkable commercial achievements, securing 20 consecutive UK top ten singles—including four chart-toppers—two albums that reached number one in the UK, five studio albums consecutively certified platinum, and receiving five BRIT Awards nominations, ultimately winning Best Single in 2009 for "The Promise".
Roberts launched her solo career with the album Cinderella's Eyes in 2011, which attained a peak position of number 17 on the UK Albums Chart. Its lead track, "Beat of My Drum", climbed to number 27 on the UK Singles Chart. Subsequent singles "Lucky Day" and "Yo-Yo" were met with favorable reviews from critics.
In February 2020, Roberts emerged victorious in the inaugural season of ITV's The Masked Singer UK performing as Queen Bee. She later appeared as a guest judge during the finale of the second series.
Early life
Born in Stamford, Lincolnshire, Roberts was raised by a teenage mother who was 17 at the time. Her father initially served in the RAF before transitioning to work at Ford Motor Company to help support the household; meanwhile, her mother pursued a career as a photographer. Roberts spent her childhood in Runcorn, Cheshire, where she attended St Chad's High School.
Although lively and outgoing within her family—earning the nickname 'Cilla' after singer Cilla Black—Roberts was noticeably shy at school. Academically proficient with nine GCSEs, she did not enjoy school life and instead concentrated early on building a music career. She collaborated on demo recordings with various girl groups and, encouraged by her family, began auditioning at a young age. Prior to joining Girls Aloud, she performed locally with a girl band named The 5 Musketeers.
2002: Popstars: The Rivals
During her teenage years, Roberts auditioned for the reality television series Popstars: The Rivals, which took place in Kensington, London. She admitted to having "limited life experience" at that stage. While waiting during auditions, she sat beside Kimberley Walsh, who also advanced to join the final girl group; they rehearsed together before their individual auditions. Although initially confident, Roberts described feeling "terrified" during her audition until judge Geri Halliwell commended her unique style and performance. Unlike many other contestants, Roberts had less formal vocal training and wore simpler outfits due to financial constraints.
Roberts made it into the final 15 but noticed that the show increasingly prioritized personality over singing ability. Her reserved demeanor contrasted with more extroverted participants, and a producer informed her mother that Roberts would not win because she lacked an "outrageous" persona. After being eliminated following the selection of the final ten members, she was reinstated as a wild-card entrant when Nicola Ward withdrew. Despite reservations from judge Louis Walsh, who was overruled by Geri Halliwell and Pete Waterman, Roberts re-entered the competition. She progressed to the final round performing "I'm So Excited" by the Pointer Sisters, ultimately becoming the second contestant chosen for the group after Cheryl Tweedy. This marked their introduction to manager John McMahon, who played a significant role in their career.
Looking back on her journey, Roberts recalled praying before each performance despite feeling confident about her vocal skills. She highlighted that she was never placed in the bottom two and consistently ranked among the top two or three contestants in audience voting, demonstrating strong public support despite initial skepticism from some judges.
2002–2009: Girls Aloud
Formed through the television series Popstars: The Rivals, Girls Aloud quickly recorded their debut single and accompanying music video amid intense media attention, largely propelled by McMahon’s insistence on promoting "Sound of the Underground". The group was in direct competition with One True Voice to achieve higher sales with their initial singles, ultimately resulting in Girls Aloud reaching the top position on the UK Singles Chart and securing a contract with Polydor Records. Soon after, McMahon’s tragic death in a car accident profoundly impacted Roberts during a transitional phase in her life, as she moved in with fellow member Cheryl Tweedy. At the same time, Roberts endured negative media scrutiny regarding her public image, which compounded her personal challenges.
Girls Aloud enjoyed remarkable commercial achievements, earning two records in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the "Most Successful Reality Television Group" and for achieving the "Most Consecutive Top Ten Entries in the UK by a female group". The band garnered five BRIT Award nominations and won Best British Single in 2009 for "The Promise". Their discography includes four UK number one singles alongside twenty consecutive top-ten hits. Their first album, Sound of the Underground, reached number two on the charts and received Platinum certification. Subsequent releases featured the double Platinum-certified What Will the Neighbours Say? (peaking at number six), the critically acclaimed but lower-charting Chemistry, Platinum-certified Tangled Up which peaked at number four, and their inaugural UK number one studio album, Out of Control. After completing their extensive Out of Control Tour in 2009, the group decided to take a hiatus as members embarked on individual solo ventures.
2010–2013: Cinderella's Eyes, Girls Aloud reunion and other ventures
Roberts demonstrated a strong desire to write and record her own songs, collaborating with producers including Dragonette, Diplo, and Joseph Mount. Following a year dedicated to recording, she unveiled her debut solo album, Cinderella's Eyes. The lead single, "Beat of My Drum", released with limited promotional efforts, reached number 27 on UK charts but was met with critical acclaim. Its successor, "Lucky Day", also received favorable reviews despite peaking only at number 40.
The album was released on 23 September 2011 and described by Roberts as an "electronically led" project inspired by her experiences with Girls Aloud. Her intention was to produce an adventurous record without relying on assured commercial success. Critics widely praised the album; reviewers from publications such as the Financial Times, The Daily Telegraph, NME, and The Independent regarded it as the finest solo effort from any Girls Aloud member. Commercially, it achieved a peak position of number 17 on the UK Albums Chart, reached number 13 in digital rankings, climbed to number 21 in Scotland, and attained number 48 in Ireland. In January 2012, Roberts released "Yo-Yo" as the third single from the album, which highlighted her flair for pop music.
In January 2012, Roberts took on dual roles as co-host and executive producer for Rihanna’s fashion talent competition show Styled To Rock aired on Sky Living HD, aimed at uncovering emerging designer talent.
Girls Aloud announced plans for a reunion to mark their tenth anniversary with performances scheduled for early 2013. By March 2012, they had commenced work on new material. During this period, Roberts co-wrote "Going Nowhere" for girl group Little Mix’s debut album DNA. In December 2013, she was honored with a disc award recognizing her role in contributing to over 700,000 global sales of the album.
The official reunion announcement came in November 2012 to coincide with their tenth anniversary and included releasing a charity single for Children in Need. On 18 November 2012, they issued "Something New", which peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart. The band also released their second greatest hits collection titled Ten on 26 November 2012; its second single "Beautiful Cause You Love Me" followed shortly after in December. A documentary special called 10 Years of Girls Aloud was broadcast on ITV1 that same month. Following their Ten - The Hits Tour 2013, Girls Aloud announced their disbandment.
2013–present: Anticipated second studio album, The Masked Singer and City of Angels
Roberts initiated work on her sophomore album in October 2011. By January 2012, she expressed hesitation regarding its release, citing timing as a key factor. She penned four tracks for Cheryl's fourth album, Only Human: "It's About Time," "Throwback," "Goodbye Means Hello," and "Yellow Love." Additionally, Roberts contributed "On the Metro" to Girls Aloud's compilation album Ten and wrote two songs, "See Me Now" and "They Just Don't Know You," for Little Mix's second studio effort, Salute.
In January 2014, producer Fred Ball confirmed his collaboration with Roberts on a forthcoming album. During this period, she continued songwriting for Cheryl's Only Human, released the same year, and later co-wrote Cheryl's songs "Love Made Me Do It" and "Let You" in 2018.
Roberts was cast in December 2019 to star as Avril/Mallory in the West End production of City of Angels, beginning March 2020. That year also saw her win ITV’s The Masked Singer under the persona Queen Bee. On 15 August 2020, she delivered a rendition of "The Captive's Hymn" at the VJ Day concert held at Horse Guards Parade in London.
On 4 June 2022, Roberts joined Mica Paris and Ruby Turner to perform "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" during the Platinum Party at the Palace, celebrating Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee.
In May and June 2024, Roberts reunited with her Girls Aloud colleagues for an arena tour titled The Girls Aloud Show as a tribute to their late bandmate Sarah Harding.
Personal life
Despite achieving success with Girls Aloud, Roberts found it challenging to juggle her professional commitments alongside family responsibilities. After her parents divorced and she endured difficulties with her boyfriend, she experienced bouts of depression. The intensity of her schedule placed strain on family ties, leading her to frequently return to her hometown of Runcorn, Cheshire. This tension caused her to reevaluate her career choices even though she maintained respect for the music industry.
Roberts also managed a chronic health condition. Life on tour made it difficult to avoid relying on convenience foods, which aggravated her symptoms, resulting in fatigue and illness that affected her live shows. During Girls Aloud’s Tangled Up Tour, she suffered additional emotional distress when her dog Elvis passed away while she was touring.
Stalker
From 2012 until 2017, Roberts was subjected to over 3,000 messages from a former partner via Twitter and Instagram, some containing violent threats. In May 2017, he admitted guilt for stalking and causing distress, receiving a suspended sentence of 15 months alongside a lifetime restraining order preventing contact with Roberts or her family. Despite this legal protection, he breached the restraining order within months. The Crown Prosecution Service issued an apology in 2018 for its failure to prosecute him adequately.
Business
In 2007, Roberts introduced a limited-edition makeup range named Dainty Doll aimed specifically at consumers with fair skin tones.
Anti-tanning
Early in her career, Roberts observed peers adopting increasingly glamorous styles and began using artificial tanning products despite having naturally pale skin—a choice that led to severe sunburns and persistent pain. During the filming of Girls Aloud’s "Love Machine," she endured burns serious enough to consider hospital care. Her interest in natural skincare developed after traveling to Taiwan for the show Passions, inspiring her to create the Dainty Doll makeup line. Roberts later produced and featured in the BBC Three documentary Nicola Roberts: The Truth About Tanning, which highlighted the risks associated with excessive tanning and tanning bed use. Motivated by encounters with families impacted by melanoma, she campaigned against underage use of tanning beds and collaborated with Welsh Assembly member Julie Morgan to support related legislation. At the bill’s introduction, Roberts emphasized the damaging perception among young girls that equates beauty with having tanned skin.
Anti-bullying
Following her induction into Girls Aloud, Roberts endured bullying, being labeled "the unattractive one," which caused significant emotional turmoil and led to an identity struggle that contributed to her turning to alcohol. Once proud of her distinctive red hair, she began to perceive it negatively as a result of severe public criticism. She condemned the anonymity of online platforms for facilitating such harassment but acknowledged that public attitudes have gradually improved. In reaction to these experiences, she composed "Sticks + Stones" on her debut album Cinderella's Eyes, tackling bullying through broad themes rather than personal indulgence. Roberts elaborated on the song’s intent during interviews on BBC Breakfast and BBC News, highlighting how social media exacerbates bullying, particularly among students. She voiced her dissatisfaction with society’s obsession with appearances and called for enhanced anti-bullying initiatives, even collaborating directly with Education Secretary Michael Gove to advocate for stronger support frameworks within schools.
Discography
- Cinderella's Eyes (2011)
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Popstars: The Rivals | Contestant and winner |
| 2005 | Girls Aloud: Home Truths | |
| 2006 | Girls Aloud: Off the Record | |
| 2007 | St Trinian's | Cameo appearance |
| The Sunday Night Project | Presenter | |
| 2008 | The Passions of Girls Aloud | |
| Britannia High | Cameo role | |
| The Girls Aloud Party | Presenter and performer | |
| 2009 | Nicola Roberts: The Truth About Tanning | Presenter |
| 2010 | Britain's Next Top Model | Guest judge |
| 2012 | Girls Aloud: Ten Years at the Top | |
| Styled to Rock | Mentor and judge | |
| 2013 | Ten: The Hits Tour | |
| 2020 | Got What It Takes? | Guest judge |
| VJ Day 75: The Nation's Tribute | Herself | |
| 2020–2022 | The Masked Singer | 2020: Winner as Queen Bee 2021: Guest panelist (final episode) 2022: Guest performer as Queen Bee alongside Robobunny |
| 2022 | Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special | Herself |