Cheryl: My Story (45 page)

This one was taken at home (check out the background sheet!) to be sent off to various modelling agencies I was on the books of.

I loved ballroom dancing as much as ballet for a few years. Here I’m with a girl called Amy from my dance school, smiling after we won a competition.

This is me aged eight with James Richardson, my ballroom dancing partner, after winning the Northern Counties Championship.

I took part in lots of fashion shows throughout my childhood, and this is me after winning first prize in one.

The local press always supported me. This is an article about me performing on the same bill as Ultimate Kaos, a popular boy band back then. I was thirteen.

This is me backstage with Haydon from Ultimate Kaos.

Here I am at the Royal Ballet summer school, held at White Lodge in Richmond. I’m ten, and not really enjoying myself.

Once I was well established as a performer at Metroland I started going to London to record music. Here I’m fifteen, at the home of Ricky, a musician friend.

I was a big fan of Destiny’s Child, and I wanted to be like Beyoncé. This was my attempt to try to look like her by having my hair bleached blonde.

My nephew Warren was born in 2000, when I was sixteen. I was with my sister Gillian when she gave birth, and here I am with Warren aged two.

This is one of my first ‘artist’ cards I had made for me when I was trying to make it as a singer.

Me and Dad. He could not have been prouder when I won a place on the TV show
Popstars: The Rivals.

Coming close to being eliminated after singing Shania Twain’s ‘You’re Still the One’ during week two of the live shows. I was nineteen at the time.