Sarah Nicole Harding (born 17 November 1981, in Ascot) is an English singer in the girl group Girls Aloud, and model. Harding grew up as a Catholic in Poynton, Stockport, Greater Manchester, England, and is the oldest member of Girls Aloud.

Early career

Harding attended Hazel Grove High School and Stockport College, she worked as part of the promotions team for 2 nightclubs in The Grand Central Leisure Park in Stockport. Harding was also a regular singer at Karaoke nights in the Whistling Jig, Puss and Boots pub as well as many others and did some vocals for Project G on some unreleased tracks.[citation needed] Project G was a band for which Harding provided backing vocals, long before Girls Aloud came along. She did some photoshoots for promotion but no album, nor known singles exist. Some tracks that have leaked onto the internet include "Searching" and "Don't Wanna Be Alone". Whilst working as a waitress and barmaid in Manchester, she entered the UK talent-search show Popstars: The Rivals.

Harding also entered FHM's High Street Honeys, the magazine's national beauty contest, and her pictures appeared in the first Top 100, but she later withdrew, upon achieving success on Popstars. A year later, she was voted one of the Top 30 sexiest women in the world, by readers of the same magazine. In 2005, she entered the same Top 10 at Number 8, slipping to Number 15 in 2006, and to Number 17 in 2007.

Girls Aloud

In the finale of the "Popstars" show, she was picked as the final member of the five-piece group, Girls Aloud, that formed the female half of the eponymous 'rivals'. She defeated Javine Hylton for the final place, in a result that provoked a measure of surprise and controversy.

As a member of Girls Aloud, Harding has taken part in many events and TV shows, such as the August 25, 2006 episode of The Friday Night Project. Harding co-hosted the show with Cheryl Cole and Kimberley Walsh. During her time with the group she has co-written numerous songs, including "Hear Me Out", which appeared on the group's second album What Will The Neighbours Say?. She's also credited as one of the writers of "Why Do It?", the b-side for "I Think We're Alone Now" single.

She co-wrote two songs since in the group:

* Hear Me Out [What Will The Neighbours Say?]
* Why Do It? [b-side to I Think We're Alone Now]

Outside of Girls Aloud, Harding signed a £100,000 deal to model Ultimo lingerie, following the likes of Penny Lancaster, Rachel Hunter and Helena Christensen. Reports claim that Harding was chosen to model the underwear range after she was seen wearing a bikini on holiday in the papers.

Harding has filmed a cameo appearance in a British independent film Bad Day, due for release in 2007. She plays a brunette girl called Jade Jennings who sits in the back of a cab and swears down the phone. The film also stars Donna Air and Claire Goose.

Harding has recently been seen as the face of Coke Zero, upon its launch in Ireland. She will also advertise and promote Sunsilk with the rest of Girls Aloud.

Personal life

Harding once blagged a first-class flight to Dubai with good friend Danielle Lloyd. They later fell out when Lloyd became more serious with her boyfriend Teddy Sheringham. Harding stated this in an interview with OK! magazine saying that she and Lloyd "drifted apart."

Harding's love-life has been in constant speculation since becoming famous. She met her ex-boyfriend Mikey Green on Popstars: The Rivals, who went on to become a member of the boyband Phixx. After going out for two years, they split up, got back together, and then broke up again. She was also linked to Liverpool F.C. footballer John Arne Riise[4] and the actor Stephen Dorff, a rumour denied by Harding during a short interview on BBC Radio 1 with JK & Joel on July 13, 2006. From late 2006 to mid-2007, Sarah was in a relationship with Daily Star gossip columnist Joe Mott.[5] She is now dating Tom Crane, whom she met while he was DJ'ing at Mahiki Nightclub in London. He also owns a souvenir stand at Covent Garden market.

On September 10, 2005, Harding was one of the celebrity bridesmaids for Jordan's wedding to Peter Andre in Berkshire.

Harding is also friends with Mani from Primal Scream and Oasis singer Liam Gallagher. In the Oasis rockumentary "Lord Don't Slow Me Down" Gallagher invites Girls Aloud to a concert during an Oasis photoshoot.