Born June 30, 1983 in Newcastle, England, Cheryl Ann Cole is an English pop and R&B recording artist, songwriter, dancer, actress and model.  She rose to fame in late 2002 when she auditioned for the reality television show Popstars: The Rivals on ITV.  The programme announced that Cole had won a place as a member of the girl group, Girls Aloud.  Cole has been part of the group’ twenty consecutive top-ten singles (including four number one singles) in the UK and five platinum albums (two of which went to number one) and earned five BRIT Award nominations from 2005 to 2010.

Cheryl grew up on council estates in the districts of Walker and Heaton.  She is the fourth of five children of Joan Callaghan, and the eldest child of Gary Tweedy.  Cole’s parents never married each other; they separated when she was 11.  She has a brother, Garry (born 1987, Newcastle) and three elder maternal half-siblings: Joseph, Gillian and Andrew.  As a small child in the late 1980s, she appeared in a television advert for British Gas.

Starting out as a young aspiring dancer, Cheryl joined the Royal Ballet summer school aged nine, as well as appearing in a number of TV commercials.  She also pursued career on the runway, winning many competitions including Boots Group’s bonniest baby, Mothercare  Happy Faces Portrait competition, Best Looking Girl in Newcastle, The Evening Chronicle, “Little Miss and Mister,” and “Most Attractive Girl” at the MetroCentre.

She also appeared in two British Gas adverts, an SCS advert, and an Eldon Square Christmas advert with younger brother Garry as well as appearing in dance recitals on some television shows.  She attended Walker Comprehensive School in Newcastle, and left at 16 with few qualifications.  During her time there, she was suspended twice: once for fighting with another pupil and again for swearing on a bus.  After school, she took a job as a waitress in a restaurant.  Back in 2003, Cheryl was convicted of assaulting a cloakroom attendant.

In 2009, Girls Aloud won “Best Single” with their song “The Promise”. In 2009, Girls Aloud announced their musical hiatus and Cole went on to release two solo albums, which both went to number one in the UK: 3 Words (2009) and Messy Little Raindrops (2010).  She achieved a number of hits, including two number one singles: “Fight for This Love” and “Promise This”.

Cole became a judge on The X Factor in 2008.  While on the show, Cole became the winning judge twice out of the three series she judged on, with Alexandra Burke and Joe McElderry winning respectively.  It was announced that Cole would leave the UK version of The X Factor for the American version of the show.  However, just weeks into filming the auditions, it was reported that Cole had been sacked from the show with it being confirmed by Fox, Freemantle North America and Syco TV on 6 June.  Mike Darnell, president of Alternative Entertainment for the Fox Broadcasting Company, confirmed Cheryl Cole left USA X Factor.

Cole has become a recognized and photographed style icon; referred to as a fashionista by the press.  She has been photographed for the covers of British Vogue, Elle and Harper’s Bazaar, while also becoming the new face of cosmetic company L’Oréal.  Cole was married to England footballer Ashley Cole from July 2006 until September 2010, when she divorced him.

In May 2010, Cole filed for divorce at London’s High Court citing “unreasonable behaviour” of estranged husband Ashley as the reason for their break-up.  In July 2010, Cole was admitted to hospital with suspected acute malaria.  This was shortly after a visit to Tanzania, where it is believed she may have contracted the disease.  Cheryl was forced to pull out of the X Factor auditioning process, but will return to our screens for the live shows.

Cheryl Cole Photo Gallery

The stunning Cheryl Cole is December’s hot new cover girl for InStyle magazine UK.  Bringing her beauty to the forefront, the 28-year-old looks perfect in Prada for the Nino Munoz shoot.  In a stylish multi-shot spread for the magazine, Cole opted for black, white and camel toned outfits.  As for the exclusive interview, the popstar revealed that Kim Kardashian is her style icon, Kate Middleton has “amazing” hair and that she does watch “The X Factor” despite being dumped as a judge at the very last minute.

Speaking in the new issue of InStyle magazine, which goes on sale on Thursday, the Girls Aloud singer also revealed she had once enjoyed a drink with Amy Winehouse, who died in July.  She admitted that she is awful at drinking but said that she like a drink if it is a night out.  Miss Cole also told of her fascination with tattoos saying for her it is art.  She has at least seven tattoos.  The star also revealed she would love to get a full back tattoo, saying she finds the designs “addictive”.  The songstress is said to be currently working on her US debut album with heavy-hitters like Will I. Am and Taio Cruz.

The singer also shared her battle with Malaria that almost killed her life.  Doctors reportedly ordered Cheryl Cole to stop exercising and put on weight after the health scare.  The svelte star who was given just 24 hours to live at one point after contracting malaria last year had no choice but to obey them to beat the illness.  She said that she just ate everything.  The 28-year-old star revealed how being ill had changed her priorities saying that it opened her eyes to health and things she has not focused on before.  According to her, it is now less about work, work, work and more about making time to chill and be with her friends and family.

Miss Cole, who caught malaria while on holiday in Tanzania with American dancer Derek Hough in June 2010, is currently single after reconciliation with her former husband, footballer Ashley Cole, 30, petered out.  After her recovery from the disease, she went to America as one of the judges on The X Factor U.S.A.  At the press launch, she showed off her fuller figure, but was then fired after just four days of filming on the show and replaced by Nicole Scherzinger.

She also had a cameo role in the film What To Expect When You’re Expecting with Cameron Diaz and Jennifer Lopez.  Cheryl Cole said she is “too homely” to feel completely comfortable in Los Angeles, where she has been spending much of her time.  According to her she is at her happiest in her PJ’s and slippers with a cup of tea.  Despite winning plaudits for her style, she said she finds it hard to keep up the glamour.  She said that whenever her friends and family ask her what she wants for Christmas, it is always a fluffy pair of pyjamas.  She admitted that when she have the most beautiful pair of heels on, she is always dying to take them off.