Music

Ever wondered what those girl band members from the 90s and 00s are up to now? Well, we found out...

You'd totally forgotten about them, until now.

14 September 2020

Image may contain Heidi Range Rosa Isabel Mutya Buena Human Person Keisha Buchanan Clothing Apparel and Evening Dress

We gathered every penny of our pocket money to buy their singles and we yearned for their low-slung jeans, crop tops and impractically big hoop earrings, but what are our favourite girl band members from the 90s and 00s up to now?

Some have gone on to achieve great things, some slipped into the musical abyss after that top 100-scratching solo single and some spent the rest of their days appearing on TV shows with the word 'celebrity' prefixed.

Remember Nicola Roberts from Girls Aloud? Did you know that, since her music days, she's been pivotal in raising awareness of the dangers of tanning beds? In fact, her documentary Nicola Roberts: The Truth About Tanning and her political address led to the bill which now bans under-18s from using sun-beds. We bet you didn't know that!

Speaking of things you didn't know, can you guess which old school girl band member had a brief romance with Gogglebox star George Gilby? Or whose EP reached number 1 on the iTunes Charts in 2017? Or who has become a hit vlogger on YouTube since May 2020? Or who married a Spanish scuba diving school owner? Yep, it's safe to say their post-girl band lives have been nothing short of eclectic – and we say good on them.

Then there is Rochelle Humes from The Saturdays who is now a hugely successful TV presenter, kids author and beauty entrepreneur.

So, whether you stanned the Sugababes' or were a die-hard Atomic Kitten fan (we were all about Girls Aloud, personally), we look at girl band members from 90s and 00s, then and now... (hint: The Cheeky Girls are still dressing exactly the same.)

After more nostalgia? Check out the album covers from the 90s and 00s that'll take you right back, or if you want a serious case of de ja vu, take a look at these mind-blowing celebrity lookalikes.

Una Healy - The Saturdays
Then: After rising to fame with The Saturdays in 2008, Una quickly became known as the girlband's resident guitar guru.
Now: Since The Saturdays called it in a day in 2014, Una's solo country music career has been going from strength to strength. Moving back to Ireland with her daughter Aoife Belle and son Tadgh, Una has even collaborated on a track with Nashville star Sam Palladio. When she's not singing, she regularly appears on the TV as a judge on The Voice or Ireland or participating in And They're Off! in aid of Sport Relief.
Frankie Bridge - The Saturdays
Then: A former member of S Club 8, Frankie knew the ropes of pop stardom when she joined The Saturdays. Music aside, her signature short hair had every teenage girl running to the salon for the chop.
Now: After a stint on Strictly Come Dancing where she came runner up, Frankie has gone on to become the voice of mental health for millennials as a result of her bestseller book, Mind. She also become an overnight TikTok sensation alongside her footballer husband Wayne Bridge during lockdown.

Mollie King - The Saturdays
Then: The Saturdays resident glamazon, Mollie instantly became the fashion and beauty icon of the popular girl group.
Now: Over ten years later, Mollie has also participated in Strictly Come Dancing. She is now a BBC Radio 1 Presenter alongside her co-host Matt Edmundson. She's also still doing epic makeup tutorials to her 897K Instagram followers.
Rochelle Humes - The Saturdays
Then: S Club juniors alumnae Rochelle brought the glamour, good vibes and major energy to The Saturdays live performances. She also made pop band dreams come true by dating JLS's Marvin Humes (who she is now married to).
Now: Arguably the most successful of the group, Rochelle has gone on to become a TV presenter on This Morning and The Hit List, a children's author and a beauty boss with her brand, My Little Coco. Yes, Rochelle!

The Saturdays - Vanessa
Then: She may have been the shortest member of the Saturdays but Vanessa easily had the biggest voice amongst the group.
Now: When The Saturdays went on a hiatus, Vanessa launched her solo pop career and participated on the seventeenth series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here.
Getty Images
Keisha Buchanan - Sugababes
Then: Keisha was the longest-standing member of 90s girlband, Sugababes. Known for her soulful vocals, washboard abs and belly ring we all wanted to copy, Sugababes wouldn't be the same without Keisha.
Getty Images
Now: Since separating from her fellow 'babes', Keisha worked on some solo material before rumours began to swirl in 2011 that the band were reforming. It was officially on. So much so that in June 2012 the girls even gave a release date for their new music but eventually released it under a new name, Mutya Keisha Siobhan, before securing the legal rights to the Sugababes name in 2019. These days, Keisha is often found on YouTube where she's been vlogging under the channel IAMKEISHABUCHAN since May 2020.

Getty Images
Natasha Hamilton - Atomic Kitten
Then: Our eternal flame burns for Natasha Hamilton, the resident red head of 90s British girlband Atomic Kitten. Her low-slung jeans and huge diamante earrings gave us goals for days...
REX Features
Now: Since the girls split for the first time in 2004, Natasha has mostly stayed away from music, save for a few rumours about solo material and the odd reform with the group for one-off performances. She's been a housemate on Celebrity Big Brother, a contestant on Celebrity Come Dine With Me and tried her luck on The Chase's celebrity special. Aside from charity work, Natasha keeps busy with her four children and is currently engaged to boyfriend Charles Gay. As of early 2019, their wedding was on hold and it's unclear whether the couple are still together.
Getty Images
Michelle Williams - Destiny's Child
Then: Michelle Williams was the third camo print-clad member of Destiny's Child but failed to pack the same punch as her fellow bandmates Beyonce and Kelly Rowland...
Getty Images
Now: After Destiny's Child disbanded in 2004, Michelle failed to achieve the same solo success as her ex-band mates. Even so, we love Michelle and really appreciate her showing up for the Superbowl in 2013 (even if she looked like a frightened deer when she popped up on stage - still LOLing.) She also sang at the White House for the Obamas in 2015 - what an achievement. In December 2018, she released the single "Fearless" on Radiance Music Group and in 2019, appeared in Queen Bey's documentary Homecoming. Later that year, she appeared as "The Butterfly" in the second series of The Masked Singer.

Getty Images
Heidi Range - Sugababes
Then: Ex-Atomic Kitten girl Heidi Range joined the Sugababes in 2002 and breathed a new lease of life into the band - commerically and otherwise - with her girly looks and angelic voice. We miss her on our screens. Can we bring yesterday back around?
Getty Images
Now: Since her Babes' days, Heidi's appeared on a few of the usual 'celebrity'-prefixed shows including Celebrity Masterchef. Heidi later starred as the lead female role of Pinky Tuscadero in the Happy Days musical touring the UK and in 2016 she starred in West End show The War Of The Worlds as Beth. In September 2016, Heidi married partner Alex Partakis in Florence and they welcomed their first child, Aurelia Honey Partakis, in January 2018.
Getty Images
Nicola Roberts - Girls Aloud
Then: Nicola was one of five girls - along with Cheryl, Nadine Coyle, Kimberly Walsh and Sarah Harding - catapulted to international success after winning Pop stars: The Rivals and forming Girls Aloud. Aged just 17, Nicola was the baby of the band and notable BFFs with Cheryl...
Getty Images
Now: Since her Girls Aloud days, Nicola's focused most of her attentions on her philanthropy work, in particular raising awareness about bullying - online and otherwise - and the dangers of tanning beds. After releasing a pale skin make-up range in 2008, Nicola produced and starred in the documentary Nicola Roberts: The Truth About Tanning. Fascinatingly, the documentary and her address to a British MP led to the bill which now bans under-18s from using sun-beds. We bet you didn't know that! In February 2020, she won the first series of ITV's The Masked Singer UK, masked as Queen Bee.

REX Features
Kerry Katona - Atomic Kitten
Then: Kerry Katona was one of the original three Atomic Kittens, but left in 2000 when she fell pregnant. When she announced her departure, we thought we'd never be whole again...
Getty Images
Now: The face of Iceland and mother of five has had a tumultuous time since leaving Atomic Kitten. Between three marriages, the same amount of divorces, and that appearance on This Morning, it was feared Kerry was a on a downward spiral. These days, however, Kerry's looks better (and happier) than we've seen her in a long time! In 2019, Kerry appeared in the sixth series of E4 reality series Celebs Go Dating.
Getty Images
Mutya Buena - Sugababes
Then: Mutya Buena was the lead singer of Sugababes and loved for her alternative urban look. We all tried (and failed) at gelling our baby hairs to our face a la Mutya. We miss her like a hole in the head...
REX Features
Now: Mutya, like Keisha, was part of the official return of the Sugababes in September 2019.

Getty Images
Jenny Frost - Atomic Kitten
Then: Jenny Frost replaced Kerry Katona in Atomic Kitten after leaving her less successful first band, Precious, in 2000.
Getty Images
Now: After her departure from the band, Jenny made a successful go of television work, presenting Snog, Marry, Avoid? (side note: was this not the best show EVER?), OK! TV and LIVE with... . After her longterm relationship with DJ Dominic Thrupp ended, Jenny married Spanish scuba diving school owner Vicente Juan Spiteri. Jenny has three boys.
REX Features
The Cheeky Girls
Then: Romanian-born pop duo The Cheeky Girls were comprised of twin sisters Gabriela and Monica Irimia. The pair unsuccessfully auditioned for Pop stars: The Rivals (the show that formed Girls Aloud), but went on to achieve unprecedented chart success with four top 10 hits between 2002 and 2004. They were known for their skimpy hot pants and their song, Touch My Bum, which is still ringing in our ears till this day. We wonder how much they've changed?
REX Features
Now: Not a lot. After their musical careers trailed off, the girls made numerous celebrity appearances including one on Channel 4's Celebrity Coach Trip. In 2006, Gabriela went public with her relationship with Liberal Democrat MP Lembit Öpik. In April 2008, Opik proposed to the Cheeky Girl but the couple announced their separation only a few months later.

REX Features
Carmit Bachar - Pussycat Dolls
Then: We all know what the likes of Nicole Scherzinger is up to these days, but what of the other member of the Pussycat Dolls? As has been proved, a chart-topping girl band can never be complete without a firey red head. Enter: Carmit Bachar...
Getty Images
Now: During her Pussycat days and continuing after, Carmit appeared in a number of films including 13 Going on 30, Along Came Polly, The Scorpion King and Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle and other freelance dancing ventures. Aside from her stage work, Carmit founded non-profit organisation Smile With Me for children and adults who are born with a cleft palate. She said of the charity: "I want to have my own charity for children and adults who are born with a cleft palate. I was born with one and I want to educate and inspire people by saying that inner beauty is more important than looks."
In November 2019, it was announced that Carmit had rejoined Pussycat Dolls for their 2020 reunion tour, and they released their comeback single 'React' in February 2020.
Getty Images
Tionne Tenese Watkins - TLC
Then: Tionne Tenese Watkins, or T-Boz, hit the big time with her stint as the lead singer of R&B/hip hop girl-group TLC. She was too cool for school.
Getty Images
Now: Tionne Tenese Watkins pursued acting after TLC and landed a few small roles. She's also appeared on The Real Housewives of Atlanta as a friend of Kandi Burruss and in 2016, acted in prison show, Days of our Lives. Anyone else think that was just a made up show in Friends? On June 30th 2017, TLC released their eponymous fifth album TLC.

REX Features
Ashley Roberts - Pussycat Dolls
Then: Ashley Roberts was to the Pussycat Dolls what Emma Bunton was to the Spice Girls. The pretty blonde was known for her killer dancing and voice to match.
Getty Images
Now: After departing from the Pussycat Dolls in 2010, Ashley appeared on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here and later acted as a panel judge on Dancing on Ice. In 2014, Ashley revealed she was releasing her solo album, Butterfly Effect, and in 2015 she competed on The Jump. Then, in 2018, she appeared as a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing.
REX Features
Edele Lynch - BW*tched
Then: Edele Lynch was lead singer of 90s girlband B*Wtched, along with her twin sister Keavy, Lindsay Armaou, and Sinéad O'Carroll. Fun fact: her brother Shane Lynch was a member of Boyzone. What a talented family.
Now: After the band disbanded, Edele didn't let her girl band savvy go to waste writing successful songs for bands including Girls Aloud and The Sugababes. Later, she won Celebrity Apprentice Ireland and came sixth on Celebrity Big Brother. Edele has three children with ex-husband Michael Barrett who she divorced, before a brief romance with Gogglebox star George Gilby.

Getty Images
Nadine Coyle - Girls Aloud
Then: Again, only 17-years-old at the time of being signed, Nadine Coyle was the Irish stunner who had something kinda oooh about her. All girls wanted to be her and all boys wanted to date her.
REX Features
Now: After some unconfirmed beef with her ex-band members following their split, Nadine relocated to Los Angeles with her family and opened an Irish pub and restaurant called Nadine's Irish Mist in Orange County. During that time she released her solo album Insatiable, which peaked at number 47 on the UK Albums Chart. In 2015, Nadine moved back to London with Jason Bell and daughter Anaíya. In late 2017, she released her new single Go to Work which charted at number 57 on the Official Singles Sales Chart, followed by her 'Nadine' EP the same year, reaching number 1 on iTunes chart. In 2019, she released single Fool For Love then, in 2020, All That I Know. The latter reached 62 on the Official Charts.
Getty Images
Amelle Berrabah - Sugababes
Then: Amelle Berrabah replaced founding Sugababe member Keisha Buchanan in 2005 and brought a new, sassy dimension to the band.
Getty Images
Now: You guessed it, after the band split Berrabah competed as a contestant in the BBC celebrity gymnastics show Tumble, and later on Celebrity Masterchef 2016. Are you sensing a trend now?
Berrabah married partner Marcio Sousa Rosa in 2014 and gave birth to a daughter, Amirah, in June 2018.

Getty Images
Kimberly Wyatt - Pussycat Dolls
Then: If Ashley was the cute blonde of the band, Kimberley was the punky one. What. A. Babe.
Getty Images
Now: Since her dancing days in the Pussycat Dolls, Kimberley has made some minor TV appearances (including winning the 2015 series of Celebrity Masterchef) and married English model Max Rogers in 2013. A year later she gave birth to daughter Willow. She joined the Pussycat Dolls on their 2020 reunion tour, also contributing to their comeback single 'React'.
Getty Images
Liz McClarnon - Atomic Kitten
Then: We all wanted to be Liverpool-born Liz from Atomic Kitten. The smiley blonde had the side fringe of our very dreams.
Getty Images
Now: After her success in Atomic Kitten, it felt only right for Liz to move on to solo music, releasing a cover of Jackie Wilson's I Get the Sweetest Feeling which peaked at number 5 in the UK single charts. Years later, Liz hosted Hotter than My Daughter on BBC and played Beth in the War of the Worlds Musical (yep, the same role as Heidi Range played) in 2010.
From 8th July to 17th September 2011, Liz was cast as Paulette 'Legally Blonde The Musical', and then starred in the 'Cinderella' pantomime in the Liverpool Empire in 2012.
In 2018, she performed at the 'C2C: Country to Country' festival at the O2 Arena.