The death of Sarah Harding comes after the singer, 39 years old, revealed last year that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. In the months that followed the sad news, the Girls Aloud star showed remarkable bravery and resilience as she faced her fate, sharing her feelings with her friends, family and followers.
In a moving message on Sarah's Instagram account, her mum Marie posted today that 'It’s with deep heartbreak that today I’m sharing the news that my beautiful daughter Sarah has sadly passed away. Many of you will know of Sarah’s battle with cancer and that she fought so strongly from her diagnosis until her last day. She slipped away peacefully this morning. I’d like to thank everyone for their kind support over the past year. It meant the world to Sarah and it gave her great strength and comfort to know she was loved. I know she won’t want to be remembered for her fight against this terrible disease – she was a bright shining star and I hope that’s how she can be remembered instead - Marie x'
Tributes are, naturally, pouring in from those who knew her, but she will also be remembered fondly by those who never met her: by the legions of fans who came to adore her during her rollercoaster journey through the world of celebrity.
Sarah's journey into show business began modestly. Like many an aspiring singer, she gigged at pubs and clubs while entering modelling competitions and auditioning for some of the many TV talent shows that rose to prominence at the turn of the millennium. Having tried her luck with the BBC's Fame Academy and ITVs Popstars: The Rivals, an attempt to cast a boy band and a girl band in tandem, she found success with the latter, progressing through to the live shows and performing for the public's votes. On the night of the final, when six young women had their last chance to win their place in the female five-piece, her hopes were almost dashed.
The voters chose Cheryl Tweedy, Nicola Roberts, Nadine Coyle and Kimberley Walsh. The final choice was between Sarah and one of the favourites: Javine Hylton. But in a nail-biting moment, Sarah clinched it, and became an overnight star. This unnamed quintet became Girls Aloud, hitting number one immediately after with debut single Sound of the Underground and establishing themselves immediately as a force to be reckoned with.
Success was not a given. Hearsay, their TV predecessors, had reached dizzying heights in their first year of activity before swirling down the manufactured pop plughole. But it became clear that Girls Aloud were not going to let that happen. Their singles were a conveyor belt of top tier pop music. Their sound matured with each album campaign. Like the Spice Girls before them, the women made it clear that this unit was built up of five very different, but irreplaceable women. And Sarah, with her boundless energy and slightly anarchic manner, let anyone who observed her see that she was a born star. When the band won Best Single at The BRITs - for The Promise, one of their most lasting tunes - she was the first to hold the prize aloft, shouting 'it's about time!', unafraid of being called uncouth or arrogant. Because it was about time: the band had proven themselves as a group worthy of respect, showing that the girl band is not an inherently silly or novelty concept. It is no surprise that Sarah called the moment one of the biggest of her life. It was indicative of who she was as a person: bold and brave and, yes, a little bit loud.
Girls Aloud did, of course, eventually go their separate ways, splitting in 2013 after a tour and album that marked ten incredible years of hits. Sarah, though, was never going to leave the industry completely. She found success in film through roles in St Trinian's 2, Run For Your Wife and Freefall, and had a brief arc in TV soap Coronation Street. She also revisited reality television, entering the Celebrity Big Brother house in 2017. It is not easy to win over the public in such a space: even those who seem like perfect girls next door are often defeated by the harsh, unblinking eye of 24 hour surveillance. But Sarah had nothing to be worried about. She left that house as winner of that series, and was visibly emotional at the victory. It seemed clear that, for her, the backing of the public was something beneficial and nourishing.
In August of 2020, Sarah announced that she had breast cancer. Her autobiography, Hear Me Out: My Story, My Words, My Life, hit stands the following March. It contained much of what you would expect - fame-based anecdotes and juicy tidbits about her bandmates - but its treatment of her diagnosis and resulting experiences is what set it apart as a must-read. In presenting every aspect of her journey, she will have saved lives, as those who may ignore symptoms before its too late will have been inspired to get out there and book an appointment by her warnings. If one of her legacies is a catalogue of pop perfection, her other is ensuring that fewer women have to go through what she experienced.
Sarah's passing at such a young age is incredibly sad. She will be hugely missed by all of those whose lives she touched. But her death and the awareness that it brings will help countless others, and she will live on through her music and the memories she has left behind.
Rest in peace, Sarah.
If you or someone you know is struggling with cancer, get in touch with**Macmillan Cancer Support**