Stars we lost in 2021: Sarah Harding

In the morning of September 5, 'Girls Aloud' singer and TV star Sarah Harding, passed away at the age of 39. She had been dealing with breast cancer for a while. The news of her death came as a shock to fans and colleagues.

Sarah Harding was born on November 17, 1981. She was a singer, writer, model, and actress who appeared in various talent and reality shows. The news of her passing was announced by her mother on Instagram, where the star had many followers.

"It's with deep heartbreak that today I'm sharing the news that my beautiful daughter Sarah has sadly passed away," the artist's mother announced on September 5. "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."

Sarah's mother continued by thanking "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."

The British TV personality had revealed her diagnosis of advanced breast cancer through her book 'Hear Me Out' in March 2021. She shocked fans and colleagues, telling them she was unsure how many months she had left to live. After the news, messages of support came pouring in.

(Image: IG @sarahnicoleharding)

Harding had become known to a general audience in 2002 through the ITV talent show 'Popstars: the Rivals'.

Together with other contestants she formed the group Girls Aloud. On this photo they are posing right after winning the final on November 30, 2002. Sarah Harding (centre right) had just turned 19.

During the first decade of the century, Girls Aloud was an immense success. The group reached a record number of 20 consecutive Top 10 singles in the British charts, including four number ones and two albums that also reached the top of the charts.

In 2009, Girls Aloud won a BRIT Award for 'Best Single' with the song 'The Promise'. Other popular songs from the group are 'Love Machine,' 'Biology,' and 'Jump.'

In 2010, Sarah Harding began flying solo, alternating music with film, television and some modelling. She released a solo EP, 'Threads,' played in the BBC TV film 'Freefall,' and in the movie 'Run for your Wife'.

Girls Aloud had gone on hiatus in 2009 for the group members to pursue solo projects. In 2012, they got back together again, but in 2013, the immensely successful girl group called it quits.

Sarah Harding was a likeable TV personality who appeared in several reality game shows. She came third in the BBC's gymnastics' show 'Tumble' and participated in 'Master Chef' in 2010. Harding also toured with 'Ghost: the Musical.'

In 2017, the likeable ex-Girls Aloud star managed to win the reality show 'Celebrity Big Brother.'

In March 2021, her book, 'Hear Me Out' brought the shocking news that the star's breast cancer - diagnosed in the summer of 2020 - had spread to the base of her spine. Because of the spread, it had become an incurable and fatal disease.

Unfortunately for Sarah Harding, as she explained in the book, the pandemic played a role in the late diagnosis of her disease. She also blames herself for not checking her breasts regularly and "ignoring the painful lump I noticed in my chest" before seeing a specialist.

"My doctor told me that last Christmas would probably be my last. I'm at a stage in my life where I don't know how many months I have left," she wrote in the book.

On the day of her book release, fans and colleagues made sure Sarah Harding did not feel alone. The Girls Aloud song 'Hear me Out,' which she co-wrote, rose to number one in the iTunes chart. In addition, a previously unreleased solo single by Sarah Harding, 'Wear it like a Crown,' would go straight to number one a few weeks later.

Typical of Sarah Harding, she went out on social media to express her appreciation for all the support. "I can’t thank everyone enough for all the kind and loving messages that I’ve received since the weekend," she tweeted. "It means so much to me and my mum." In addition, the singer said that she "actually can’t believe" she published a book.

In the last months of her life, Sarah Harding was very clear about her priorities. "I'm trying to live and enjoy every second of my life no matter how long it's going to be," she wrote in the book.

On the day of Harding's death, her mother emphasized that "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."