Nicola Roberts ugly duckling,' admits Girls Aloud's

For years Nicola Roberts has stood in the shadow of her Girls Aloud bandmates.

Dramatically different looking to her blonde, bronzed bandmates, the 23-year-old is a pale redhead.

After years of relying on her singing voice to get attention, Nicola has finally begun to embrace her unusual looks and has a newfound confidence in her appearance.

In a revealing new interview, Nicola admits she often broke down in tears over criticism of her looks and comparisons to her bandmates.

Fighting back: Nicola Roberts admits she cried about cruel taunts over her looks

Nicola was just 18 when she was plucked from thousands of girls to win a place in the band on Popstars: The Rivals in December 2002.

Plucked from a normal upbringing in Cheshire, Nicola was unprepared for the tough media criticism of her looks - and from Radio 1 DJ Chris Moyles.

Moyles said: 'Nicola is not the most striking one out of Girls Aloud, unless by striking, you mean ginger,' and 'It’s nothing to do with her hair or the way her face or body is, it’s that the sour-faced old cow never smiles – ever'.

Proud to be different: Nicola and her bandmates (L-R) Kimberley Walsh, Sarah Harding, Cheryl Cole and Nadine Coyle

She tells this week's Heat magazine: 'I’m not gonna sit and pretend I’m hard as nails. It did make me feel like s**t. I did cry about it.

'I was a young girl and everyone was saying the others were stunning and I was the ugly one. No young girl wants to be seen like that.

'I was even embarrassed with my boyfriend at the time. I wondered if he felt like he was going out with the ugly one.

'Does anybody really give a shit whether I might not be as pretty as the rest of the girls? Is it really that big a deal? No it isn’t. Not any more.'

Worse for wear: Nicola celebrating her 23rd birthday earlier this month

It's only been in recent months that Nicola has started feeling more confident with her appearance and began experimenting with her shade of hair colour and fashion sense.

She said: 'I stopped being so fixated on becoming this pretty, bronzed, blonde commercial-looking woman and started to lean towards wanting to be individual, left of field and different.

'I am never ever going to look like that, so what’s the point? What happened is that I so desperately wanted to look like that it was messing my head up, so I started to sway to the other side.'

Sarah and Nicola get cosy after a Girls Aloud night out

Sarah Harding and Nicola Roberts shared a cosy moment last night after a Girls Aloud night out.

Along with bandmate Cheryl Cole, the pair had attended Kimberley Walsh's sister's 21st birthday party in Mayfair.

However after the celebrations Sarah and Nicola were driven away laughing and holding each other in a warm embrace.


Up close and personal: Sarah and Nicola share a cosy moment

Looking more glamorous than ever, the two had clearly been the life and soul of the party and enjoyed a girlie night out on the town.

Kimberly and little sister Amy also looked stunning in purple silk dresses and smiled for the waiting paparazzi before going into to Mayfair's Burlington Club to get the celebrations started.

Even Cheryl put in a polished appearance despite the continuing drama surrounding her marriage after it was revealed husband Ashley was allegedly unfaithful.


Purple power: Kimberley and sister Amy looked stunning in silk purple frocks



Glum: Slim Cheryl looked glamorous but downbeat

In a black strapless dress, petite Cheryl was glowing but overwhelmed by the number of photographers waiting for her as she left the West London nightclub.

The only band member who didn't attend the party was Nadine Coyle, who is currently in Los Angeles.

Tangoed Kimberley and milk bottle Nicola go shopping

They do most things in unison, such as singing, dancing and holidaying. But not, it seems, tanning.

Girls Aloud members Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh made a rather startling contrast in the U.S. Monday.

Miss Roberts, 22, shone ghostly white in the glare of the flashbulbs, with just a touch of pink where the sun had kissed her shoulders.

Miss Walsh, 26, on the other hand, was the colour of a well polished Chippendale sideboard.

Colour contrast: Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh in LA yesterday

The pair seemed keen to accentuate their differences, standing close together holding hands. Their appearance certainly drew much attention in Los Angeles, where their music is not particularly well known.

The girls are on their way back from a break in Thailand, where they have been consoling bandmate Cheryl Cole.

Girls day out: the pair hit Melrose Avenue in Beverly Hills for a shopping spree

Different shades: the duo have just returned from Thailand, where they were holidaying with fellow Girls Aloud member Cheryl Cole

Miss Cole, 24, has had to deal with allegations that her footballer husband Ashley Cole cheated on her with a blonde hairdresser last year.

The winter break seems to have helped take her mind off the Chelsea star.

On their night out in LA she wore a tight peach-coloured dress - and no wedding ring.

Girls Aloud will be back in the UK for Wednesday's Brit Awards, where they are up for best British group.

Girls abroad: In Thailand with Cheryl Cole, left

Another Big Night Out For Girls Aloud

Girls Aloud were back doing what the love most last night - performing, and of course, partying.

The group took to the stage at Sketch last night in their first London performance since returning from a visit to LA.

Dressed in flirty frocks, the girls emerged from the club in high spirits, with Nadine Coyle still clutching a wine glass as they jumped into a cab.

Cheers: Nadine Coyle took one for the road

In step: Cheryl Cole and Nadine Coyle both opted for violet frocks

Nadine, Kimberley Walsh and Nicola Roberts headed back to the Westbury Hotel in Mayfair after their show for some late-night drinks.

But party girl Sarah Harding wasn't going down quietly, and ended up going clubbing with her boyfriend.

She met Tom Crane after his DJ set at Studio Valbonne and then the pair headed to Soho's Kingly Club.

She comes in peace: Sarah Harding again showed off her Mr Spock haircut

High spirits: Kimberley Walsh and Nicola Roberts were all smiles as they emerged from the London club

Cheryl Cole opted for comfort over glamour as she slipped into a green tracksuit before heading home.

Meanwhile, Cheryl has finally called a truce with pop rival Lily Allen over their high-profile feud.

Lily said last week: "When I had my feuds with people [earlier this year], I was in a very bad place... [Now] I haven't a bad word to say about anyone."

Boys allowed: Sarah Harding's man Tom Crane showed his support

Cole, who once called the Smile singer a "chick with a d***", responded: "She's forgiven and I would have a drink with her if I saw her in a bar."

And in good news for fans, Kimberley Walsh has denied ongoing rumours the group will soon go their separate ways.

She said: "The end is not in sight for the band as we have the album out in November and another tour planned for May next year.

"We don't know what will happen after that. We'll see how the tour and album goes."

Fashion faux pas: Cheryl snapped leaving last night's gig in her track suit