Nicola Roberts says Sarah Harding's death 'bonded' Girls Aloud after years apart: 'She was always authentic in who she was'
Nicola Roberts has revealed that Sarah Harding's death 'bonded' her with her Girls Aloud bandmates.
The singer tragically passed away in September 2021 after battling breast cancer for over a year, and since then the band have reunited on several occasions to raise money for research into the disease.
Speaking on the official BRIT Awards podcast The Red Carpet Treatment with new host Jordan Stephens, Nicola discussed some of her favourite memories with Sarah, adding that she was 'always authentic in who she was.'
Asked whether Sarah's death brought Girls Aloud closer again, Nicola said: 'I think that what we went through as a five was massive in itself. That bonds you in ways where, even with your own siblings, you don't really get that 24/7.
'To go through something where you lost part of you is on a completely different scale. Life is so fragile. It's fragile for anybody, it doesn't matter who you are or what you do.'
Moving: Nicola Roberts has revealed that Sarah Harding's death 'bonded' her with her Girls Aloud bandmates after years of estrangement
Candid: Speaking on the official BRIT Awards podcast The Red Carpet Treatment with new host Jordan Stephens, Nicola discussed some of her favourite memories with Sarah
Reflecting on her memories of her late pal, she added: 'Even going back to that BRITs moment, like, how vivacious and full of life and she was so, talking about authenticity, Sarah very much was authentic in who she was.
'Didn't try to be anyone else, never tried to turn herself down, and wasn't even aware of the fact that she should maybe do that in certain settings.
'Like, she was fully who she was all the time. And that, in itself, is an achievement because so often, we're like, shaped in a certain way.
'Or, if you're a sensitive person, you pick up on little social nuances that you probably shouldn't say this, probably shouldn't do that. She was fully who she was all the time. And for that, I always admired her.'
In 2022, Girls Aloud raised £1 million for breast cancer research. Nicola revealed the news in an Instagram post shared in December of that year.
Sarah passed away on September 5th 2021, with her death confirmed by her mother Maria in a statement shared to the star's Instagram account, which said that he 'slipped away peacefully' after her cancer battle.
Her Girls Aloud bandmates Nicola, Cheryl, Nadine Coyle, and Kimberley Walsh all paid tribute to her following the news of her passing.
Nadine revealed last year she believed she had received signs from Sarah, including when she was at home and 'something flew off the shelf'.
Sad loss: Sarah tragically died aged 39 on 5 September 2021 following a battle with breast cancer (pictured top centre with bandmates Nadine Coyle, Nicola, Kimberly Walsh and Cheryl)
Pals: Nicola added: 'Like, she was fully who she was all the time. And that, in itself, is an achievement because so often, we're like, shaped in a certain way'
The singer, described the rough time she endured when Sarah passed away in September 2021.
Nicola then shared her wildest memory from attending the BRIT Awards in years past, telling Jordan: 'Lady Gaga came running into our dressing room, screaming ''I need pantyhoes, I need tights!'' and we were like ''Take them, take whatever you want.''
Girls Aloud won a BRIT Award for Best British Single in 2009 for their song The Promise, and Nicola shared that the band celebrated in style.
'It was very good. We performed and won. So it felt like it was a big night for us, and just for our team really, as well.
'That was seven years in, so although we'd been nominated before for best group or Pop Act it just felt like it was always not tangible.
'Then that night, it very much was. So it was like, Okay, finally, we have been recognised, somewhat, by this fantastic establishment.
'I was incredibly nervous. But you know, the sickest thing was the next day we woke up and on the front of the newspaper. It was Bono saying I want to be in Girls Aloud.'
The Red Carpet Treatment is available on YouTube and all podcast platforms.
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