Girls Aloud's jaw-dropping career – BRITs outburst, £14m tour to Sarah Harding tribute

dailystar.co.uk:

Girls Aloud dominated the charts for ten years from 2002 to 2012 with their catchy songs and easy-to-pick-up dance moves.The group who found fame on ITV's Popstars: The Rivals faced harsh criticism in their early days, with former manager Louis Walsh admitting he didn't want the group and students chucking things at them during university gigs.But they defied all the odds against them, with the chart-toppers going on to become one of the most successful girl groups in British history.READ MORE: Kimberley Walsh and Jay McGuinness supporting each other after co-stars' deathsAs the girls join forces today (July 24), to celebrate the Race For Life for Sarah, Daily Star has taken a look at some of their biggest moments.Nadine Coyle, Sarah Harding, Cheryl Tweedy, Kimberley Walsh and Nicola Roberts all dreamed of becoming the next big popstar during their younger days.In 2002, each girl auditioned for a new ITV show, Popstars, which aimed to create a boyband and a girlband to compete with one another for the Christmas Number One.The group, which was formed on November 30, 2002, competed each Saturday night to win the public vote before the five girls were announced as members of Girls Aloud.Sound of the Underground, their debut single, instantly topped the charts before spending four weeks at Number One, later being certified platinum.After the initial shock of winning Popstars, the girls spent five months locked away in the studio, working on their debut album, Sound of the Underground.The record which was finished in April of 2003, was released just one month later, instantly landing at Number Two on the official charts before it was certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry,Following the success of the album,.