Biography of Rachel StevensRachel Lauren Stevens (born April 9, 1978) is an English singer and actress and an occasional model who lives in Hampstead, London. Formerly with the successful pop group S Club (7), she launched a solo recording career and has released seven singles and two albums to date in the UK.
After a successful audition Stevens became a member of the British pop group "S Club 7", which were a BRIT Award-winning English pop group created by former Spice Girls manager Simon Fuller. The group rose to fame via their own BBC television programme and by selling sixteen million records worldwide and launching four number one hit singles in the United Kingdom.
The group was disbanded in 2003 for reasons undisclosed. Stevens became the first member of the band to sign a multi-million dollar recording contract and released her first solo single, "Sweet Dreams My LA Ex", in late 2003, reaching number two on the UK singles chart. Her first album reached number nine on the UK albums chart and quickly disappeared.
Stevens' follow-up single "Funky Dory" also failed to gain much attention and charted at number 26. Critics began to write her off as a one-hit wonder until she came back with the song "Some Girls" (2004) which quickly became a hit in the UK, peaking at number two. She followed this with the October release of the widely successful single "More, More, More" which acted as a close on her debut album.
Stevens would then return to music in March 2005 with the single "Negotiate with Love", which appeared on her 2005 album "Come And Get It" Along with "Some Girls". The single "Negotiate With Love" became Stevens fourth Top Ten hit and was followed by "So Good", which reached number 10, and "I Said Never Again (But Here We Are)", which made number 12. "Come And Get It" failed to perform well in the charts, becoming a commercial failure even though it was praised by the pop music press and other outlets, such as The New York Times.
In Southgate, London, England, Rachel Lauren Stevens was born on April 9, 1978 of Jewish heritage, to parents Linda and Michael Stevens. She has two brothers, Jason and Lee Stevens. She attended Ashmole School in Southgate, London.
When Rachel was 17, her parents got divorced[citation needed]. Her Mother Linda re married Russell Stone. She has two step-siblings, a step-sister named Tiffiny and a step-brother named Oliver
From a very early age, Stevens was drawn to entertaining people. By the time she was five, Stevens already began taking acting lessons at drama school near London.
At the age of fifteen she got her first big break when she beat out 5000 competitors in a modelling competition sponsored by Just 17 Magazine[citation needed]. Following her first modelling jobs and having left school, she studied at the London School of Fashion where she got a diploma in the Business of fashion - and went on to work in fashion PR, but began to lose interest and started to seek out a career in music and acting instead. In 1989, an 11-year-old Rachel took her first acting steps in a film called "Taking A Stand", after her mother began taking her to auditions.
At the age of nineteen, Stevens accompanied her brother to an audition in London for a new pop group, which was being put together by Simon Fuller, the one-time manager of the Spice Girls. While waiting for her brother to audition, she was approached by the judges. After many calls and auditions she was chosen as a member of the new band S Club 7, along with Tina Barrett, Paul Cattermole, Jon Lee, Bradley McIntosh, Jo O'Meara, and Hannah Spearritt.
She is said to suffer from claustrophobia - the fear of confined spaces. "I have a problem with locking the door. I also can't go on the Eurostar or in lifts. I always have to take the stairs. But I feel I´m making progress and, hopefully, in the future I'll overcome it".
Stevens has an entry in the Guiness World Records 2006 book in the category "Most Public Appearances By An Actress In 24 Hours". She made seven public appearances.
Stevens is friends with British Pop Idol winner Will Young, actor Stephen Dorff and Spice Girl Emma Bunton.
She said in an interview that she wears contacts.
Stevens has always been the number one fashion icon in TV polls or magazine surveys. Also she has always been complimented on her great fashion style. She has been voted "Best Dressed Star" twice, "Female Fashion Icon" and "Most Fanciable Female". A report from website "AskMen.com" says: "At first, Stevens struck us as the casual, laid-back type, due to numerous appearances in simple, yet sexy, jeans and midriff-baring shirts. Several magazine shoots and public appearances later, we have changed our tune and are impressed by her willingness to experiment, be it with bikini tops, short skirts, or flowing evening gowns. In fact, she has gotten naughty enough that if she went any further, we have to hide her pictures from our girlfriends."
An article in Heat Magazine in July 2002 said: "If you've started reading this hoping to hear that it's all smoke and mirrors and actually Rachel Stevens ain't all that in real life, you're out of luck. She IS all that, and more. Many celebs are a disappointment when you lay eyes on them in real life, but not Rachel. She's doll-like perfect - REALLY pretty with glossy hair; clear, tanned skin and the kind of tiny figure, a la Kylie, that makes you imagine there's a factory churning out cute female pop stars. (Her feet are size three-and-a-half, so her shoes are custom-made. Bless.) Rachel sits opposite Heat with her slinky figure encased in hipster, boot-cut jeans; a fluffy, grey jumper with a kilt-pin brooch and high-heeled, pointed boots. She looks exactly as she does on the telly - no bigger, no smaller, just immaculately presented. She's also friendly, chatty and smiley - talking to Rachel is like having a girlie chat with one of your mates."
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