May 23: British singer-songwriter Heidi Range of Sugarbabes is 30-years-old today.

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Born in Walton, Liverpool, England, Heidi India Range is the longest-serving current member of the British girl group, Sugababes. She joined the group in August 2001.

The Original trio

Prior to becoming a Sugababe, Range was a member of the original line-up of the now-defunct girl group, Atomic Kitten.


Range began singing at an early age. Her first show was when she was three and she performed "Hey Little Hen" at the Neptune Theatre in Liverpool Range had always wanted to become a professional singer, and in 1997 auditioned for a place in Scooch, but was rejected when they found out she was only 14.

In 1998, Heidi along side of Liz McClarnon and Kerry Katona formed the group Atomic Kitten, however in 1999 after just a few months, she left the group. She recorded the whole first album with them.

After Siobhán Donaghy left the Sugababes in 2001, Range took part in an audition for a replacement. Mutya Buena and Keisha Buchanan liked her singing and added her to the line up. She recorded some solo tracks just before she became a Sugababe. Range was a member of the group when they had their first #1 hit, "Freak Like Me."

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Range enjoyed success with Buchanan and Buena - 9 of their 10 singles during this era became top ten hits - and they formed a close friendship, until Mutya's departure in 2005.

(L-R) Amelle Berrabah, Heidi & Keisha Buchanan 

After Buena left she was replaced by Amelle Berrabah. The group continued to have hit the charts - 6 out of their 10 singles in this period made it into the top 10. 

In 2007 they released the Comic Relief single, "Walk This Way," with Girls Aloud. However, there were rumors of numerous internal problems within the group after they released their 6th album Catfights & Spotlights in 2008. The members denied the rumors.

Jade Ewen, Amelle Berrabah and Heidi

In 2009, Buchanan was dropped from the group. After her departure, former Eurovision contestant Jade Ewen joined. They have achieved three top ten hits, "Get Sexy," "About a Girl" and "Wear My Kiss." During this period, Digital Spy announced that Sugababes would be releasing their own fragrances called Tempt, Tease and Touch.

On October 6, 2010 Sugababes appeared in the first ever episode of Katy Brand's new ITV2 show where artists are spoofed but join in too, they record a spoof single and shoot a video to go along with it. Sugababes spoof single was based on the three line up changes in their 12 year career.

In the 2010 edition of FHM's "100 Sexiest Women in the World", the Sugababes were listed at number 82, the first time the group has appeared in the list, although Heidi Range had once featured at 94.

Sugababes are now recording their 8th Studio album.


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