‘I HOPE WE FEEL POSITIVE AND INSPIRED AGAIN'

FORMER GIRLS ALOUD SINGER NADINE COYLE OPENS UP TO OK! ABOUT MOVING ON FROM A “HEAVY” COUPLE OF YEARS HOW SHE’S PLANNING TO INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION OF STARS AND THE ADVICE SHE’D GIVE TO THIS YEAR’S I’M A CELEBRITY... CONTESTANTS

- SAMUEL MCMANUS-MAXWELL

It’s hard to believe it’s been almost 20 years since Nadine Coyle burst on to the music scene as one fifth of Girls Aloud, becoming a household name at the age of just 17. The now 36-year-old is in a reflective mood when we catch up, with much of our chat touching on growing up in Northern Ireland.

“I grew up feeling like dreams can come true and I’m living proof that they actually can,” she tells us. “I want other people to feel that, especially coming from a small town. I want to help people feel as confident as I did growing up.”

Understandably, questions about Nadine’s former Girls Aloud bandmate Sarah Harding – who tragically passed away from breast cancer at the age of 39 in September – are off the table, but it’s clear her friend is on her mind as she touches on the “heaviness” she has felt in 2021.

“I feel like the last couple of years have been so heavy and there’s been so much going on. I hope we get the positivity back and feel inspired again.

“I just hope for the heaviness to go and for us to come out the other side and feel happier,” says Nadine, who shares seven-year-old daughter Anaíya with her American football player ex, Jason Bell.

As part of her mission to inspire others, Nadine has been helping the National Lottery launch their new Build Dreams Create Change installations across Northern Ireland, and she couldn’t be more excited about it.

Here, the star reflects on her time on I’m A Celebrity..., her pinch-me moments, and why you should always dream big...

Hi, Nadine! It must be so special to be launching this campaign in your home country of Northern Ireland?