Nicola Roberts, who first captured the nation’s heart over two decades ago on Popstars: The Rivals and later soared to fame with Girls Aloud, has faced a series of personal challenges alongside her glittering career.
With Cheryl Tweedy, Nadine Coyle, Sarah Harding, and Kimberley Walsh, Nicola achieved remarkable success including two UK number one albums, five consecutive platinum-selling studio albums, and a BRIT Award for Best Single in 2009 with “The Promise”, reports Birmingham Live.
In 2011, she ventured into solo music with her album Cinderella’s Eyes. However, the Stamford-born singer’s journey hasn’t been without its struggles, from health scares and stalker incidents to financial woes resulting in the loss of her home.
Delving into Nicola’s life reveals not just her public triumphs but also her private battles, including her fight against hypoglycemia—a condition that causes sudden drops in blood sugar levels and dietary restrictions. Nicola first noticed symptoms while touring with Girls Aloud, leading to exhaustion and a diminished stage presence.
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She shared her ordeal, saying: “I broke down in tears before one of our shows because I felt so weak and I was close to fainting, but I had no idea what was wrong with me. I just couldn’t stop eating and I was always hungry.”
Nicola Roberts has spoken out about her struggle with hypoglycemia, a condition that sometimes prevents her from speaking. Taking to Twitter in 2020, she explained: “I’ve got this thing called hypoglycemia and when my sugar is low I can’t speak.”
When asked if it was similar to diabetes by a fan, Roberts clarified: “Yeah, but I don’t have to take anything. I just have to control it myself.”
The Girls Aloud star also recounted her terrifying ordeal of being stalked by ex-boyfriend Carl Davies for five years after their breakup in 2008. He was convicted in 2017 and handed a 15-month suspended sentence as well as a permanent restraining order for sending threatening messages via fake social media profiles.
Reflecting on the experience, Nicola expressed her frustration, saying: “I should be able to move on from an unhealthy relationship if I want to and that has not been able to happen for me. You are too scared to take the dogs out for a walk because when someone plants vicious seeds you just imagine every possible outcome.”
In addition, Roberts faced financial distress when her Surrey mansion, valued at £1.25 million, was repossessed in 2019. She had difficulty selling it for two years, which resulted in her taking a significant monetary loss.
She wanted to escape the property and its memories of her ex, who had stalked her. Speaking to The Sun previously, Nicola said: “I had been trying to sell the house for years, and was so unhappy there that I decided to take the hit financially in order to move on and find a new property away from the bad memories. I’m really happy in my new home now.”
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