Rachel Stevens Pictures

Rachel Lauren Stevens (born 9 April 1978) is an English singer, songwriter, actress, dancer, television personality and occasional model. She is a former member, and one of the lead singers, of the successful pop group S Club, and launched a solo recording career in 2003, releasing seven singles and two albums in the UK between 2003 and 2005. In 2008, she came second in the sixth series of the BBC One series Strictly Come Dancing with her dance partner Vincent Simone.
Born in London, England to a middle class Jewish family, she attended Ashmole School in London From a very early age, Stevens was drawn to entertaining people; she started ballet and acting lessons at the age of five. In 1993 she first caught attention while beating out 5000 competitors and winning a modeling contest sponsored by UK teen magazine Just 17.
Following her first modeling jobs, she decided to study at the London College of Fashion (where she achieved a diploma in the business course). During that time she also worked in a film company and later ended up working in public relations, but began to lose interest and decided to pursue a career in singing instead.