Jessica Taylor

Jessica Taylor (born 23 June 1980) is an English singer, glamour model, television personality, dancer, best known for being a member of the Brit Award-winning pop group, Liberty X from 2001 to 2008 and again in 2013 for a one-off reunion.

Personal life

As a teenager she was a member of the Preston Musical Comedy Society and played the title role in a 1999 production of Gigi. ^[1] On 29 December 2007, she married England cricketer, Kevin Pietersen, at a service in Castle Combe, Wiltshire, with Pietersen's former England team-mate Darren Gough as best man.^[2][3] Their first child, a son named Dylan Blake Pietersen, was born on 10 May 2010.^[4] For Sport Relief 2012, Taylor and Pietersen posed naked under the sheets for Sport Relief, wearing only the official Union Jack socks, to promote the Sainsbury's charity run.^[5]

Music career

While the five winning contestants of Popstars formed Hear'Say, the five runner-up contestants formed the group Liberty. The name Liberty was chosen to reflect the freedom the members experienced following their participation in Popstars. Amidst pejorative media commentary (including the term "Flopstars"), the act proceeded to sign a multi-million-pound record contract with Richard Branson's independent record label, V2 Records. Shortly after forming, Liberty received a legal challenge in the UK High Court from a funk R&B band, also called "Liberty", who achieved success in the 1990s, including being awarded Capital Radio Band of the Year, playing at Wembley Arena, touring around Europe and the release of albums in the UK, the US and Europe. The original Liberty claimed that the newly formed Liberty was taking advantage of the goodwill that had been created by the former's success (known in English law as the "tort of passing off"). The final judgment was in favour of the funk R&B band and the ex-Popstars then asked readers of UK tabloid newspaper, The Sun to suggest a new name. The winning name was "X Liberty", but the group used the entry as the basis for the official title, "Liberty X".

Liberty X enjoyed seven Top 10 singles from 2001 to 2005. Their biggest hit, "Just a Little", reached number one in May 2002. "Thinking It Over", "Got to Have Your Love", "Song 4 Lovers", and "Holding on for You" all reached the top 5 in the UK Singles Chart. Their debut album, Thinking It Over, reached number three in the UK Albums Chart June 2002. Liberty X released another 2 albums, Being Somebody and X, which reached number 12 and number 27, respectively. Liberty X won two Brit Awards: for Best British Single and Best British Breakthrough Artist.

Post-music career

Television

Taylor took part in BBC's one-off Strictly Ice Dancing in 2005 and came in second place. She also participated in the fourth series of Dancing on Ice, partnered with Pavel Aubrecht in 2009. They made it to the final, finishing in third place. She subsequently toured with Torvill and Dean on their 25th Anniversary Bolero Tour, performing in arenas across the UK. In 2006 she appeared on a reality TV special of The Weakest Link. Having been the statistical strongest link in rounds one and four, she came undone in round six where she was voted off on a countback, by eventual winner Martin Offiah. Taylor only got one question wrong throughout her entire run.

Fashion

In 2009 Taylor was signed as the face and body of 'Diamond Boutique' lingerie by Ultimo. ^[6] She is represented by Premier Model Management and The Outside Organisation. She appeared on Hole in the Wall.

Filmography

Discography

Featured singles

References