Rivals reunited: Kym Marsh and Michelle Heaton to attend ball

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By Maureen Coleman
Saturday Sep 12 2009

They were rivals in a battle for pop star fame, but Kym Marsh and Michelle Heaton will be reunited when they attend a charity ball in Belfast next month.

The girls — who were both finalists in the inaugural reality TV show Popstars in 2000/2001 — will walk the red carpet at the White Sapphire Bar at the Europa Hotel on October 3.

The exclusive black tie event is being held to raise funds for Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice — and both women were keen to help.

They’ll also be joined by Hollyoaks beauty Emma Rigby, who plays Hannah Ashworth in the Channel 4 soap. Emma has won a number of awards, including Best Actress at the British Soap Awards for her portrayal of a teenager struggling with anorexia.

Kym and Michelle both became household names when they took part in the first Popstars show.

The pair both made it to the final 10 in the search to find five new members of a pop band.

Kym won a place in the band, Hear’say, while Michelle went on to join another group, Liberty X, made up of five unsuccessful Popstars applicants. Hear’say enjoyed huge success with their debut single Pure and Simple, but they failed to live up to the hype and split after 18 months.

Liberty X, on the other hand, outshone the winners of the show and went on to have 10 consecutive top 20 singles, including the number one hit Just A Little.

Since the Popstars show, Kym has found fame as barmaid Michelle Connor in Coronation Street, while Michelle, who now lives in Dublin, has taken part in a number of reality television shows, including Celebrity Big Brother.

Speaking ahead of the White Sapphire Ball, Kym said she was looking forward to seeing headline act Riverdance for the first time.

“I am really looking forward to coming to Belfast for The White Sapphire Ball,” she said.

“It's going to be a great night and it's for a fantastic cause. I'm so excited about seeing Riverdance, as I've never seen it live before, so that will be a real treat too.”

Michelle — a regular visitor to Belfast — said she was excited about the event and praised the work of Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice.

“I can’t wait to go back to Belfast. It is such a great city and I am so excited to be returning for the White Sapphire Ball,” she said.

“The Children’s Hospice is a wonderful charity and as they do such amazing work I am delighted to be able to attend the event to support them.”

And Emma said she was looking forward to her first ever visit to Belfast.

“I am absolutely delighted to be attending The White Sapphire Ball.

“Not only am I visiting Belfast for the first time, but I'm also very much looking forward to watching Riverdance perform live — something I've always wanted to see,” she said.

“I am honoured to be supporting an event that is going to raise both funds and awareness at the same time as celebrating Northern Ireland Children's Hospice.”

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