Nicola Roberts

With her pale skin, striking red hair, and quiet personality, Nicola Roberts may have been the less tabloid-friendly member of Girls Aloud, but thanks to her songwriting skills, eclectic taste, and effortlessly cool demeanor, her solo career was far more interesting than bandmates Nadine Coyle and Cheryl Cole's. In 2010, she became the group's third member to launch a solo career when she signed a deal with Universal and began working on material with the likes of Metronomy's Joseph Mount, Dragonette, and Diplo. Her debut single, "Beat of My Drum," was released a year later and was followed by its parent album, Cinderella's Eyes. ~ Jon O'Brien