Noughties pop act Sugababes reveal their ‘normal’ jobs before comeback

They’ve reunited now, but the Sugababes spent years in the pop wilderness – and were forced to find work in other areas to get by.

The Sugababes. Picture: ISABEL INFANTES / AFP

British pop group Sugababes have opened up on their normal jobs and secret struggle while out of the spotlight – after being welcomed back by their army of fans.

Mutya Buena, Keisha Buchanan, now 38, and Siobhan Donaghy, 39, lifted the lid on what happened when they quit the group over a decade ago.

The group had six number ones and became infamous for its rotating band members following their breakout single Overload in 2000.

Siobhan was the first to leave in 2001 amid reports of a feud within the band.

Speaking exclusively to The Sun, she told how she went from touring the world to an office job and loved it, working behind-the-scenes in the fashion industry.

The reunited Sugababes this year, L-R: Keisha Buchanan, Mutya Buena and Siobhan Donaghy. Picture: AFP

She explained: “I was a model booker for six years and then went into property in Edinburgh.

“I also did the design for a nursery chain opening in London. I feel like I really thrived as a model booker – I felt like it was my calling, I loved it.

“I learnt you can apply your creative mind to anything and it’s important to have done a more 9-to-5 because we are now running our own business, and that was valuable to get organised in life.”

Siobhan healed her Sugababes rift in 2013 and the band returned for a brief stint as MKS (their initials). That year she married husband Chris McCoy.

“I appreciate how lucky I am now to do what I do,” she adds. “I can spend all my time with the kids during these magical years.”

Back in the day: Siobhan, Mutya and Keisha during a 2001 Australian visit.

Siobhan’s other life is something Mutya would have relished, explaining by the time she left Sugababes in 2005 she was too famous to carve out a normal career.

“Siobhan had the blessing of a little bit of normality. I wish I had the opportunity to work somewhere else,” she said.

“My whole life has been in the industry, since I was 14. I couldn’t have done anything else because people would recognise me.

“I wish I had pushed myself to brave enough to do other things. I’ve done online courses where I learnt how to do nails, hair and beauty.

“I’d love to work behind a desk in the office, in the right job I’d be out there. But I have one of them obvious faces so people would know wherever I go.”

Keisha was the last to leave the group saying she was forced out in 2009.

She spent years fighting to win back the rights to their name, and struggled with broken friendships and the loss of her dad.

“Sugababes was my first job – and I was out of the band for like a year and a half and then I was back in MKS again,” Keisha revealed.

“I will say my life experiences (shaped me), I lost my dad two years ago, so grief and the crazy relationships I’ve had; heartbreaks and lost friends, I’ve been taken advantage of and I’ve been in legal cases, I’ve sued people I’ve trusted.

“Even those 10 years of MKS, when we were trying to get the name back through bribery, and we stood our ground.”

Siobhan (right) left after the group’s first album, Mutya (left) after their fourth, and Keisha (centre) just before their seventh. Now, they’re back in their original line-up.

The girls made a triumphant return as Sugababes last summer and played a 17-date UK tour, which included a stop at Glastonbury before taking on more festivals this year.

They also released their first album since 2010 – The Lost Tapes – which rocketed to number two on the iTunes chart.

“We’ve been through the trenches. It’s been a journey that changed who I am 100%. Them watching us now is like icing on the cake.

“They lost. But we also know that things could change tomorrow.”

Their next biggest gig is at London’s O2 Arena in September and they are hoping to make it a sellout.

This story originally appeared on The Sun and is republished here with permission.

Originally published as Noughties pop act Sugababes reveal their ‘normal’ jobs before comeback