RIP Sarah Harding
Sarah Harding Dies at Age 39
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A post shared by Sarah Harding (@sarahnicoleharding)
Girls Aloud singer Sarah Harding, 39, who had breast cancer, died on Sunday morning, her mother has said.
Harding revealed in August 2020 that she had been diagnosed with the disease, which had spread to other parts of her body.
Her mother Marie announced the news on Instagram, describing her "beautiful" daughter as "a bright, shining star".
Earlier this year Harding revealed doctors had told her she would not see another Christmas.
Her Girls Aloud bandmates Nicola Roberts and Nadine Coyle led the tributes on social media.
Roberts, who shared photos of them together, posted: "I can't accept that this day has come. My heart is aching and all day everything we went through together has raced round my mind... a part of me or us isn't here anymore and it's unthinkable and painful and utterly cruel."
She added: "Electric girl, you made us. You gave it everything and still with a smile."
Coyle wrote on Instagram: "I am absolutely devastated. I can't think of words that could possibly express how I feel about this girl and what she means to me."
In a post next to a black and white image of Harding, her mother wrote: "It's with deep heartbreak that today I'm sharing the news that my beautiful daughter Sarah has sadly passed away.
"Many of you will know of Sarah's battle with cancer and that she fought so strongly from her diagnosis until her last day. She slipped away peacefully this morning.
"I'd like to thank everyone for their kind support over the past year.
"It meant the world to Sarah and it gave her great strength and comfort to know she was loved.
"I know she won't want to be remembered for her fight against this terrible disease - she was a bright, shining star and I hope that's how she can be remembered instead."