A chorus of ‘whoooooo?’ could be heard echoing across the nation as Aubrey O’Day sashayed her way into the ‘Celebrity Big Brother’ house on Thursday (28 July) night, along with the other 14 stars she’s shacked up with.
The US singer and model isn’t exactly a household name on these shores, but it turns out she’s actually has quite a history on the other side of the pond, with over 10 years in the industry.
As the likes of Tiffany Pollard and Farrah Abraham have proven before, it’s often the lesser known stars who go on to become the most talked-about characters of the series.
With that it mind, let us get you up to speed on all things Aubrey, with our handy 9 Facts In 90 Seconds guide...
1. She found fame on reality TV
Aubrey rose to prominence in 2006 when she appeared on the third incarnation of US reality show, ‘Making The Band’ (it was kind of like ‘Popstars’), which was the brainchild of rapper Sean Combs, aka P Diddy. Having become the stand-out star of the series, she landed a place in the girlband, who called themselves Danity Kane. The series then followed them as they entered the music industry.
2. She’s had some quite big chart success
Danity Kane’s self-titled debut album, released in 2006, hit number one on the US Billboard chart, with first single ‘Show Stopper’ being their most well-known. Sadly, the girlgroup never unleashed their sound on the UK market.
3. She had a very public fall out with P Diddy
Having previously been close to the rapper after he acted as a mentor to her while on ‘Making The Band’, things turned sour in 2008 when he chucked her out of the group, accusing her of trying to expand her fame at the expense of the entire group.
However, she briefly reunited with the group in 2013, but a feud between her and one of her fellow bandmates, Dawn Richard, spelled the end for them the following year.
4. She’s been a star on Broadway
After leaving Dainty Kane the first time around, Aubrey launched a stage career, landing the role of Amber Von Tussle in the Broadway version of ‘Hairspray’.
5. Her latest music ventures haven’t been so successful
In 2012, Aubrey had a stab at launching a solo career, but it failed to live up to her days in Danity Kane, with her debut album, ‘Between Two Evils’ only managing to chart at #131.
Most recently, Aubrey formed a duet with former bandmate, Shannon Bex, called Dumblonde, with their first LP reaching just 129 in the US chart.
6. She’s faced off against Donald Trump
The star ruffled more than a few feathers on the US version of ‘The Apprentice’, which was fronted by the controversial US presidential candidate, in 2012. She was berated regularly for her repeated misconduct, but somehow managed to make it to the 14th week of the show, finishing in third place.
7. She’s posed for Playboy
Aubrey bared all for the magazine in a 2009 shoot and caused a stir when she proudly proclaimed her pictures were better than fellow MTV star Heidi Montag’s. “You know, you can take a million pretty pictures, every celebrity girl has taken a million pretty pictures, but it’s like: Which pictures are really going to stand out and be iconic, and which pictures are just pretty pictures that are here today, gone tomorrow?” she said at the time. Miaow.
8. She’s been candid about her sexuality
Having been subjected to speculation about her sexuality, Aubrey has spoken about it on a number of occasions. During a 2009 interview with Chelsea Handler, she said: “Generally, I don’t like to label myself... I want to find someone I’m passionate about, and I don’t want to limit myself to one segment of the population.”
She is also a gay rights advocate, and supported the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network as her charity on ‘Celebrity Apprentice’.
9. She’s probably had some advice about ‘CBB’ from a famous friend
Aubrey is good friends with former ‘Celebrity Big Brother’ star Jenna Jameson, who appeared on last year’s summer series. And if Aubrey is anything like her pal, we’re set for fireworks.
‘Celebrity Big Brother’ airs nightly on Channel 5.
