🎤 WHERE ARE THEY NOW? FORGOTTEN POP STARS WHO DESERVED BETTER

Once upon a time, these icons ruled Smash Hits, Top of the Pops, and your old Nokia ringtone collection. Then — poof — gone faster than a Jamster subscription charge. But pop legends never truly disappear… they just move to Facebook Marketplace, kids’ TV, or your cousin’s wedding reception. Let’s check in on the ones who deserved better. 💅

💫 Phixx

Then: Formed from Popstars: The Rivals rejects (we mean that lovingly), Phixx gave us dark eyeliner, shirtless chaos, and the immortal Hold On Me. They were like the bad-boy cousins of One True Voice — and honestly, we were into it.

Now: The group fizzled by 2006, but members went on to theatre, modelling, and normal-person life. Peter Smith even popped up on The Voice Ireland.

Daisy says: “The audacity! The commitment! The low-rise jeans! Phixx were basically The Wanted before The Wanted knew they were wanted.”

💋 Clea

Then: Named after their first initials (Chloe, Lynsey, Emma, Aimee), Clea were the girl group Popstars: The Rivals forgot to sign — but they gave us Download It, which truly deserved a Grammy.

Now: The girls split in the late 00s after a brief but iconic run, with Emma and Lynsey later forming the duo LoveShy (Mr Gorgeous, anyone?). These days they’ve gone their separate ways — families, careers, and a forever spot on our MP3 players.

Daisy says: “Pop justice was not served. Imagine how big Download It would’ve been in the TikTok era???”

🕺 V

Then: Launched in 2004 as the clean-cut answer to Busted and McFly, V blessed us with Hip to Hip — a song so catchy it should’ve come with a health warning.

Now: The group split after one album, but some members went into TV and theatre. Antony Brant is now a close mate of McFly (justice for networking).

Daisy says: “They wore matching white outfits in the rain. For that alone, we salute them.”

💍 Avenue

Then: Formed in 2006, Avenue were destined for boyband greatness — until rule-breaking drama got them booted off The X Factor. They released Last Goodbye (ironically their only single) and then… well, yeah.

Now: Andy Brown went on to front Lawson, while Scott Clarke traded pop tours for wedding gigs — now serenading newlyweds across the UK. Pop career? Completed it, mate.

Daisy says: “From X Factor to first dance, that’s the definition of a full-circle moment. Bet he still nails the key change every time.”

🎀 Frank

Then: Remember the all-female band who supported Girls Aloud? That was Frank — a pop-rock girl group with bops like I’m Not Shy. Think Sugababes energy with guitar straps.

Now: They split after their debut album flopped (injustice!!). Members moved into radio, theatre, and creative work. Lauren Blake even appeared in Dream Team.

Daisy says: “They were doing TikTok-core girlband vibes before TikTok was even a thing. The world wasn’t ready.”

💎 Lisa Scott-Lee

Then: Steps icon, solo queen, and the woman who once said “I will get a Top 10 single or I’ll quit the music industry.” (Totally Scott-Lee, 2005 — cultural reset.)

Now: Lisa did take a break from music, but never from the spotlight — living her best life in Dubai, doing TV, theatre, and occasional Steps reunions.

Daisy says: “The nation failed her. Electric should’ve been a number one, don’t @ me.”

🚦 Abs Breen (aka Abz Love)

Then: Former Five member turned solo act with Stop Sign (absolute tune). He had the bad-boy-with-heart energy every 00s magazine needed.

Now: Reinvented as Abz Love, he’s done reality TV (The Farm, Celebs Go Dating), charity work, and literal farming.

Daisy says: “From boyband chaos to actual farm life? That’s character development, babes.”

💄 Mini Viva

Then: Pop perfection in 2009 form — Left My Heart in Tokyo was pure Xenomania magic.

Now: Their follow-ups didn’t chart, but Britt and Frankee remain cult faves in pop fandom circles.

Daisy says: “They walked so Rina Sawayama and Charli XCX could strut. Forever legends.”

🪩 Final Chorus

Pop’s graveyard isn’t tragic — it’s glittery. These artists might not top the charts anymore, but they live rent-free in our hearts (and on our burnt CDs). They remind us of an era when pop was unapologetically fun, a little messy, and always in lip gloss.

Here’s to the ones who deserved better. 💖 Boom boom, indeed.