The Cheeky Girls
Romanian twin duo known for cheeky pop hits.
The Cheeky Girls are identical twin sisters Gabriela and Monica Irimia, a Romanian singing duo. They rose to prominence in the UK after auditioning on *Popstars: The Rivals*, and between 2002 and 2004 they scored four top 10 singles. Their most famous track is their debut, "Cheeky Song (Touch My Bum)", which sold over 1.2 million copies worldwide.
Gabriela and Monica were born to Doru and Margit Irimia. In Romania, they trained in gymnastics and ballet and performed with the Hungarian State Opera. In 2002, they moved to the UK with their mother and quickly gained attention by auditioning on two British TV shows: Channel 4's *Model Behaviour* and, more notably, *Popstars: The Rivals*. After their auditions left judges Pete Waterman and Louis Walsh speechless—Waterman later called them the worst act ever—multiple record labels contacted the Granada Press Office. The Press Office then connected them with Paul Holland at Granada Ventures, who arranged a deal with Multiply Records, a Telstar Records subsidiary. "Cheeky Song (Touch My Bum)" was recorded and released in the first week of December. It entered the chart at number two and stayed in the top five for five weeks, three of them at number two.
Two more top three hits followed: "Take Your Shoes Off" and "(Hooray, Hooray!) It's a Cheeky Holiday!". Their music is disco-pop aimed at pre-teens, and most of their songs are written by their mother, who also manages them.
On 4 August 2006, the *Evening Standard* reported that the Cheeky Girls were "at rock bottom" and facing bankruptcy court action because their now-defunct label, Telstar Records, had not paid them. The article stated they owed £4,500 in unpaid taxes plus other bills, and that Telstar owed them £2.2 million. Later reports put their total debt at £130,000.
In September 2009, they launched a Cheeky Girls make-up line for young teens. On 7 March 2013, they appeared on the BBC programme *This Week* to discuss Romanian immigration to the UK, following a short video report by Monica about British fears of an influx of benefit-seekers from Romania. They had previously appeared on the same show on 10 July 2008.
In December 2006, tabloids revealed that former Liberal Democrat MP Lembit Öpik had ended his long engagement to ITV weather presenter Siân Lloyd and was romantically involved with Gabriela. Öpik later "passed documentation on to the singers'
- born
- Not specified in source
- died
- Not specified in source
- field
- Music
- nationality
- Romanian
- known_for
- Cheeky Song (Touch My Bum), four UK top 10 hits
Lore & Background
Gabriela and Monica were born to Doru and Margit Irimia. Their early life in Romania consisted of studying gymnastics and ballet and touring with the Hungarian State Opera. Moving to the United Kingdom with their mother in 2002, the girls shot to fame as the Cheeky Girls after auditioning on two British TV shows, Channel 4's Model Behaviour and more importantly Popstars: The Rivals. Following two appearances on the show with their audition, which had judges Pete Waterman and Louis Walsh not knowing what to say – Waterman was later quoted as saying they were the worst act ever – various record companies approached the Granada Press Office. The Press Office contacted Paul Holland at Granada Ventures, who was able to secure them a deal with Multiply Records, a subsidiary of Telstar Records.
'Cheeky Song (Touch My Bum)' was swiftly recorded and released in the first week in December. Entering the chart at number two, the single remained in the top five for five consecutive weeks, four of them at number two. This was quickly followed up with two more top three hits, 'Take Your Shoes Off' and '(Hooray, Hooray!) It's a Cheeky Holiday!'. Their style of music is primarily disco-pop, aimed at the pre-teen market. Most of their songs are written by their mother, who also acts as their manager.
On 4 August 2006, the Evening Standard reported that the Cheeky Girls were 'at rock bottom' and facing bankruptcy action in court owing to not having been paid by their now-defunct record label, Telstar Records. The article said that the women owed £4,500 in unpaid taxes, along with other bills, and that Telstar owed them £2.2 million. Later, it was reported that they owed £130,000 in total. In September 2009, the act released their Cheeky Girls make-up range, aimed at the young teen market.
Reader's Guide
The Cheeky Girls represent a peculiar footnote in early 2000s UK pop culture, emerging from a reality TV audition that judges deemed the worst ever yet still securing a record deal. Their debut single's massive sales and chart performance demonstrate the power of novelty pop and media exposure. Their music, written by their mother and aimed at pre-teens, carved a niche in disco-pop. The duo's later financial troubles, stemming from their label's collapse, highlight the precarious nature of the music industry for short-lived acts. Their appearances on political discussion programs, discussing Romanian immigration, show an unexpected turn in their public role. The romantic involvement of Gabriela with a Liberal Democrat MP added tabloid interest. Overall, their legacy is as a brief but memorable pop phenomenon, defined by a single hit and a string of chart successes, followed by financial and personal challenges.
Did You Know?
- Their debut single 'Cheeky Song (Touch My Bum)' sold more than 1.2 million units internationally.
- They were signed to Multiply Records, a subsidiary of Telstar Records, after their Popstars: The Rivals audition.
- Their mother wrote most of their songs and acted as their manager.
- In 2006, it was reported that Telstar Records owed them £2.2 million.
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