Noughties pop icons make rare public appearance – 22 years after TV show that launched their career
MORE than two decades after finding fame, this pop duo have sent a crowd wild during a rare public appearance.
Gabriela and Monica Irimia – best known as The Cheeky Girls – glammed up and took to the stage in Chester this weekend.
The Romanian duo slipped into their iconic boob tubes and hot pants before belting out their top 10 hit Cheeky Song (Touch My Bum) at the city’s Pride celebrations.
The identical twins opted for silver outfits, which they teamed with sky-high sandals, and they wore their hair in side ponytails.
Gabriela and Monica, 41, also embraced the festivities by painting rainbows onto their cheeks.
The Cheeky Girls’ performance at Chester Pride was well received, with one fan writing on X: “Absolutely loved seeing The Cheeky Girls!”
Another added on TikTok: “Well pride this year was so good, 12 year old me would be very very happy!”
The Cheeky Girls became a household name after they auditioned for Popstars: The Rivals in 2002.
The ITV show created the hugely successful pop band Girls Aloud and its rival boy band One True Voice, although the latter did not go on to achieve great things.
It did, however, open doors for Gabriela and Monica and they released their first hit – Cheeky Song (Touch My Bum) – the following year.
The song was based on their self-penned audition piece, which had left judges Pete Waterman, Louis Walsh and Geri Halliwell in hysterics.
Cheeky Song (Touch My Bum) sold 1.2 million copies worldwide and charted at No 2 in the UK. Their debut album, Party Time, reached No 14.
As their fame began to dwindle, Gabriela and Monica stepped back from the spotlight and began working in car sales.
Speaking after landing their new jobs, the girls admitted that they do still get recognised while on the forecourt.
Gaby told The Sun: “I just say, ‘No, I’m a lookalike’ and they are like, ‘Oh God, you really look like her’.”
Monica added: “My only worry in the showroom is making sure customers are happy and my lipstick is in place.”
The Cheeky Girls have, however, found themselves with a new army of Gen Z fans thanks to TikTok.
As a result, they released their brand new single Let’s Have Fun and album PartyTime 20 in 2022.