10 girlband stars who have successfully gone solo

Camila Cabello, formerly of Fifth Harmony fame, has shaken off her girl-group shackles and dropped her debut solo single, Crying In The Club.

The song has raced up charts across the world and is set to kick-start a huge career for the 20-year-old star.

But she's just the latest pop female to fly the coop and try her luck alone. Here are some of the most successful former girl-group stars who have gone on to massive success with their solo careers.

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Camila's first video, a mix of her songs I Have Questions and Crying In The Club, has been watched more than 6 million times in three days after premiering on YouTube, as of 22 May 2017.

She also smashed a performance at the 2017 Billboard Awards, so not a bad start to a solo career.

"I feel like I've been cooped up in a studio for months doing this. During writing the music I completely forgot anyone was going to hear it - now it's really sinking in that people are going to hear it," Camila told Nick Grimshaw on The Radio 1 Breakfast Show.

"I'm running round like crazy so I don't feel like I have time to process it, which I think is a good thing. Otherwise, the nerves would be way worse."

We know: way to state the obvious, but after spreading her wings from the already super-successful Destiny’s Child, Queen Bey basically took over the world. That’s not to say we wouldn’t love a Destiny’s Child reunion – the 2013 Super Bowl gave us a taster and we want MORE.

She often took on lead vocal duty in The Pussycat Dolls, so it wasn’t a huge surprise when Scherzy found success as a solo star, with UK top three singles Poison, Don’t Hold Your Breath and Right There. Then, of course, she became an X Factor judge in both the US and UK. Shamazing.

Chezza’s four solo studio albums have all the UK top 10, with Three Words and Messy Little Raindrops actually hitting the top spot, following the success of singles Fight For This Love and Promise This. Every time she disappears into the studio, the former Girls Aloud star returns with another anthem, like 2012’s Call My Name and 2014’s Crazy Stupid Love. More music soon, please, Chez.

Ginger Spice shook the world when she left the Spice Girls in 1998, but she didn’t stay quiet for long, releasing her debut solo album just a year later. Certified double platinum, Schizophonic is still Geri’s most successful album of the three she’s released, but 2001’s Scream If You Wanna Go Faster also made the top five in the UK Albums Chart. The Great Sport Relief Bake Off star has also scored four UK number one singles. Remember Mi Chico Latino?

You might not remember Louise leaving Eternal in 1995, but you must remember her solo bangers, Naked and 2 Faced? Plus that time she covered Stuck In The Middle With You. That was really great. Louise has four top 10 albums to her name and a successful TV presenting career, as well as coming second in Strictly Come Dancing 2016. We can’t wait to see what she does next.

Since Mis-Teeq’s split in 2005 Alesha has had two UK top 10 singles, Breathe Slow and The Boy Does Nothing, as well as platinum-selling album The Alesha Show. After winning Strictly in 2007, Alesha went on to judge the show for three consecutive years, before joining the Britain’s Got Talent panel.

Beyoncé isn’t the only child of destiny to have solo hits; BFF Kelly Rowland made our 2002 by teaming up with Nelly for number one smash, Dilemma (owwww). Then came massive floor-fillers like Work, Commander and Down For Whatever. Kelly also appeared in 2012 comedy Think Like A Man and has another movie, Love By The 10th Date, coming out this year.

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Baby Bunton has released three albums since her time in the Spice Girls, with her solo debut – A Girl Like Me – reaching number four in the UK Albums Chart. Singles are where she’s really excelled, though, with seven top 10s in her armour. Remember What I Am? Remember What Took You So Long? And, more importantly, do you remember Downtown? Absolute classic.

Another Spice soloist who’s gone on to great things? Melanie C, who has released a whopping seven studio albums, including 1999’s Northern Star. Certified triple platinum, it featured number one hits I Turn To You and Never Be The Same Again, and always makes us think of the Bend It Like Beckham soundtrack that Mel also featured on.