Dec. 27: British singer Javine Hylton, "Touch My Fire," is 29 today.

Javine Dionne Hylton, known simply as  Javine, grew up in Ladbroke Grove, London. She represented the UK at Eurovision Song Contest 2005; beating model Katie Price, for the ticket to Kiev.

Javine, has had a number of Top 20 single hits in the UK. In 2004, her song "You've Got a Friend," was the theme music to Garfield: The Movie. Also, for two years, Hylton played Nala in The Lion King in London's West End.

Javine auditioned for ITV's "Popstars: The Rivals," a reality television talent show in which young hopefuls sought to be picked for a place in a new manufactured group. She was one of the last six contenders for a place in the girl-group, and barely missed out on a spot in what later became the group Girls Aloud. Afterwards, Javine embarked on a solo singing career.

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In the summer of 2003, Hylton released her debut single "Real Things,"  which featured a sample of M.O.P.'s hit "Ante Up."  The single charted in the UK Singles Chart at Number 4, and remains her biggest hit to date.

 

She had three more Top 20 hits soon after; "Surrender (Your Love)," "Best Of My Love" and a cover of Jade's "Don't Walk Away" - a double A-side with a cover of Carole King's "You've Got a Friend."

Hylton's debut album, Surrender, was released after her third single in the summer of 2004. In spite of securing a songwriting partnership with Eg White, and record producers Stargate, along with the singles performing relatively well, her debut album only just managed to get into the UK Albums Chart.  She was dropped by her record label in late 2004.

On 5 March 2005, Hylton won "Eurovision: Making Your Mind Up," the U.K. part of the Eurovision Song Contest 2005, singing "Touch My Fire,"  which she co-wrote.

During the performance, tape used to hold her dress in place came loose, causing a "wardrobe malfunction." In Kiev she had difficulties singing due to a throat infection and finished in 22nd place.

However, when "Touch My Fire" was released as a single, it became her fifth consecutive Top 20 hit, reaching Number 18 in the U.K. Singles Chart.

Hylton has also appeared in Series 4 of the Channel 4 program The Games in 2006, which she went on to win. She also became the first black woman to be named "Rear of the Year."

Javine had a notorious affair with MC Harvey which resulted in the birth of her daughter, Angel.  

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