Sugarbabes are the faces of new cervical cancer campaign

[juliao2]

Censored

[juliao2]

the face of Jo's

http://www.sugababes.com/home.php

http://www.sugababes.com/data/image/ADSC_0251_VI.jpg


from wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugababes

British tabloids

In Britain, the members of the group do not get much media coverage as individuals, but the group's perceived "moodiness",[93] alleged backstage catfights,[94] and press junket tantrums[94] have hit the headlines. They are well-known for being surrounded by continuous rumours of in-fighting within the group and constant split reports[95][96] - most notably the alleged bullying of Siobhán Donaghy who quit the group in 2001. Further rumours suggested that the two remaining members Keisha Buchanan and Mutya Buena had bullied replacement Heidi Range, although Range herself has repeatedly denied such allegations;[97][98] Buena later admitted that she "just didn't talk to her" when she first joined.[94] Buchanan claimed that there has been only one serious fallout between herself and Range during a 2004 gig in Dublin, regarding the Britney Spears music video, "Toxic".[99] The girls have also hit headlines, following their tour with Take That, attacking the lead singer Gary Barlow for his rudeness.[100]

In April 2007, Amelle Berrabah, was detained over allegations she assaulted an 18-year-old woman on the dance floor in the Bar Med club located in Bridge Street, Guildford, Surrey. The Daily Mirror and The Sun newspaper reported the singer spent the night in a cell, before being released without charge.

In March 2008 rumours once again surfaced about a fall-out between the three girls. The Sun claimed that at the after-show party, following a performance at the Royal Albert Hall on 20 March 2008, the girls "didn't speak a single word (to each other)." The Sun added that Heidi shunned the VIP lounge at the London nightclub 20, staying at the main bar and being absent from Keisha and Amelle, after a bust-up with Keisha.[101]

In September 2009 rumours of bullying within the group once again resurfaced, with Amelle "mysteriously" going missing for several days causing the remaining members, Heidi and Keisha, to perform as a duo in Movida.[102]

[onlyme]

Hi Julia

I'm so sorry you feel this way about this campaign. I totally understand your viewpoint hun but I think the age range that this campaign is targeted at is totally that of the Sugababes fans and they do have a massive fan base despite all of the adverse press about them, so the potential of this message reaching thousands of young girls who are too old to be vaccinated and educated at school about cervical cancer but are yet too young to be called for a smear and have little understanding of why they will be called when they are twenty five and could potentially not attend is massive and I think that can only be a good thing.

Cervical canver rareley get good press and I can understand that you are worried that this will do more harm than good but Jades ( I'm not knocking her, I love her to bits ) story prompted women of a certain age group to go and have their smears when they'd previously put it off or had never even attended one so fingers crossed this campaign will do the same and potentially save lives in the future.

Lots of love Always xxx

Hope Tuesday went well xxxxx

[paula d]

Hi
I just wanted to add that I completely agree with Dee, any kind of publicity can only be a good thing.
Paula

[juliao2]

nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

[Golightlycat]

I honestly think that you are reading too much into this. I don't think you need to have had cc or even have a personal connection to it to raise awareness especially when we're talking about prevention and education. We ALL have exposure to HPV and the risk of abnormal cells. We are all at risk as women.

The fact is that there are a lot of young women who are not having smears either because they are too young or because they are scared, and then there are the parents who are not understanding the need for the vaccination. We need women who are young, sexually active (in whatever way) that other young women can relate to. I don't think it's damaging to Jo's and in fact, I think it's long overdue.

I'm 42. I like the Sugababes for the music and I know about their rather turblent past - both personal and professional. They are not and have never been marketed in the squeaky clean girl band image and most of the people who are targeted by this campaign know their story. I think that rather than targetting under 18s this campaign is more towards women in their 20s and getting them to attend smears when they are eligible. Many of whom have not had the education that we did about smears. The Sugarbabes are pretty normal women in this regard. As for the parents who have strong beliefs, I'm not sure I can name a single celeb would has a clean enough image, to satisfy them. They will always label people who have had sex out of marriage as promiscuous or worse.

I could be the mum of a 20 year old (or older) and think that a high profile campaign is a good thing. I think it's great that it's getting coverage in magazines. And FWIW I'm STILL working hard on awareness for Jo's for women of my age - I'll be in the February edition of Essentials mag and I'm working on an idea for (and with) Jo's which could be really exciting next year (for all ages I hope!). I think it would be good to do more for slightly older women - and maybe this is something that Jo's will look into to.

But we all have opinons and they are all valid. But most people I've spoken too are just really grateful that we're talking about cc and hpv and related issues without someone needing to die. That it's not taboo. That we can celebrate being beautiful and sexy and liberated without being labelled as dirty.

Z

[juliao2]

Its one thing not being able to leave the CC club
But I cant even choose to close my Jo's Trust account - not even one of the frequently asked questions!
So I have deleted all the posts I could access as I do not want to be associated with Jo's Trust any more.

[Golightlycat]

Julia, I'm sorry you feel so strongly about it.

Perhaps you should contact Jo's directly.

Z

[onlyme]

I too am very sorry you feel you have to leave Jo's because of this. You have been a massive support of Jo's for a very long time now and are a much valued member so please reconsider your decision hun or at least have a chat to Rob or Rebecca (Shoo) before making a final decision.

Lots of love always x

[snowy]

Ouch.....this is a toughie.....but I'm with Zoe etc......Ive put a link to this website on my facebook page and I have a number of friends in their early/ mid/ late 20's. Purely from reading this link they have sent me messages in shock as they didnt even realise that they werent allowed smears until they were 25.
In my eyes ANYTHING....that makes even 1 person go for a smear/recognise the symptoms can only be a good thing.....
Yes....the sugababes have had their ups and downs....but they too are young women....and in my opinion.....I dont think they are the sort of group that most people would reject a smear or not read the site in protest over??? You obviously feel differently......
x

[kg]

Hi all,
I had no intention of adding to this debate until I had the dubious pleasure of watching these 'ladies' in action at a recent awards ceremony that my husband and I were guests at. Perhaps I should start by saying that I am a young 40 and am far from being a prude.
Would I want my daughter (12) to look up to this group of women as a role model in any way? Absolutely not.
I look back on the debates re the vaccinne where many of Jo's supporters were horrified that some mothers felt the vaccinne would lead to their daughters being promiscuous. Now, I'm not saying that the Sugababes promote promiscuity. Yet, marketing is a very strong tool, so why was this group picked as Ambassadors?
Isn't the message contradictory?
This group has a bad reputation for bullying. Well, what a message to send out to the age group where bullying is most prevalent and damaging, i.e. the same age group that we want to have the vaccinne.
Who benefits most from this campaign? Oh, that would be the troubled pop group desperate for any positive media attention. Jo's Trust or the cc campaign in general? - you're having a laugh if you think that's the truth.
This is nothing more than a very silly marketing decision.
I happen to like the Sugababes music. I happen to believe they're probably some really feisty gals who are far better than some of the saccharine pop the industry churns out. But what the heck do they have to offer to the cc campaign? Couldn't we think of anyone more suitable?
I'd lay money that the first approach came from their management!

Anyhow, Julia, have to agree with you on this one.

K x

[Rei]

I've got to add my bit as this campaign is so close to my heart, it really is.

My own background to the Sugababes is that I a) do not like their music and b) nor do I like them on a personal level. BUT I do realise that they are popular with the exact age bracket that we are trying to educate. I'm not sure if I'm attached to this campaign as it is targetting the exact problem I had with getting the news I had cancer, but I'm pretty sure it has something to do with it.

I was 21, I had no idea what was going on, and what scares me the most is other women my age or younger being in the same position. I'm not saying that the younger you are, the more cancer affects you - god no! Just saying that it's pretty scary not having any clue what it even is, how you got it, why you got it, what's going to happen to you, or who to talk to. This is getting it out there. This is reaching those young girls who have been found to be scared and confused by all the press out there at the moment about cc (which may I add is aimed at information for mothers, not for their daughters). This is for them.

Through this campaign I was lucky enough to meet them, and I've got to be honest, what they said touched me. I feel that I'm a good judge of character, and they were truly attached to the meaning behind this campaign. They spoke to me about Jade, and about how they admitted they were ignorant to cc before she was diagnosed. I thanked them from the bottom of my heart and meant it. They are doing this because they care and I truly believe that. I'm very sorry some others don't agree, but I can completely see why you would think that from the way the media portrays them.

Please try and see the good it will do...You all know I would NEVER associate with anything that would be detremental to our cause.

Rei
xxx