Monk: Bardot gave me post traumatic stress

LXE pop up store. Sophie Monk. Picture: Julie Kiriacoudis
Source: News Corp Australia

In a revealing interview, Monk said she has not seen the four other girls — Katie Underwood, Belinda Chapple, Sally Polihronas and Tiffani Wood — since the band broke up in 2002.

The five became overnight celebrities in 2000 thanks to the phenomenally successful Popstars TV show.

Monk was in Melbourne on Wednesday night for the LXE pop up store launch, where she caught up with her only behind-the-scenes friend left from the Bardot days — the woman behind LXE, Annie Cipressi.

“I think being famous overnight, I wouldn’t be surprised if I had post traumatic stress disorder,” Monk said.

“There is some s–t I will reveal one day.”

“It’s just not normal for everyone to know you all of the sudden.”

Bardot: Belinda Chapple with Tiffany Wood, Sally Polihronas, Sophie Monk and Katie Underwood.
Source: News Limited

Monk, 35, said it was constantly like being in a competition between the girls.

“It was worse than high school because the girls were smarter,” she said.

“They were a bit older then me too.

“I’m sure they were messing around, but I was so innocent back then.

“I don’t speak to the girls anymore, it’s like school, we grew apart.

“We were in a competition with that band, you know how it is with young girls.”

Monk said at the time she had difficulty coming to terms with just how big Popstars was.

“There was no other show like it, ever, it was before Australian Idol,” she said.

“I thought it was going to be like an ABC documentary.

“It was so crazy, people used to pull my hair out.

“I remember being in Singapore and they had to shut the escalators and give us police escorts, it was a bit like Michael Jackson.

“I do miss those days now I guess, now no one gives a s–t!”.

Monk, who will soon head to Los Angeles for a number of work opportunities, said she is used to the fame game now.

“I’ve been doing it for years, I don’t know any different really since I’ve been an adult,” she said.

“There were a lot of years I hated everyone talking about me.

“But now you realise it work, so as long as I’m not doing anything illegal, who cares?”

She was very open about friendship with Cipressi, who used to work for the clothing label that had the same name as the girl group — Bardot.

Best friends Annie Cipressi and Sophie Monk at the LXE pop up store launch. Picture: Julie Kiriacoudis
Source: News Corp Australia

“She has been my best friend since the Bardot days,” she said.

“I used to come in to Bardot clothing that she used to work for, and they used to sponsor us.

“We became very close.”

Originally published as Monk: Bardot gave me post traumatic stress
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