Age: 26
Occupation: Singer, reality-TV star
Previous TIME 100 Appearances: 0
Cole's was the modern-day fairy tale: a fragile beauty packaged into pop stardom as part of girl group Girls Aloud via a TV talent contest, she then snared a handsome soccer player, a star of British Premier League club Chelsea. But it wasn't until earlier this year, when she split from her husband amid reports of his cheating, that Cole, by now enjoying success as a solo artiste, TV personality and model, attained true iconic status as Britain's patron saint of betrayed lovers.