After being pictured looking barely recognisable from the fresh-faced star who started out in Girls Aloud a decade ago, Sarah Harding has told her inner circle she’s terrified her partying past has damaged her looks.
Sarah, 31, arrived at the Radio 1 studios in London last week with her bandmates to promote their 12-date reunion tour next year with seemingly enhanced lips and a smooth-looking face – prompting speculation she may have resorted to surgery.
"Sarah is worried she’s lost her looks and fears her bandmates will look better than her on tour."
A source says: “Sarah is worried she’s lost her looks and fears her bandmates will look better than her on tour. She worries her hard partying in the past has taken its toll.”
Last year, Sarah admitted using lip fillers was “a big mistake,” but denied having Botox.
Talking about the singer’s appearance, top plastic surgeon Alex Karidis says: “I think Sarah’s had cosmetic work done and sadly it’s made her look older. Her forehead is extremely smooth, which suggests Botox, and it looks like she’s had filler injected into the border of her lips and her nose-to-mouth lines.”
The troubled star admitted she “hit rock bottom” when she checked into rehab last October to deal with alcohol, prescription drugs and depression issues following her split with fiancé DJ Tom Crane, 31, after four years together, during which time they were regulars on the clubbing scene.
And pals say Sarah – who was linked to DJ Mark One recently – is still hoping to find love.
Sources say Sarah and Tom have remained friendly – and the pair were even spotted having a drink in trendy London restaurant Gilgamesh last week.
An insider says: “Sarah loves hanging out with Tom, but who knows if anything will ever happen between them again? They are just friends for now.
“She’d love to be in a caring relationship – but she knows she needs to get her own life totally back on track first.”
And sources say Sarah is facing more stress as the tension with bandmates, Cheryl Cole, 29, Nadine Coyle, 27, Kimberley Walsh, 30, and Nicola Roberts, 27, has been rising at rehearsals.
The girls are all in relationships and she sometimes feels like the outsider
Last week, Nadine admitted: “Sometimes it can all kick off. Then someone might back the other one up and be like: ‘No, she’s right because of this!’ And then it all starts. Everybody has their own feisty version.”
A pal adds: “Sarah’s frustrated. The girls are all in relationships and she sometimes feels like the outsider. These insecurities over her looks haven’t helped.”