No Angels

Lore & Background

The members of No Angels were selected on the RTL2 channel's first series of Popstars, a reality talent show which set about producing a five-piece girl group. Acquired by Tresor TV television producer Holger Roost-Macias at the MIPTV Media Market event in Cannes, France, in 2000, the series was the third adaptation of the format following both an Australian and a New Zealand version. In August and September of the same year, over 4,300 hopefuls turned up to auditions in Hamburg, Berlin, Frankfurt, Leipzig, Cologne, Oberhausen, Stuttgart and Munich which required both singing and dancing experience. The judges consisted of Dutch entertainer Simone Angel, concert booker Mario M. Mendrzycki and Rainer Moslener, an A&R director of Polydor Records. 32 out of 200 girls eventually made it from the local recall shows to Mallorca, Spain, to get trained in singing, dancing, and fitness. While the judges continued eliminating two or three girls each day with the help of choreographer Detlef Soost and British vocal coach Robert Bicknel, eleven finalists remained and were sent home to prepare. After a final elimination round, Nadja Benaissa, Lucy Diakovska, Sandy Mölling, Vanessa Petruo and Jessica Wahls were chosen, and signed a recording contract with Polydor. Managed by Joy Berhanu during their first year, the girls were named No Angels following a public televoting and moved in together near Munich. With the final members of the group in place, the program followed the group during its recording sessions, photo and music video shoots and other promotional commitments such as showcases and instores. The show concluded with the band's first public live performance at The Dome at the Dortmunder Westfalenhalle in February 2001.

Reader's Guide

No Angels have won three ECHOs, a World Music Award, a NRJ Music Award, two Comets, a Bambi and a Goldene Kamera, among others. They are widely regarded as a significant pop-cultural phenomenon of the 2000s and, with four number-one hits, four number-one albums and record sales of more than 5.0 million, the most successful German girl group to date. Beyond chart success, they attracted attention for their diverse lineup, visual identity, and public engagement. Their commercial achievements, influence on teenage and pop culture, and lasting presence in the German music market have established them as one of the defining acts of the talent show era in the German-speaking world.

Did You Know?

• No Angels' debut single "Daylight in Your Eyes" sold over one million copies and became a number-one success in Brazil and Estonia.
• The band's debut album Elle'ments sold more than one million copies worldwide, making it the biggest-selling German album of 2001.
• No Angels represented Germany at the Eurovision Song Contest 2008.
• The group's name was chosen by public televoting.