Sarah Harding's Popstars: The Rivals mentor Pete Waterman has said she was 'destined' for fame.
The TV show judge, who helped choose Sarah to be part of Girls Aloud during the series, appeared on Good Morning Britain on Sunday and said he always knew Sarah would be part of the band and she "bubbled with enthusiasm".
Sarah tragically died on Sunday after battling breast cancer. She was just 39-years-old.
The singer had shot to fame when she auditioned on Popstars: The Rivals in 2002, with the show putting her together with Cheryl, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh to form Girls Aloud.
Pete said on GMB: "She was just a lovely, lovely young kid, she couldn't believe she was in the competition and she bubbled with enthusiasm.
"She was just real and that's what the programme picked up was her ordinariness.
"She had enthusiasm, she was the girl next door that's why she was in the band. The public loved her."
Pete went on: "Certain people when they walk in room have an aura about them.
"You pick up that's what you're looking for and she did that there's no question about that."
He continued: "There was no question that she would be in the final band, there was probably 10 people who could have made it.
"I remember talking to her at times during the show and saying, 'Don't worry, don't worry you're gonna be there.'
"She always doubted herself, she had the enthusiasm, but she wasn't over self-believed."
Susanna Reid asked about Sarah's struggles, including her stint in rehab for an addiction to sleeping pills and alcohol.
Pete said: "The first thing all people forget about this job - it is hard work. It's 20 hours a day, cameras in your face, journalists on the phone, it can be not fun... it becomes a little bit tiring and the shine goes off it a bit and all the demons start to kick in.
"That is absolutely natural. It's very hard to say to young people, 'Calm down because this is not going to last forever because everybody thinks it's going to last forever and of course, it never does."
Sarah's heartbroken mum Marie announced the sad news of her passing on Sunday.
Marie said: "It's with deep heartbreak that today I'm sharing the news that my beautiful daughter Sarah has sadly passed away.
"Many of you will know of Sarah's battle with cancer and that she fought so strongly from her diagnosis until her last day.
"She slipped away peacefully this morning. I'd like to thank everyone for their kind support over the past year.
"It meant the world to Sarah and it gave her great strength and comfort to know she was loved.
"I know she won't want to be remembered for her fight against this terrible disease – she was a bright shining star and I hope that’s how she can be remembered instead."
