Samantha Fox facts for kids

Samantha Karen Fox (born 15 April 1966) is an English pop singer and former model from London. She became famous in the 1980s for both her music and her work as a popular newspaper model. She has also appeared on reality TV shows and worked as a television presenter.

When she was 16, Fox began her modeling career. She quickly became one of the most photographed British women of the 1980s. After being named "Model of the Year" for three years in a row by The Sun newspaper, she decided to focus on her music career at age 20. In 2008, fans voted her the top model of all time for the newspaper feature she was famous for.

In 1986, Fox released her first single, "Touch Me (I Want Your Body)". It was a huge success, reaching the top 10 in Europe, North America, and Australia. Her first three albums, Touch Me (1986), Samantha Fox (1987), and I Wanna Have Some Fun (1988), were also very popular around the world. She was even nominated for a Brit Award for Best British Female Solo Artist. She has continued to release music and tour for her fans.

Early life

Samantha Fox was born on 15 April 1966, in London, England. Her mother, Carole, was a dancer on the 1960s music show Ready, Steady, Go!. Growing up, Fox loved the theatre. She started attending the Anna Scher Theatre School when she was only five years old.

She was interested in music from a young age. She formed her first pop band when she was 14. A year later, at age 15, she signed her first record deal with a company called Lamborghini Records.

Career

Modelling

Fox's modeling career started when she was 16. Her mother sent photos of her to a modeling contest in The Sunday People newspaper. She came in second place. This led to an offer from The Sun newspaper to become one of their models.

Her first photo in The Sun appeared on 22 February 1983. She became very popular and was named the newspaper's "Model of the Year" for 1984, 1985, and 1986. During this time, she was one of the most famous women in Britain, along with Diana, Princess of Wales, and Margaret Thatcher.

In 1986, at age 20, Fox decided to leave full-time modeling to focus on her singing career. She is still remembered as one of the most popular models of her time.

Singing

Early Music and Breakthrough

Fox first tried to start a music career in 1983. She released a couple of songs, but they were not successful. However, the experience of performing live helped her later on.

In 1986, the record label Jive Records was looking for a singer for a new song. Fox auditioned and got the part. The song was "Touch Me (I Want Your Body)". It was released in March 1986 and became a massive hit. It reached number 3 in the UK and number 4 in the US. It was number one in many other countries.

After this success, Jive Records offered her a five-album deal. Her first album, Touch Me, was also a hit. It reached number 17 in the UK and was popular across Europe.

Continued Success in the 1980s

Her second album, Samantha Fox, came out in 1987. It had two big hit singles. "Nothing's Gonna Stop Me Now" was a top 10 hit in the UK. "Naughty Girls (Need Love Too)" was a top 3 hit in the US.

In 1988, Fox was nominated for a Brit Award for Best British Female Solo Artist. Her third album, I Wanna Have Some Fun, was released later that year. It included the hits "I Only Wanna Be With You" and "I Wanna Have Some Fun". By the end of the 1980s, she had three top-10 singles in both the UK and the US.

Later Career and Collaborations

After the 1980s, Fox released more albums, but they were not as successful as her first three. She released Just One Night in 1991, 21st Century Fox in 1997, and Angel with an Attitude in 2005.

She has continued to work on new music and perform for her fans. In 2004, she recorded a new version of "Touch Me" with the Swedish singer Günther. She also appeared in the music video. In 2022, she sang on the song "Tomorrow" with the Swedish band Nestor. She has also toured the United States with other popular 80s bands like Bad Boys Blue and Boney M.

Film and television

Fox has also worked in film and television. In 1989, she co-hosted the Brit Awards. The live show had many mistakes, like introducing the wrong guests. Fox later explained that the information they were given was incorrect and the teleprompter was not working right.

She has acted in a few movies, including The Match (1999) and the comedy film Sharknado 5: Global Swarming (2017). She has also appeared on many reality TV shows. These include I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! in 2009, Come Dine with Me in 2010, and Celebrity Big Brother in 2016. In 2023, she competed on Celebrity MasterChef.

Personal life

Fox (left) and her former partner Myra Stratton (right) at the 2010 Fate Awards in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

In her early career, Fox was in relationships with several men, including Paul Stanley from the rock band Kiss.

In 2003, Fox announced that she was in a relationship with her manager, Myra Stratton. They were together until Stratton passed away in 2015.

In 2016, Fox began dating her Norwegian tour manager, Linda Birgitte Olsen. They got engaged in 2020 and were married on 18 June 2022.

Discography

Studio albums

• Touch Me (1986)
• Samantha Fox (1987)
• I Wanna Have Some Fun (1988)
• Just One Night (1991)
• 21st Century Fox (1997)
• Angel with an Attitude (2005)

Awards and recognition