# Javine Hylton
**Javine Dionne Hylton** (born 1981), known mononymously as **Javine**, is an English former singer and songwriter whose hip-hop-influenced R&B produced five consecutive UK top 20 singles and a [Eurovision Song Contest](https://www.edgepedia.org/eurovision-song-contest) appearance for the United Kingdom in 2005.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/javine-mn0000808943) • [2](https://www.mvplife.com/javine-hylton-from-superstar-to-superfit/) She first came to national attention on the ITV talent show *Popstars: The Rivals* in 2002, where she reached the final six for the girl group that became [Girls Aloud](https://www.edgepedia.org/girls-aloud) but missed the line-up, and then built a solo career on the Innocent Records label.[3](https://www.inkl.com/news/popstars-the-rivals-javine-hylton-looks-very-different-after-quitting-showbiz)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1981, London, England; grew up in Ladbroke Grove, West London[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/javine-mn0000808943) |
| Stage work | Played Nala in a London production of *The Lion King* for two years from age 18[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/javine-mn0000808943) |
| Eurovision 2005 | Won the UK heat *Making Your Mind Up* with "Touch My Fire", then finished 22nd of 24 in the Kyiv final with 18 points[4](https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2005/united-kingdom) |
| Chart run | Five consecutive UK top 20 hits between 2003 and 2005[2](https://www.mvplife.com/javine-hylton-from-superstar-to-superfit/) |
| Later career | Retrained as a personal trainer and founded the brand Javine Total Fitness[2](https://www.mvplife.com/javine-hylton-from-superstar-to-superfit/) |
## Early life and stage work
Hylton was born in London in 1981 and grew up in the [Ladbroke Grove](https://www.edgepedia.org/ladbroke-grove) section of [West London](https://www.edgepedia.org/west-london), on the [Hammersmith & City line](https://www.edgepedia.org/hammersmith-and-city-line).[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/javine-mn0000808943) Her mother, who owned a large collection of soul and reggae records, encouraged her interest in music; as a preteen Hylton began building a collection of her own, ranging from Aretha Franklin, whom she has cited as her favorite vocalist, to Salt-N-Pepa and the British singer-rapper Neneh Cherry.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/javine-mn0000808943) She has said that her first passion was dance rather than singing, and that she started stage school at age 10.[5](https://www.valeorine.com/reference/javine-hylton)
At 18 she auditioned for the role of [Nala](https://www.edgepedia.org/nala-the-lion-king) in a London production of *The Lion King*, won the part, and played it for two years.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/javine-mn0000808943) After the run ended she began writing songs and pursuing a recording career.[5](https://www.valeorine.com/reference/javine-hylton)
## Popstars: The Rivals
In 2002 Hylton auditioned for *Popstars: The Rivals*, the ITV series that set out to manufacture two competing groups, one all-female and one all-male, whose singles would battle in the charts.[2](https://www.mvplife.com/javine-hylton-from-superstar-to-superfit/) The judging panel included [Geri Halliwell](https://www.edgepedia.org/geri-halliwell) of the [Spice Girls](https://www.edgepedia.org/spice-girls) and [Pete Waterman](https://www.edgepedia.org/pete-waterman) of the Stock, Aitken & Waterman production team.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/javine-mn0000808943) Hylton became popular with viewers and reached the final six, but received the fewest viewer votes in the final and missed the five-place line-up of the group that became Girls Aloud.[3](https://www.inkl.com/news/popstars-the-rivals-javine-hylton-looks-very-different-after-quitting-showbiz) • [6](https://wiredspace.wits.ac.za/server/api/core/bitstreams/2c67419a-a1e3-4d5d-9d1d-5cd71e418a7c/content) Some viewers alleged that votes had been rigged and that supporters who intended to vote for her had been unable to register their votes.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/javine-mn0000808943) • [6](https://wiredspace.wits.ac.za/server/api/core/bitstreams/2c67419a-a1e3-4d5d-9d1d-5cd71e418a7c/content)
The defeat did not end her prospects. She launched a solo career in 2003, attracted interest from several UK labels, and signed with Innocent Records, the label then home to the dance-pop group [Atomic Kitten](https://www.edgepedia.org/atomic-kitten).[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/javine-mn0000808943) In interviews she described missing Girls Aloud as a blessing in disguise, since a solo career let her move in a more R&B-oriented direction.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/javine-mn0000808943)
## Solo career
**Singles.** Her debut single, "Real Things", entered the UK chart in July 2003 and reached Number 4, remaining her biggest hit; it sampled M.O.P.'s "Ante Up" and was a commentary on materialism and the bling-bling trend.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/javine-mn0000808943) Her version of "You've Got a Friend" served as theme music to *Garfield: The Movie* in 2004.[5](https://www.valeorine.com/reference/javine-hylton) In late 2003 she opened for the American rapper Nelly on the British leg of his international tour.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/javine-mn0000808943)
**Surrender.** Her first album, *Surrender*, came out in the United Kingdom on 28 June 2004 via Innocent Records and [Virgin Records](https://www.edgepedia.org/virgin-records), having been pushed back from November 2003; according to AllMusic's biography, the album came out in November 2003.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/javine-mn0000808943) Despite the singles' performance, the album only just entered the [UK Albums Chart](https://www.edgepedia.org/uk-albums-chart), and Hylton was dropped by her label in late 2004.[11](https://www.eurovisionuniverse.com/encyclopedia/javine/)
## Eurovision 2005
On 5 March 2005 Hylton won *Eurovision: Making Your Mind Up*, the UK selection heat, with "Touch My Fire", a song she co-wrote, beating the competition favorite, the glamour model [Katie Price](https://www.edgepedia.org/katie-price).[7](https://eurovisionsongcontest.fandom.com/wiki/Javine_Hylton) As one of the contest's four largest financial contributors, the United Kingdom went straight to the final in Kyiv on 21 May 2005.[8](https://www.eurovision.de/teilnehmer/Grossbritannien-Javine%2Cgrossbritannien195.html) The Arabic-tinged R&B entry, performed with an elaborate dance routine, did not connect with the voting public; Hylton's voice was hoarse on the night, and she said afterward that she had been suffering from a throat inflammation.[8](https://www.eurovision.de/teilnehmer/Grossbritannien-Javine%2Cgrossbritannien195.html) The United Kingdom finished 22nd of 24 with 18 points.[4](https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2005/united-kingdom)
## Later work
In 2006 she released the dance collaboration "Don't Let the Morning Come" with the Soul Avengerz, which failed to reach the UK top 40.[9](https://www.inkl.com/news/where-are-popstars-the-rivals-acts-now-one-true-voice-javine-and-more) In October 2013 she teamed with the DJs WAWA and M.A.R.K on the track "Never", which drew favorable notices: Digital Spy called it an "uptempo club number" and Popjustice rated it 8/10, calling it a "belter".[12](https://wiwibloggs.com/2013/10/26/listen-new-music-javine/33212/) She also appeared in the 2014 family film *All Stars*, about two children staging a dance show to save their youth center.[10](https://snapshot.apple.com/us/person/6621252118)
Television appearances followed her music career: *The Games* in 2006, *Celebrity Scissorhands* in 2007, and *Celebrity MasterChef* in 2012.[3](https://www.inkl.com/news/popstars-the-rivals-javine-hylton-looks-very-different-after-quitting-showbiz) She later retrained as a personal trainer, obtaining a level 3 diploma, and founded Javine Total Fitness, a personal training and fitness brand, while continuing to perform and record dance tracks.[2](https://www.mvplife.com/javine-hylton-from-superstar-to-superfit/)
## References
1. [Javine Biography by Alex Henderson, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/javine-mn0000808943)
2. [Javine Hylton – from Superstar to Superfit, MVP Life](https://www.mvplife.com/javine-hylton-from-superstar-to-superfit/)
3. [Where are Popstars The Rivals acts now?, Inkl/Liverpool Echo](https://www.inkl.com/news/popstars-the-rivals-javine-hylton-looks-very-different-after-quitting-showbiz)
4. [Eurovision 2005 United Kingdom: Javine – "Touch My Fire", Eurovisionworld](https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2005/united-kingdom)
5. [Javine Hylton, VALÉORINE reference](https://www.valeorine.com/reference/javine-hylton)
6. [A critique of celebrity culture in the field of reality television, Wits University (Wiredspace)](https://wiredspace.wits.ac.za/server/api/core/bitstreams/2c67419a-a1e3-4d5d-9d1d-5cd71e418a7c/content)
7. [Javine Hylton, Eurovision Song Contest Wiki (Fandom)](https://eurovisionsongcontest.fandom.com/wiki/Javine_Hylton)
8. [Großbritannien: Javine, eurovision.de](https://www.eurovision.de/teilnehmer/Grossbritannien-Javine%2Cgrossbritannien195.html)
9. [Where are Popstars The Rivals acts now? One True Voice, Javine and more, Inkl](https://www.inkl.com/news/where-are-popstars-the-rivals-acts-now-one-true-voice-javine-and-more)
10. [Javine, Apple Snapshot](https://snapshot.apple.com/us/person/6621252118)
11. [Javine - Eurovision Universe](https://www.eurovisionuniverse.com/encyclopedia/javine/)
12. [Listen: Javine Hylton's Comeback Single "Never", wiwibloggs](https://wiwibloggs.com/2013/10/26/listen-new-music-javine/33212/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musicians and ensembles › Individual musical biographies › Pop and R&B singer-songwriters › R&B singers, 1990s and 2000s › R&B singers of the 2000s › Surnames A to L*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license