Holly Valance

Unusually, Holly Valance's first single 'Kiss Kiss' was released in the UK prior to home release at home, in the knowledge that it would make a sizeable impression in the bigger market. Valance was already well-known in the UK and Australia for her appearances in the popular teen-oriented strip TV soap opera, 'Neighbours'. A decade earlier the Australian-produced program had also launched the international careers of Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan. In fact Kylie Minogue was a childhood idol.

Born Holly Vukadinovic her family originates from Yugoslavia but she was born on May 11, 1983 in New Zealand. The family then moved to Australia and Valance was just four years old when Minogue and Donovan, who were a couple on and off the small screen, were regular shoppers at Holly's father's trendy imported European clothes store in Melbourne. Her father would make Holly come out and say hello whenever they were in the store, but she was too shy to actually speak to them. They did have an impact on her however. She started dancing and putting on shows at home for her family, and as Holly's stunning 34-26-34 figure began to develop, modelling work started flooding in. At first she posed for supermarket catalogues and ad campaigns and by 14 she was earning $200 an hour modelling children's clothes and teenage lingerie. This was in stark contrast to her strict Catholic education where girls were given detention for wearing make-up or having a hem above the knee. It wasn't long before Holly 5ft 8in frame and figure were getting noticed across Australia, fronting ad campaigns. At 17 she starred in a raunchy shower scene for a pop video by boy band Human Nature. Recognising her daughter's ambitions and talents, her mother suggested the move to acting.

Soon after winning her role in 'Neighbours', Holly quit school to concentrate on becoming a TV star, determined not to return to her previous career as a 'clothes horse', although she angered 'Neighbours' bosses when she posed in a bikini for a men's magazine. Not that the 'Neighbours' creators had not taken the opportunity to exploit Valance's looks themselves. While Kylie Minogue had made her name as 'Neighbours' girl-next-door, Valance's character (Felicity "Flick" Scully) was more on the sexy side of the 'Neighbours' scale.

It was this image and appeal Holly Valance exploited herself in the move to singing with an eye-catching video for 'Kiss Kiss', in which she appeared to be nude. She has signed with the London management company that guides the careers of George Michael and Geri Halliwell. 'Kiss Kiss' was written and produced by Andrew Klippel who as a member of the nineties dance pop group Euphoria.

In September 2003 Holly was successfully sued by former manager, Scott Michaelson, a former Neighbours star, for having his contract to manage Valance terminated before it was due to expire.

Related artists
Bardot
Euphoria
Girlfriend
Human Nature
Melissa
Kylie Minogue
Selwyn
Shakaya