She has had a passion for many years to create her own foundation for girls with fair skin like herself.
Then in 2008, she got the oppournity to create her own makeup range, as part of Girls Aloud’s new fly on the wall show, Passions. At the beginning of the show Nicola reveals to the camera that there is no foundation which will suit the skin of the pale kind.
Nicola proves her point by going to a high street store, where there are no foundations for girls with such pale complexion. She meets with two directors from Jelly Pong Pong, a cosmetics company. They tell Nicola that creating a make-up range in two weeks could be difficult. They call in some favours, and Nicola goes to Taiwan to test out various textures and shades. She personally makes these decisions, and takes a tour of the factory where her range is created. She also arranges a launch party for the press, her family, and her friends. She selects models and a venue, and has creative control of the launch. Her bandmates Kimberley Walsh and Cheryl Cole attended the launch at London’s Sketch.
Dainty Doll, Nicola’s make-up range, was released on 18 April 2008. The foundation was praised by The Times, who said that it “sinks in instantly, leaving a velvety second skin.” The cosmetic line sold out within 3 months of going on sale, with mass production having to take place in the Summer to fulfill the demand of the general public.
In 2009, it was confirmed that Nicola’s range was set to be released to various stores across the UK, including Boots.
In 2010, Dainty Doll hit Asos.com aswell as Beales department store in Bournemouth.
In May 2011, the makeup range was finally on Boots.com store and announced it would be avaliable in high street stores from the end of June. Every week, new stores nationwide were able to stock Dainty Doll. It is now avaliable in the following branches: Liverpool, Gyle, Swansea, Stockport, Edinburgh, Belfast, Glasgow, Nottingham, Cribbs Causeway, Manchester Market Street, Cardiff, Manchester Trafford Centre, East Kilbride, Leicester, Shrewsbury, London White city, Southampton, Birmingham, Bedford, Drake Circus Plymouth, Sheffield, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Leeds and Coventry.
The makeup range has helped Nicola become the 2nd richest member of Girls Aloud.
