Feuds, fallouts, sniping and snubs. For a band who haven’t released any new material in nearly two years, Girls Aloud are still making one hell of a din.

And somehow it’s Nadine Coyle who finds herself cast as the villain of the piece. Her relocation to LA three years ago has, according to some, rendered a group reunion impossible.

Earlier this year there were claims from the Girls Aloud camp that the only person holding up a reunion was Nadine.

But behind the headlines, there’s another side to the story. In an astonishingly frank interview, Nadine tells us she’s genuinely baffled at the blame dumped at her door – especially as she claims she’s made repeated attempts to get in touch with the others which have gone ignored.

Until now, only her closest friends and family have seen the distress she’s tried to hide.

“It’s upsetting because people think it’s my fault,” she says. “When I was first told that’s what everyone was thinking, I couldn’t understand it – why blame me? How has it swung in that direction? I really don’t know. I thought everything in the garden was rosy.

“Two years ago, we all agreed to take a break to give people time to do their own things, and this has all just blown up. It really hurts when I hear things like I’m holding the girls back. It’s just absurd. People can make up their own minds but honestly, it’s not true.”

She’s expressive as she talks, and her voice goes up an octave, indicating her confusion. It’s not quite clear why, but the tight-knit friendship the five girls formed after being thrown together eight years ago on Popstars The Rivals seems to no longer exist as far as Ms Coyle is concerned.

There is speculation that Nadine has been frozen out by Kimberley Walsh, 28, Sarah Harding, 28, Cheryl Cole, 27, and 25-year-old Nicola Roberts. There were even whispers – later denied – that she was set to be ousted, with the other four happy to go on without her.

Whatever the reality, the future of the record-breaking girl band looks uncertain at the very least.

Here is the behind the scenes video of the Fabulous magazine photoshoot. Also linked you to the full magazine scans which are thanks to NicolaRobertsUK

Wearing the obligatory oversized shades, Nicola Roberts breezes into our shoot a super-starry hour and a half late.Muttering something about a delayed doctor’s appointment, she air-kisses her way round the Hollywood-esque entourage who have been waiting patiently for her arrival.

In the past, she was always very much the fifth member of Girls Aloud – the baby of the group, the reluctant star, often painted as the shy, slightly sulky redhead. But today Nicola is a confident, tough-talking sex kitten and fast becoming a style icon.

The low self-esteem that once tormented her has been banished and a gutsy young woman is starting to emerge.

“I was so insecure, but you’ve got to accept who you are,” she says.

And it’s clear she has. Gone is the fake tan Nicola once slathered herself in to compete with her bandmates. Gone too are the golden highlights she used to disguise the red hair that made her the butt of so many cruel taunts.

It’s taken time, but she has finally embraced her looks. And so have others.

Now, Nicola, 24, is regularly spotted in prime position on the coveted front row at top fashion shows, has designers queuing up to dress her and, after 18 months of hard work, has just fully launched her own brand of make-up – Dainty Doll – designed especially for girls with pale skin.