Tina keeps a very low profile so very little is known about her. We do know that the blonde, hazel-eyed diva comes from Essex, England and is around 25 years old. Tina has worked as a hairdresser and a stylist before she made the move to modelling when she was in her late teens. When she was 20, she found herself in a Rolling Stones video. Tina says Mick Jagger was really rude. "He walked past me on the set and elbowed me," she says, "so I pushed him back! Then I ran off and hid in case he wanted to sack me from the video!"
The turning point of her career was a big fashion show in where she replaced the singer who cancelled. The woman in charge went backstage in a panic and asked whether any of the models could sing. Cousins was game, and the only one confident enough to step forward. "I can't say I wasn't nervous. There were 1000 people out there!" But she came through and got a rousing reception. Her music career had now begun.
She wasn't very well known, but she happened to luck out. The small record label to which Cousins was signed had sent out tapes to various producers including mogul Pete Waterman. Along with loads of other tapes, Cousins initially ended up in the bin without being listened to. By chance, someone at the studio saw her photograph sticking out of the bin and rescued the tape. On the strength of one play, Cousins won a vocal test at PWL studios and was snapped up. "We needed someone who looked great enough to be a fantastic live act, but it was also crucial that she had a killer voice," says Waterman. "Tina was the only one for the job."
That was 1997. Since then, she has worked hard and built up a following with hundreds of live performances across Britain plus loads of TV and radio. She performs in lots of clubs, which happens to be her favorite aspect of the music business. She says, "I love singing in clubs - some nights I've performed in four different clubs!"
Her first single called "Killin' Time" was released in 1997 and was a hit all over Europe. It was also number 78 in MTV's best dance videos of all time in 1998.
"Angel" released in 1997 wasn't as succesful as "Killin' Time", but the real break was with Sash!'s single "Mysterious Times". This track can be found in her first album "Killing Time" and also in Sash!'s "Life Goes On" album. Tina's third single "Pray" was a hit in Finland and gave her more success as a solo artist. Her first full album "Killing Time" was released in 1998 in Finland where it went gold quickly with "Forever released as a single in 1999.
Tina was also seen in "Brits Awards '99 Thank ABBA For The Music" song that brought together ABBA's hits "Take A Chance On Me", "Dancing Queen", "Mamma Mia" and "Thank You For The Music". Joining Tina was B*Witched, Billie Piper, Cleopatra and Steps. Also, the co-operation between Tina Cousins and Sash! continues in Sash!'s next single, "Just Around The Hill".
In spite of the glamour, her career does have it's scary moments. "I was in Puerto Rico with Sash to perform the single Pray," Tina says, "when Hurricane George hit the island. We had to rush to the airport to get the last plane out before they closed the island. There were people crying in the departure lounge, it was awful."
She's also had a run-in with an aeroplane propeller, and a less-than-glamorous entrance when she was appearing with Sash!. "I came running out on to the stage to make a big entrance, but I slipped and slid across the floor on my bum! It was so embarrassing," she says.
