“She cared for her fans deeply and always showed so much love to everyone. “Not only did she have an amazing stage presence, a beautiful voice, and a vibrant personality, but she also had such charisma and a big heart,” Ally says. One of her biggest inspirations is Latina star Selena Quintanilla. “That’s when I developed such a huge passion for singing and the stage,” she says. Her vibrant energy and musical theatricality come from having performed at charity events, high schools, and sports events since the age of nine. Known as the "little big sister" of the group, the San Antonio, TX-born and bred Ally Brooke packs a powerful vocal punch. “I believe pop music is overdue for a girl group that can represent the young ladies of this new generation. “It has been remarkable to watch these five young women from across America go from being strangers to becoming a true group of friends who all care for and believe in each other,” Bunetta says. Multi-platinum-selling producer/songwriter Julian Bunetta (One Direction, Natasha Bedingfield), who worked with the girls on The X Factor, is executive-producing the album. They have been working with Autumn Rose (Leona Lewis, Cher Lloyd), Lil’ Eddie (Usher, Pink), Tricky Stewart (Beyoncé, Justin Bieber), Toby Gad (Beyoncé, Fergie), and others. The girls of Fifth Harmony say their upcoming debut album will deal with their issues with guys, having fun with friends, and being yourself. Adds Camila: “We're teenage girls hoping teenage girls can listen to the songs and feel like we're saying what they want to say.” Because we've been able to co-write, we've been able to personalize our music and make it relatable.” “We want to be collectively unique and yet show our individuality,” says Normani.
Adds Lauren: “The songs are a direct reflection of us and what we go through. “We want our songs to be fun, positive, and inspiring, and for our vocals to shine through,” says Ally. “They’re more like friends who support us.” The strong bond Fifth Harmony has forged with their audience will serve the group well as they begin to show the world what they can do post X Factor. Not only does Fifth Harmony trend worldwide nearly every week on Twitter, where the girls engage non-stop with their followers, but the group also draws thousands of female fans of all ages, who call themselves “Harmonizers.” “We don’t really think of them as fans,” Normani says. The covers they post on their official YouTube channel routinely rack up nearly a million views. Since The X Factor wrapped last December, the group’s fanbase has grown rapidly. With their show-stopping vocals, undeniable charisma, and genuine sisterly bond, the “fearsome fivesome” (as they became known) endeared themselves to viewers across the country. (This is, after all, the man who assembled One Direction.) Cowell decided that individual contestants Dinah Jane Hansen, Lauren Jauregui, Ally Brooke, Normani Kordei, and Camila Cabello were too special to let go, so at the end of the show’s Boot Camp week, the five young women became Fifth Harmony. The music mogul knows talent and chemistry when he sees it. “I can feel a wave beginning behind this group,” said The X Factor creator and judge Simon Cowell before Fifth Harmony performed their version of Kelly Clarkson’s “Stronger” on the show last year.