Profile: Avril Lavigne
Real Name: Avril Ramona Lavigne
Birth Date: September 27, 1984
Image: Skater girl-turned-glamorous diva
Best Known For: Her rock chick punk anthems Complicated and Sk8ter Boi
Early Life: Avril was born in Ontario, Canada, to parents John and Judy Lavigne. She joined the local church choir at an early age and taught herself to play the guitar.
At the age of 16, she decided to drop out of school to concentrate on her passion for writing rock songs.
In the same year, she was signed by the head of Arista Records, Antonio 'LA' Reid, in New York and her first album was released in 2002.
Career High: Cementing her comeback with third album The Best Damn Thing by picking up gongs for Solo Artist 2007 and Most Addictive Track for Girlfriend at the MTV Europe Music Awards.
Love Life: Avril married Sum 41 frontman Deryck Whibley in July 2006. She had been engaged to Deryck for a year, after he proposed to her in Venice. She had previously been romantically linked to her guitarist Jesse Colburn.
Don't Mention: Her ongoing feud with actress/singer Hilary Duff. In 2004, Hilary reportedly criticised Avril for accusing her fans of copying her skater girl image. According to Hilary, Avril was "mean-spirited". Avril then went on a US radio station to call Hilary a "mommy's girl" and a "goody two-shoes". A true battle of the blondes.
Words Of Wisdom: "I might look like a tough chick - and I am - but I'm also a hopeless romantic inside."
