Reflecting on Their Experiences: Daphne and Celeste Recall Being Treated Harshly by Adults in the Scene

New Yorkers Celeste Cruz and Karen “Daphne” DiConcetto came together to form a pop duo in 1998. Their journey was brief yet impactful—they released hits like Ooh Stick You and U.G.L.Y., and even faced challenges, such as being bottled off the stage at the 2000 Reading festival. After their split in 2001, Celeste pursued acting while Karen ventured into screenwriting. They reconnected in 2015, launching their album *Daphne & Celeste Save the World* in 2018. Karen currently resides in Brooklyn, while Celeste is in New Jersey. They will perform at the Mighty Hoopla festival in London on 31 May.

Daphne

Looking at Celeste’s T-shirt, it seems this photo was taken during the U.G.L.Y. promotions—her frosted blue eyeshadow supports this theory, a notable trend of the time. I wish someone had told me to tone down my nail art. We were likely bored with our usual poses, which explains that hand-to-mouth gesture.

One of Celeste’s first remarks was, “Hey, so, like, I’ve got pinkeye [conjunctivitis].” She mentioned it right away during the audition, wanting to clarify it was not a constant condition, which I found charming. I also recall us dancing to the instrumental of Ooh Stick You and both exclaiming, “What is this strange song?”

Upon arriving in England, inspired by *Notting Hill*, we decided to live there. In that era, labels had abundant budgets, so they agreed!

Prior to forming Daphne and Celeste, I aimed to perform on Broadway. At that time, pop music wasn’t as popular in the U.S. as it was in the UK. My musical tastes leaned towards Lauryn Hill and Radiohead, but I immersed myself into the pop scene. We were also fans of British television. I remember seeing Sid Owen from *EastEnders* and reacting as if he were the world’s biggest star. The same went for Darren from the first season of *Big Brother*—who knew a man chasing chickens could evoke such excitement?

There was always a strong sense of irony in our work as Daphne and Celeste, but Richard and Judy were not fans of this. After leaving the studio post-interview, the producers remarked, “Never come back.” I don’t even think they requested politely. We were merely being ourselves, possibly talking too much. They wanted a cheeky tone, but not overly so, which we definitely were. They took themselves rather seriously while we felt, “This isn’t that serious. Our lyrics include literally ‘Up your butt with a coconut.’”

Being a pop group during that time was a whirlwind. We were often told about upcoming events, like an Asda supermarket tour, and we’d just agree without questioning why we’d spend months at different locations. It was one of the oddest experiences, though it was convenient for grabbing food post-signings.

During those years, Celeste and I were inseparable. There were times we needed space, but figured it out together. Developing such problem-solving skills at a young age was invaluable.

Once the group disbanded, we took a breather from each other, but a year later, we became roommates again and have remained close. As for the future, I’m uncertain. We still relish performing together, and most importantly, I’m thankful to have Celeste as a friend.

Celeste

During that period, our schedule often included 15 shoots a day, making it hard to remember where we were or what we were posing for. My eyebrows were incredibly thin, reminiscent of Christina Aguilera’s style. It was the trend to have nearly no eyebrows. I wish someone had told me to ease up on my nails, while encouraging Daphne to be a bit bolder. The expression we aimed for seemed to be: “Gasp! Did you really just say that?” People enjoyed that sass from us.

My first impression of Karen was her striking bob haircut. The audition was confusing, as girl groups were virtually absent in the U.S. at the time, aside from En Vogue. Once in the UK, I truly grasped the pop explosion, even buying multiple *Steps* records.

From the outset, our mantra was: “Just have fun! This probably won’t last forever.” Yet the world of pop was incredibly earnest; people often overlooked that we were just 16 [Karen] and 18 [Celeste]. For instance, when U.G.L.Y. peaked at No. 18, we were ecstatic—making the Top 20 felt monumental. However, other groups we toured with reacted as if we had suffered a setback. Generally, the pop scene struggled to categorize us and could be rather unkind. There was a distinct “sit at your own table” attitude directed towards us, except for S Club 7, who were delightful.

When Karen and I lived in London, our neighbor happened to be Brian Eno. One day, we encountered him, and he mentioned, “My daughters love you.” I had no clue who he was at the time, which I now find embarrassing. He invited us inside, and I remember admiring his collection of records, remarking, “Wow, you must adore U2.” Thankfully, he was humble and didn’t flaunt his status as a legend.

Before long, the bond between Karen and me deepened into a sisterhood. Living and working together around the clock led to occasional disputes, but we had to learn to support one another.

After the group disbanded, we took some time apart, as I needed to reclaim my identity. For so long, I had been “on” and lost track of who I truly was. At first, I felt restless and sought adventure—following members of the Grateful Dead on tour. A year later, Karen and I reconnected, and since then, we have celebrated significant life milestones together: attending each other’s weddings, experiencing simultaneous pregnancies, and our children becoming best friends, mirroring our own dynamic.

I believe the universe has a hand in who accompanies us through life, whether through choice or chance meetings, like ours at an audition. Karen and I adore our husbands, yet there exists a bond between us that is irreplaceable. She understands the trials of being in a pop group, the challenges of motherhood during a pandemic, and the grind of juggling multiple jobs to survive in New York. She resonates with me on every level, and I can’t say that about anyone else.