Fifth Harmony members to go separate ways for now

(From left) Ally Brooke, Dinah Jane, Normani Kordei and Lauren Jauregui of American girl group Fifth Harmony. PHOTO: REUTERS

NEW YORK (AFP) - Fifth Harmony, the all-female pop group born on a TV singing contest, on Monday announced a hiatus as its members pursue solo careers.

The group's original fifth member, 21-year-old Camila Cabello, had already left and scored a big success with her hit Havana.

The Miami-based group had come together in 2012 after the singers auditioned on the television show The X Factor.

Posting a statement on social media, the singers said they had appreciated the time "to grow creatively and really find our footing as individuals".

"After six years going hard, non stop, we also realised that in order to stay authentic to ourselves and to you, we do need to take some time for now to go on a hiatus... to pursue solo endeavours," it said.

The quartet - Ally Brooke, Normani Kordei, Dinah Jane and Lauren Jauregui, whose ages range from 20 to 24 - said they would keep their concert commitments through the end of the year.

Fifth Harmony released three studio albums, pursuing the classic pop sound of girl bands but with an R&B and Latin tinge.

With photo shoots full of sex appeal, Fifth Harmony has incorporated themes of female empowerment on tracks such as Boss but also possesses a raciness, notably on hit Work From Home about sending pictures by phone to a lover.

Fifth Harmony's trajectory echoes that of boy band One Direction, also created by producer Simon Cowell who brought The X Factor to the United States from his native Britain.

One Direction in late 2016 called a similar hiatus, without formally saying the group had broken up.

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