Move in with a Cheeky Girl

AFTER finding fame in the pop world, Cheeky Girl Gabriela Irimia is tackling the property market in Oldham.

The singer and celebrity is involved in her boy friend Nicholas Zapolski’s business Alchemy Homes, which is developing houses in the borough.

Gabriela and twin sister Monica, originally from Romania, shot to fame in reality TV show “Popstars — The Rivals” and went on to storm the charts.

She’s now helping Alchemy, run by Nicholas and father Mark Zapolski, which has built eight three-bedroom houses in Woodhouses, a conservation area in Failsworth, and has two unsold properties left.

And it has planning permission for another 10 luxury townhouses on adjoining land with work due to begin at the start of next year.

Mark’s father Adam brought the Zapolski family from Poland to Oldham.

Mark said: “He joined the Polish resistance and fought with the British forces in the war. When the war was over he was demobbed to Oldham and found work in the cotton mills and met my mother Sheila, in Shaw.

“My father studied mechanics and opened a business, the White Eagles Motor Company, at Mumps Bridge.

“He had the business for 30 years and was a very respected car dealer in Oldham. We still have a few roots and know a lot of people in the area.”

Adam sold the business in 1987 and retired to Marbella, Spain, where Nick was visiting when he met Gabriela.

She was on holiday shortly after splitting with her former boy friend, Lib-Dem MP Lembit Opik.

The couple, both aged 26, returned in August to celebrate the first anniversary of their meeting.

The site they’re developing was originally Brickhall Farm but Nicholas knew the farmer was putting the farm and adjoining land up for sale and bought it in 2006.

Mark, from Alderley Edge, added: “It’s a lovely area of Failsworth and a fantastic site.

“Gabriela and Nicholas are an item and doing everything together. She helped out with the interior design.”

Gabriela said: “Nick’s skills in building design are totally professional but when it comes to the interior design this is where I feel I can help.

“I have chosen all the interior fittings for the remaining townhouse showhouse, it is modern and very contemporary and I think it looks great!”

The Cheeky Girls perform their routine every week across the country and have also launched a make-up product range called “The Cheeky Collection”, which goes on sale this week.

They will be promoting it in person at Manchester’s Diamonds and Pearls Shop in the Arndale Centre at 1pm on Friday.

To contact Mark Zapolski visit www.alchemyhomes.com or call 07887 560107.