Ashlee Simpson has come a long way since first finding fame as the younger sister of pop star, Jessica Simpson. Here’s a brief overview of the journey which took her to where she is today.

Ashlee was born and raised in Texas, and first began taking lessons in classical ballet aged just three years old. She was clearly a naturally talented dancer, and gained a place at the School of American Ballet in New York City aged just 11 – a year younger than pupils are usually admitted. However, once her sister had gained a record deal, the whole family decided to move to Los Angeles, in order to help further her career. It was here that Ashlee first tried her hand at acting, appearing in several television commercials.

As Jessica began to achieve worldwide recognition, Ashlee was able to dance professionally as one of her backup dancers. She may not even have been old enough to go out partying with her sister, or to play games of online Foxy Bingo, but she was well on the way to becoming a star in her own right. Ashlee made a number of film and television appearances, including a role in the television sitcom, Malcolm in the Middle, and a recurring part in the drama series, 7th Heaven.

In 2002, Simpson began recording her own music, starting with a song titled ‘Christmas Past, Present and Future’, which featured on a festive-themed album. Just one year later, her song ‘Just Let Me Cry’ was recorded for the soundtrack of the film comedy film Freaky Friday. The tracks earn’t Ashlee a record deal with Geffen Records – the company which would go on to help her launch her music career, which in turn lead to her filming her own reality television series, The Ashlee Simpson Show.