Alesha Dixon life and biography

Alesha Dixon is an English singer and TV personality. She first found fame in the female pop group Mis-Teeq when her distinctive vocal style made her stand out from the rest of the band. Since the band spilt, she has made numerous television appearances, including being crowned the winner of the popular British TV show, Strictly Come Dancing.

Alesha was born to a Jamaican father and an English mother and was one of seven children: two half-brothers and a half sister on her mother’s side; three half brothers on her father’s side.
Alesha attended Monks Walk School in Welwyn Garden City. She had originally intended to train to become a PE teacher and earned a place at Loughborough University. However, she put her career on hold when she was approached on a train by a record producer who enquired whether or not she could sing.

In 1999, Alesha joined a West London dance academy, ‘Dance Attic’ and met Sabrina Washington there. The pair met Su-Elise Nash during an audition and, along with Zena McNally, formed Mis-Teeq and signed to Telstar Records.

Mis-Teeq’s debut single was released in 2000. After the release of ‘Why?’ McNally left the band and the remaining three members took the decision to remain as a trio.

The debut album, Lickin’ On Both Sides was released in 2001 and spawned several hits, including ‘All I Want’ and ‘Roll On / This Is How We Do It’.

Mis-Teeq’s second album, Eye Candy included the singles ‘Scandalous’ and ‘Get It Back’. The band toured the US in 2004 before returning to Europe to work on their third album. Unfortunately for the band, Telstar Records folded, leaving the band with no choice but to release a Greatest Hits compilation under Universal Records. Shortly after this release, the band announced that they would be splitting up in order to pursue solo careers.

Polydor records signed Alesha to a £500.000 record deal. A number of high profile producers worked on the album, including Paul Epworth and Richard X. the debut single from the album, ”Lipstick’ was released in 2006 and charted at number 14 in the UK charts. The second single, ‘Knockdown’, fared less well, peaking at number 45.

Late 2006, it was reported on Alesha’s website that the singer had parted company with Polydor Records. The album remained unreleased and Polydor gave Alesha full rights to the work, entitled Fired Up.

In 2008, she announced plans to release the album in Japan and Asia.

Alesha recorded a song, released for download in 2008, for the Ford Focus promotional campaign. The tracks featured musical instruments made from actual car parts.

Alesha is represented by Select Model Management. Her past magazine covers include FHM, Arena, Company, and Bliss.

Alesha was chosen as the lead female to star in N*E*R*D’s video for ‘She Wants To Move’, after Pharrell Williams spotted her on the cover of Arena. She has previously been listed in FHM’s ’100 sexiest women’ polls.

In September 2009 Dixon became a judge on the seventh series of Strictly Come Dancing, replacing fellow judge Arlene Phillips. The replacement of Phillips by Dixon attracted criticism, as some questioned the extent of Dixon's dancing knowledge.

Dixon herself dismissed the criticism, describing it as a "storm in a teacup", and refused to stand down as judge.

In 2010 Dixon returned for the eighth series of Strictly Come Dancing and released her third studio album, The Entertainer. The album charted poorly only peaking at number eighty-four on the UK Albums Chart. The second single released with the album also charted lowly, only peaking at number forty-six on the UK Singles Chart. Subsequently, Alesha and her record label Atlantic/Asylum parted ways due to "artistic differences"

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