Nicole Scherzinger (; born Nicole Prescovia Elikolani Valiente; June 29, 1978) is an American recording artist, actress and television personality born in Honolulu, Hawaii and raised in Louisville, Kentucky. She performed initially in high school plays, and studied at Wright State University before dropping out to pursue a musical career alongside the American rock band Days of the New and later auditioned for Popstars, becoming a member of the short-lived girl group Eden's Crush. She rose to fame as the lead singer of the burlesque troupe-turned-recording act the Pussycat Dolls, who became one of the world's best-selling girl groups. During their hiatus, Scherzinger planned to embark on her solo career with Her Name is Nicole, but it was later shelved after four singles failed to impact the charts significantly.
Following the group's disbandment, Scherzinger successfully ventured into television winning the tenth season of Dancing with the Stars, became a judge on The Sing-Off and on both US and UK (appearing on four of its fourteen series) versions of The X Factor. She has released two studio albums; Killer Love (2011), which was released to moderate success and was preceded by the number-one single "Don't Hold Your Breath", and Big Fat Lie (2014). As an actress, Scherzinger debuted on the West End in a revival of the musical Cats, receiving a nomination for a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role and has appeared in a number of television roles, including a starring role in the television film, Dirty Dancing (2017).
Throughout her career, she has had a total of three UK number one singles, two of which coming from recording group The Pussycat Dolls and one as a solo artist. Scherzinger has sold over 60 million records worldwide, as a solo artist and as the lead singer of the Pussycat Dolls. In accordance with multiple sources, she has sold at least 37 million singles and has had in excess of 15 million total album sales. Since her first chart entry in 2005, she has scored 20 top-20 hits on the UK Singles Chart. Outside her work in the entertainment industry, Scherzinger has advertised brands including Herbal Essences and Müller, and collaborated with Missguided to design a highly successful clothing line. She is also an ambassador for UNICEF and a global ambassador for the Special Olympics and is involved in charitable activities.
Video Nicole Scherzinger
Early life
Scherzinger was born in Maui and raised in Honolulu, into a Catholic family. Her father, Alfonso Valiente, is of Filipino descent, while her mother, Rosemary Elikolani, has Native Hawaiian and Ukrainian ancestry. Scherzinger's parents separated when she was still a baby. When she was six years old, her maternal family moved to Louisville, Kentucky, with her sister, Keala, and her German American stepfather, Gary Scherzinger. She took her stepfather's surname after he adopted her. She first attended Bowen Elementary, and later attended Meyzeek Middle School as an adolescent. Scherzinger states that, growing up, her family did not have a lot of money, and she gave thanks to her mother for all the support she gave her to become what she is today. Scherzinger began performing in Louisville, attending the Youth Performing Arts School at duPont Manual High School, and performing with Actors Theatre of Louisville. As a teenager, Scherzinger was the first runner-up at the 1996 Kentucky State Fair's Coca-Cola Talent Classic contest. In 2007, she was inducted to duPont Manual Alumni's Hall of Fame as one of the youngest inductees. After earning a scholarship, she furthered her studies at Wright State University majoring in theater arts with a dance minor. During this period, Scherzinger garnered the lead roles in regional productions of the musicals Chicago, Guys and Dolls and Show Boat.
Maps Nicole Scherzinger
Career
1999-2002: Career beginnings and Eden's Crush
In 1999, Scherzinger was hired by Days of the New band leader Travis Meeks to contribute vocals on their self-titled second studio album and later dropped out of college to tour through the US in support of the album. Meeks claims that after touring, the two grew apart creatively and that despite being an "amazing entertainer", she "just didn't seem to understand music very well ... she's just not much of a musician, nor [does she] understand music."
In 2001, after her mother's suggestion, Scherzinger quit the band in order to audition on the WB's television show Popstars. With the aim to chronicle the group's formation until the recording of their debut album, Warner Bros. imprint London-Sire Records signed the group to a recording contract before the band was named and had finalized its membership, due to the hours of network television exposure the group would receive. Initially hesitant at the idea of joining a group, she then opted otherwise as she saw it as an opportunity to travel to Los Angeles. For her audition she sang Whitney Houston's version of "I Will Always Love You" and alongside Ivette Sosa, Maile Misajon, Ana Maria Lombo and Rosanna Tavarez, established the girl group Eden's Crush. Their debut single, "Get Over Yourself", was released in March 2001 and debuted at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 and became the first female act to debut at number one on the Hot 100 Singles Sales chart. Their debut studio album, Popstars, debuted at number six on the Billboard 200 chart. They went on to tour with 'N Sync and Jessica Simpson, but by the end of the year their label went bankrupt and disbanded. During this time, will.i.am approached Scherzinger to become a member of the Black Eyed Peas, but she turned it down as her then-boyfriend declined. In December 2002, Scherzinger worked with Yoshiki of Japanese heavy metal band X Japan on his Violet UK project. She sang the English version of "I'll Be Your Love" live with the Tokyo Symphonic Orchestra.
2003-2009: The Pussycat Dolls
In August 2003, opting for a solo recording contract, Scherzinger travelled to Arista Records office in New York with a demo CD, under her Hawaiian family name, Nicole Kea, of her own written material. Her performance was interrupted by a citywide blackout, and she was forced to leave. She also did a brief detour into acting which includes a cameo in the independent comedy Love Don't Cost a Thing. Meanwhile, Robin Antin, the creator of the burlesque troupe, the Pussycat Dolls, struck a joint venture with Interscope Records and along with record producers Jimmy Iovine and Ron Fair, launched an open audition for a separate recording group. After will.i.am recommended Scherzinger to Iovine, and in hopes to obtain a solo deal, she successfully auditioned along with Melody Thornton joining Carmit Bachar, Ashley Roberts, Jessica Sutta and Kimberly Wyatt. In 2004, Scherzinger covered "Breakfast in Bed" for the soundtrack to 50 First Dates. As the lead singer, Scherzinger assumed the majority of the vocals and is the only member of the group to have songwriting credits on their debut album, PCD which was released in September 2005. The album was preceded by "Don't Cha" which became their international breakthrough, peaking at number two on the Billboard Hot 100. The album spawned other number-one hits, "Stickwitu" and "Buttons", the latter of which was nominated for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards.
In February 2006, Scherzinger signed a global publishing agreement with Universal Music Publishing Group, which would cover her future songwriting. Her work as lead singer furthered Scherzinger's popularity as she continued to work on her own music. Scherzinger's first solo recording was a feature on Avant's "Lie About Us" that was released in July 2006 and later collaborated with Diddy on "Come to Me" which became Scherzinger's first solo top-ten hit on the US Billboard Hot 100. In March 2007, Scherzinger announced that her debut studio album would be titled Her Name is Nicole and was initially scheduled for a release in late summer. Four singles were released from the project--"Whatever U Like" featuring T.I., "Baby Love" featuring will.i.am, "Supervillain", and "Puakenikeni"--however, all failed to make any significant impact on the Billboard charts, although "Baby Love" was a moderate success in international territories. After a number of push backs, Scherzinger decided not to release any further singles from the album and at her request, Her Name Is Nicole was eventually shelved and shifted back her focus on the Doll's second album.
Following the cancellation of Her Name is Nicole, Scherzinger focused on the Pussycat Dolls' second and final album, Doll Domination. It was released in the United States on September 23, 2008 and peaked at number four on the Billboard 200. The album included singles "When I Grow Up" and "I Hate This Part" which peaked at number nine and eleven on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively. Both songs were originally recorded for Scherzinger's solo effort. The following year, the Pussycat Dolls embarked on a worldwide concert tour, Doll Domination Tour which began on January 18, 2009. While on tour, Scherzinger was asked to re-write pop version of "Jai Ho" from the movie Slumdog Millionaire (2008). The song was entitled "Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny)" crediting A. R. Rahman and the Pussycat Dolls while Scherzinger was credited as a featured artist causing an internal strife within the group. The song reached number one in 17 countries; in the US, it peaked at number fifteen on the Billboard Hot 100, after charging eighty-five places consequently making the largest weekly leap from number 100. On April 5, 2009, Scherzinger performed "America the Beautiful" at Wrestlemania XXV, at the Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas. After the tour concluded in August 2009, the group announced a hiatus to further pursue solo careers. In December 2009, Scherzinger was announced as the third judge joining Ben Folds and Boyz II Men band member Shawn Stockman on the first season of The Sing-Off. She returned for the second season before being replaced by Sara Bareilles.
2010-2013: Killer Love and The X Factor
In May 2010, Scherzinger and her dance partner Derek Hough won the 10th season of Dancing with the Stars. In August 2010, Scherzinger portrayed Maureen in the Hollywood Bowl production of the rock musical Rent, directed by Neil Patrick Harris. Her performance in the musical received praise from critics, Charles McNulty of the Los Angeles Times stated that "Scherzinger's powerhouse voice was meant for venues like the Bowl." Meanwhile, following the departure of the four members, Scherzinger announced that she departed the Pussycat Dolls to focus on her solo career.
Her debut studio album Killer Love, was released on March 21, 2011 in the United Kingdom. The album experienced moderate success in certain territories; on the UK Albums Chart the album debuted and peaked at number eight and by November it sold 140,000 copies. The album's second single, "Don't Hold Your Breath" became Scherzinger's first number-one single as a solo artist in the UK Singles Chart and singles, "Poison" and "Right There" both reached number three. The latter one was remixed featuring 50 Cent and released as the lead single for the US version of Killer Love; however the release was never materialized. It peaked at number thirty-nine, remaining her highest charting single on the Billboard Hot 100 as a lead artist. Originally hired to co-host along with Steve Jones the first season of The X Factor US, Scherzinger received notoriety for replacing Cheryl Cole as a judge. She later received further backlash and death threats after sending the result to deadlock in week 7 which resulted in Rachel Crow's elimination. She mentored the Over 30s; her final act, Josh Krajcik, was named the runner-up of the season. Meanwhile, Killer Love was re-released with four additional songs, including the fifth and final single, "Try with Me" and embarked on her first headlining tour in February 2012.
Scherzinger appeared as Boris' Girlfriend in the comic science fiction-action film Men in Black 3, which was released on May 25, 2012 through Columbia Pictures. In June 2012, Scherzinger was announced as a judge for the ninth series of The X Factor UK for a reported salary of $1.17 million. Scherzinger mentored the Boys category; both of her acts, James Arthur and Jahméne Douglas, reached the final, with Arthur winning the series. In March 2013, Scherzinger released "Boomerang" which debuted and peaked at number six on the UK Singles Chart; after its lackluster success, the associated album was scrapped. Scherzinger returned as judge on The X Factor UK for its tenth series for a reported salary of $2.3 million.
2014-present: Big Fat Lie and television
In January 2014, Scherzinger signed with Sony Music Entertainment for a reported $4.5 million record deal. The following month, she announced she signed a multi-album deal with RCA Records. Scherzinger's second studio album, Big Fat Lie was released in October; on the UK Albums Chart it spent two weeks inside the top 100 peaking at number 17; its poor sales led to her departure from RCA Records. The album was preceded by the singles "Your Love", "Run" and "On the Rocks"; the foremost peaked at number six on the UK Singles Chart and was a moderate success on other international markets. In December, Scherzinger made her West End debut starring as Grizabella in the 2014 revival of the musical Cats at the London Palladium where she played the role for a 12-week run until February 8, 2015; her performance received rave reviews from critics particularly praising her rendition of the song standard "Memory" and garnered a Laurence Olivier Award nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical. Scherzinger was set to reprise Grizabella in the Broadway revival of Cats but a week before rehearsals she quit after producers refused to give her top billing.
On June 30, 2015 Scherzinger was crowned as the winner of the variety show I Can Do That where six celebrities compete with each other by performing skills that they never knew they had. In July she performed the American national anthem at the A Capitol Fourth concert in Washington, D.C. and during the opening of the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games. Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris, a live television variety series premiered on September 15, 2015 on NBC with Scherzinger as the co-host. On October 22, the new music panel show Bring the Noise premiered on Sky 1 hosted by Ricky Wilson with Scherzinger and Tinie Tempah joining him as team captains. After a 3 year break from The X Factor, Scherzinger returned in August 2016, for its thirteenth series; she mentored the Boys category, in which her act Matt Terry won the competition. She voiced the part of Sina in the animated feature Moana, which was released on November 23, 2016 through Walt Disney Pictures.
Sherzinger co-starred in Dirty Dancing, a remake of the 1987 film of the same name, which aired on ABC on May 24, 2017. Although the movie received negative reviews from critics, Scherzinger's performance received praise. In September, she was a judge on the X Factor UK for her fourth year, in the programmes fourteenth series.
Artistry
Musical style and voice
Nicole Scherzinger possesses a lyric-soprano vocal range which spans over four octaves. She is known for her strong soprano vocals and conviction to convey emotion in her tracks. A classically trained singer, Scherzinger is comfortable singing in a variety of styles (jazz, theater, classical). Along with control and power, Nicole is able to sing complex melisma throughout her range, expertly alter the dynamics of her voice mid-phrase and, thanks to excellent breath control, hold notes effortlessly. Her mid-range is versatile and can be manipulated to add character and emotional colouring to a vocal. Nicole also possesses a whistle register. Her music is generally contemporary R&B, and dance-pop in some of her songs, especially on her album Killer Love. Though Scherzinger releases English language songs, she recorded Hindi lyrics for the Pussycat Dolls' version of "Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny)". Throughout Scherzinger's career, her vocal range and music has been compared to those of Mariah Carey, Keyshia Cole, Kelly Clarkson, Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston, Kelly Rowland, Leona Lewis, Beyoncé, Ciara, Christina Aguilera, Sugababes, and because of some of the more dance-pop and rock-inspired songs on Killer Love, Rihanna, and even Katy Perry and Lady Gaga. Scherzinger also sings musical theatre music. She has received co-writing credits for multiple songs she's recorded. Her early songs were female-empowerment themed compositions like "I Don't Need a Man" and "Hush Hush" and transitioned to more mature "break-up" anthems such as "Don't Hold Your Breath". Scherzinger has also received co-writing credits for some of the records in which she has been involved, especially during her solo efforts. She has also been involved in the vocal arrangement and vocal production of a few songs she's written.
Scherzinger's songs are written from personal experiences, as she said they are "personal and heartfelt" tracks. She co-wrote the majority of her first studio album, Killer Love. Scherzinger's earlier songs have been described as "sexual innuendo" and "funky electronica" which are also backed by "electro beats". In August 2010, RedOne revealed that he was working on Scherzinger's debut album, stating: "I just finished her album. Her last one never came out because it wasn't consistent. Her new record - it's the real her." Scherzinger said a lot of her first studio album was about her split with Lewis Hamilton before they reunited. Scherzinger said that she wanted to create songs which "lend themselves to live performances". She said she likes to record "empowering" ballads. Scherzinger's vocals on ballads have been compared to Kelly Clarkson. She said that she wanted her debut album to be "in your face and strong". She told MTV "I've always said that in the Pussycat Dolls, I kind of feel like Superwoman. But that's just one of my alter egos. I've got the vulnerable, lovesick side of me amongst others which all appear on my record."
Influences
Scherzinger credits Whitney Houston as being her greatest musical influence and idol, saying she wanted to "be Whitney" when she grew up. She admired Houston so much that she auditioned with her version of "I Will Always Love You" at her Popstars audition. When Scherzinger was growing up in her home town of Louisville, she received a Christmas gift (at the age of six) of a tiny purple boombox and a cassette of Whitney Houston's chart-topping 1985 self-titled debut album. "My parents had no money, but they got me this player and Whitney's album, which had "The Greatest Love of All" on it," Scherzinger recalls. "That was it for me. From that moment on I wanted to sing. Her voice was so powerful; every note she sang just felt like the truth." Scherzinger also named Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Roberta Flack, Sade Adu, Alanis Morissette, Toni Braxton and Tina Turner as her biggest influences while growing up. Scherzinger said that Beyoncé also inspired her, stating: "I am inspired by women like Beyoncé who wear costumes that aren't much but they are real artists and they put real artistry into what they do and that is how I pride myself." Scherzinger said while she is on stage performing, she borrows personas of Tina Turner and Mick Jagger: "The way he [Mick Jagger] prances around stage and the poise he has on stage. But I love Tina Turner's attitude and sass. I steal from her all the time, especially being the lead singer of this group, the Pussycat Dolls, to be fearless and just have that attitude and that soul behind you." Scherzinger also cites Gwen Stefani as an influence. Janet Jackson and MIA are also influences to her. When Scherzinger was older, Mariah Carey became a huge influence to her. She also wished to work with the Black Eyed Peas saying she admired their music. Scherzinger is also a fan of Adele. Critically acclaimed, "Pop Prince", Prince also became a big influence when she was in her teens. Michael Jackson was one of Scherzinger's biggest influences and idols. Paula Abdul, who Scherzinger sat alongside on the judging panel of The X Factor, was one of her influences. When she gained the role on Men in Black 3, Scherzinger said that music was a very big part of her inspiration for the character, which she plays for the film. She said, "I listened to my heavier music and I listened to Led Zeppelin and I kind of got in that frame of mind because music is what inspires me most. I worked with my acting coach a lot and she told me about lots of crazy things to think about while I was in character, but I better not tell you what she said." Scherzinger said that the role has inspired her to record differently on her second studio album.
Music videos and stage
Described as being "provative" when performing on stage, Scherzinger states that her stage persona "comes from a strong place, not a weak place, and there's a big difference. There's a big difference when you see someone who still has class and is empowering." Jarett Wieselman placed her at number two on her list of the Five Best Singer/Dancers, while Rolling Stone magazine readers voted Scherzinger as the ninth Favorite Dancing Musician.
Public image
Scherzinger is most recognized as the voice behind the Pussycat Dolls. As a former member of the group, Scherzinger is the most successful as a solo artist, having sold 16 million records, thus far. Negative press appeared in which her music, music videos, performances and her image were unfavorably compared with those of Beyoncé. In 2006, while on tour, Scherzinger ran into trouble in Kuala Lumpur with the authorities for sexually explicit dancing. Her performance, part of the PCD World Tour, was not well received in the Muslim state which frowned upon the "eye-popping attire" and "sexually suggestive stage routines" and she was fined $3000 for the incident. Scherzinger later admitted she cried when she saw the first outfit she would have to wear as a member of the band.
Scherzinger has developed an image as a sex symbol and "one of the hottest women on the planet." VH1 ranked her the eight on their list of "100 Sexiest Artists", and since 2006 has been featured on FHM's "100 Sexiest Women" peaking at number nine in 2011. She has been cited by numerous media outlets and magazines in her career as one of the most beautiful and attractive celebrities and musicians in the public eye.
Margeaux Watson of Entertainment Weekly took a major swipe at Scherzinger for her role as lead singer. Watson said, "there are two kinds of girl groups: those anchored by a superstar (the Supremes, Destiny's Child), and those made up of charismatic personalities endowed with limited individual gifts (Spice Girls, TLC). The Pussycat Dolls are neither - they're a brand, not a band. [...] 2005's multi-platinum PCD finds lead Doll Nicole Scherzinger in the spotlight, and she's no Beyoncé." Scherzinger has claimed that she was responsible for both lead and backing vocals on the group's songs, with hardly anything sung by the other members. She commented, "...people don't even know the story. I was in the center because I was singing. I was the one singing."
Scherzinger is also a supporter of gay rights. On November 24, 2012, Scherzinger posed for a "Some People Are Gay, Get Over It" T-shirt, part of a campaign from Stonewall, in support of same-sex marriage. Scherzinger's popularity within the gay community increased due to her work with the Pussycat Dolls. One of the songs written by Scherzinger, "I Don't Need a Man", was dedicated to all of her gay fans. She explained: "Whoever I could inspire, I wanted to inspire them. It's about the messages of empowerment and loving yourself for who you are." Scherzinger is also very vocal when it comes to bullying. She believes in acceptance and recalls receiving knock backs and the message of her music releases show how she dealt with them.
She admits it is "frustrating" to read about the media's portrayal of her as "a man-eater". Scherzinger has been linked to a number of different men, but insists none of the rumors are true. In July 2013, Scherzinger posed semi-nude for a "Protect the Skin You're In" T-shirt, part of a campaign by fashion designer Marc Jacobs to raise awareness and cash for melanoma research. All sales benefit the NYU Cancer Institute and NYU Langone Medical Center. The outfits she wore as a Pussycat Doll and sexual dance moves they performed has continued ever since she embarked on her solo career. Scherzinger said: "I think I am able to handle myself in a good manner and hopefully I'm a positive role model for other girls out there." Scherzinger also wore the first Twitter dress at the EE launch party.
Legacy
Described as the "driving force" behind the Pussycat Dolls, Scherzinger is credited for the result of the group's international success in the music industry, during a time when girl groups were grossly underrepresented. With only two studio albums, the band became the best selling girl group of the past decade, digital era, and fourth of all time. Since beginning her career with the group in 2003, Scherzinger has sold 54 million records worldwide, and another 16 million as a solo artist. Scherzinger has been given several pop culture titles, including, "Pop Princess" and the "Hawaiian Pop Goddess" becoming an international pop culture icon following her debut.
Scherzinger's television and music video impact has also been acknowledged in pop culture where she is known for her music videos, which often incorporate raunchy outfits and dance breaks. Critics generally favor Scherzinger's intricate choreography. She is considered a sex symbol through her music videos. Simon Cowell praised Scherzinger's performance ability, respectively calling her "one of the best live performers I've ever seen" and "if you want an example of how you do it right... its Nicole. It's focus, performance, vocals...". American recording artist Lady Gaga has been influenced by Scherzinger's role in the Pussycat Dolls saying, "There's something that's very humbling about being able to work with a powerhouse group like that. Probably the biggest influence they've had on me is making me want to be a better writer."
Scherzinger has received many accolades throughout her career. In February 2013, Scherzinger was honored by the Harvard Foundation as "2013 Artist of the Year" for her contributions in performing arts, support for breast cancer research and initiatives for adults and children with special needs. In April 2013, she was awarded with the "Outstanding Achievement in Music Award" at the Asian Awards for "inspiring achievements in the fields of business, sport, entertainment, philanthropy and popular arts and culture". She has been hailed as one of the sexiest artists. In 2013, Fuse included Scherzinger on the list of 50 Girls Who Run the World, and the Top 100 Pop Breakthroughs.
Other ventures
Endorsements
On April 2010, Nicole Scherzinger teamed up with clothing store C&A to launch her own collection of lingerie, shoes, handbags and jewelry at their stores in Brazil. In December 2011, Scherzinger began endorsing the imPress Nails manicure line and has her own signature series. From 2012 to 2014, Scherzinger was the ambassador for Herbal Essences. In March 2013, Scherzinger was announced as an ambassador for British Airways promoting first class routes to Moscow. In April 2013, it was announced that Scherzinger will be the face of Müller Corner, a range of luxury yogurts and front TV and print campaigns. In collaboration with online fashion retailer Missguided, she designed a 30-piece range which was released in March 2014. Their collaboration helped the retailer increase profit by 70%. In September 2014, Scherzinger joined Proactiv+ as the new celebrity ambassador for the skin care company. In September 2017 Scherzinger launched her debut fragrance, Chosen by Nicole Scherzinger.
Musical theatre
In late 2009, it was reported that Scherzinger was working closely with Andrew Lloyd Webber on the musical Love Never Dies, the sequel to The Phantom of the Opera. Although she has not yet appeared in the show, her version of the title song - Love Never Dies - was played on the Chris Evans Breakfast Show on Friday April 1, 2011. As part of the 25th Anniversary of The Phantom of the Opera, Scherzinger performed the title song at the Royal Variety Performance - held in the Lowry, Manchester - on Monday December 5, 2011. The performance was aired on ITV1 on Wednesday December 14, 2011.
Playbill confirmed Scherzinger as a cast member in Two Lost Worlds, a musical billed as "an epic tale of an ancient people saved by one woman." The musical was presented July 31, 2012 at the Iridium Jazz Club in New York City. On March 31, 2013, Scherzinger performed "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" for an Andrew Lloyd Webber televised program and was met with critical acclaim.
Philanthropy
In May 2013, Scherzinger endowed the Youth Performing Arts School at duPont Manual High School with a $2,000 scholarship named after herself, titled the "Nicole Scherzinger Performing Arts Scholarship". Scherzinger says she enjoys her charitable endeavors so much, the work has ceased to be selfless and become a mere pursuit of her own pleasure, "I don't know if it's selfish because I get so much fulfillment out of it, but it excites me to be with special-needs kids and families. My aunt has Down's syndrome so it's very close to my heart," says Scherzinger. Following the 2010 Haiti earthquake, along with other artists, she recorded "We Are the World 25 for Haiti", which benefited people affected by the tragedy. In October 2010 she portrayed Trixie at the 35th anniversary concert of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. It also raised money for the Painted Turtle camp for chronically ill children.
Inspired by her aunt who has down syndrome, Scherzinger became a global ambassador of the Special Olympics and recorded "O Holy Night" for the 2013 edition of A Very Special Christmas with all proceeds benefiting the organization. On November 20, 2013, Scherzinger was honored with the "Global Gift Philanthropist Award" at the Global Gift Gala for her contributions. In 2014, Scherzinger became UNICEF UK's ambassador and traveled to Guyana to meet and assist children with disabilities at an inclusive play-park. The following year, in support of UNICEF UK's Children in Danger campaign traveled to Manila, Philippines met children living in dangerous, overcrowded communities around the capital. Scherzinger along with numerous other artists were featured on the single "Love Song to the Earth", which was released in September 2015 ahead of the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference, as part of the global campaign to raise awareness on climate change. She later performed "Brave" with the SU2C choir for Stand Up 2 Cancer to raise money for cancer research on October 17, 2014. In September 2016, Scherzinger along with numerous other artists were featured on the remake of the Black Eyed Peas song "Where Is the Love? where all proceeds went towards will.i.am's non-profit foundation, i.am.angel Foundation.
Personal life
Scherzinger was engaged to Nick Hexum, lead singer of 311, whom she dated from 2000 to 2004. Scherzinger commenced a high-profile relationship with Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton after they met at the 2007 MTV Europe Music Awards in Munich. Their on and off relationship of seven-years was a tabloid fixture in the British press. They separated for the final time in February 2015. She began dating Bulgarian tennis player Grigor Dimitrov in 2016.
In 2012, she publicly revealed her eight-year struggle with bulimia, explaining how during her time in the Pussycat Dolls, "I just hated myself. I was in a group but I never felt so alone in my life... I never did drugs, but hurting myself was my addiction. The music is what saved me. That's the only thing I can trust.".
Scherzinger has endorsed President Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign; she appeared in the music video for rapper will.i.am's song, "Yes We Can" (2008), which was inspired by Obama's speech after the 2008 New Hampshire primary.
Discography
- Killer Love (2011)
- Big Fat Lie (2014)
Filmography
- Chasing Papi (2003)
- Love Don't Cost a Thing (2003)
- Men in Black 3 (2012)
- Moana (2016)
- Dirty Dancing (2017)
Awards and nominations
See also
References
External links
- Nicole Scherzinger at AllMusic
- Nicole Scherzinger discography at Discogs
- Nicole Scherzinger on IMDb
Source of article : Wikipedia
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