Alesha Dixon, TV Personality & Singer

Alesha Dixon was born in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, to a Jamaican father and an English mother. Dixon aspired to become a PE teacher after leaving college and completing a diploma course in sports studies, she planned to attend Loughborough University, but while pursuing her passion for song and dance she was approached by a talent scout from a production company at a dance class in London. While traveling back home on the train she was approached by another scout who was forming a band and asked if she was interested

Dixon's career began in 1999 when she met Sabrina Washington at a dance studio in Fulham, SW London. Together, they decided to form a band when they spotted Su-Elise Nash and formed a trio. They were soon signed to Telstar Records and became the popular multi-platinum UK garage/R&B band, Mis-Teeq, with Alesha not just as a vocalist but as the MC/rapper of the group. Mis-teeq went on to have three top ten albums and seven consecutive top ten singles also venturing across the pond with the global hit “Scandalous”; with Alesha also making an appearance as the lead in the iconic music video for American hip-hop rock group N.E.R.D' smash single ""She Wants To Move.”

Alesha launched her solo career after Mis-Teeq disbanded in 2005. She signed a three album deal with Polydor Records. She spent a year writing and recording her solo debut album, Fired Up, working with a wide range of producers. In June 2005, she announced her first solo single to be ""Superficial"". However, at the last minute, the song ""Lipstick"" was chosen as the first single. It was released and charted at No. 14 in the U.K. Singles Chart. The album was never released and she parted ways with her record label. Alesha took part and won series five of the TV show Strictly Come Dancing in 2007, partnered with professional dancer Matthew Cutler. They currently hold the record for highest average score. Signing a new deal with Asylum Records, Dixon released her sophomore album The Alesha Show which shot up the charts spawning the hits ""The Boy Does Nothing,” ""Breathe Slow"" and ""Let’s Get Excited.” Alesha then joined the Strictly Come Dancing judging panel in September 2009 and stayed on for three series.

Alesha’s third studio album The Entertainer was released in November 2010. In 2012, Alesha departed Strictly and joined the judging panel at Britain’s Got Talent alongside Simon Cowell. Dixon’s album Do It for Love was released on October 2015 debuting on her own record label Precious Stone Records. She released a string of singles but opted out of making them eligible to chart. Throughout her career, Dixon has been a devoted philanthropist involved in numerous charities. Dixon served as Avon’s beauty and empowerment ambassador from 2011 to 2013. In October 2016, Alesha completed her second capsule fashion range with the company Little Black Dress where she is on the board and a percentage of the proceeds go to women's refuge.