Alesha Dixon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Alesha Dixon
Dixon in 2013
Born	Alesha Anjanette Dixon (1978-10-07) 7 October 1978 (age 46) Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, England
Education	Monkswalk School
Occupation	Singer rapper songwriter dancer television personality author
Spouse(s)	Harvey ​ ​ (m. 2005; div. 2006)​ Azuka Ononye ​ ​ (m. 2017, sep)​
Children	2
Musical career
Genres	R&B pop UK garage hip hop
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1999–present
Labels	Polydor Asylum Atlantic Victor Warner Precious Stone
Associated acts	Mis-Teeq

Alesha Anjanette Dixon (born 7 October 1978) is a talented English singer, rapper, dancer, and TV star. She is also an author. She became famous in the early 2000s as part of the R&B group Mis-Teeq. This group had seven songs in the UK top 10. They also released two top 10 albums that sold millions of copies worldwide.

After Mis-Teeq broke up in 2005, Alesha signed with Polydor Records. She released her first solo album, Fired Up, in 2006. However, her first songs, "Lipstick" and "Knockdown", didn't become big hits. Because of this, Polydor Records decided not to continue working with her.

In 2007, Alesha Dixon won the fifth series of the BBC One dancing show Strictly Come Dancing. Being on TV helped her music career a lot. She then signed with Asylum Records. In 2008, she released her second album, The Alesha Show. This album was very successful and included hit songs like "The Boy Does Nothing" and "Breathe Slow". "Breathe Slow" became her highest-charting song and earned her a Brit Award nomination.

In 2009, Alesha became a judge on Strictly Come Dancing. The next year, she released her third album, The Entertainer. In 2012, she left Strictly Come Dancing to become a judge on another popular TV show, Britain's Got Talent. Her fourth album, Do It for Love, came out in 2015. Alesha has continued to judge on talent shows, including America's Got Talent: The Champions (2020), Walk the Line (2021), and Australia's Got Talent (2022).

Alesha Dixon is also a well-known TV presenter. She has hosted shows like Alesha's Street Dance Stars (2010) and Your Face Sounds Familiar (2013). She also co-hosted the Eurovision Song Contest 2023. Besides her music and TV work, Alesha writes children's books, including the popular Lightning Girl series.

Life and career

Growing up

Alesha grew up in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire.

Alesha Anjanette Dixon was born on 7 October 1978. Her birthplace was Welwyn Garden City, England. Her father, Melvin Dixon, is Jamaican, and her mother, Beverly Harris, is English. Alesha has six half-siblings.

She went to Monk's Walk School in Welwyn. Alesha's parents separated when she was four years old. She has described her childhood family life as challenging. When she was young, she saw her mother go through difficult times. Later, Alesha made a documentary for the BBC called Don't Hit My Mum. This film talked about how family problems can affect children. She believes every child should feel safe and fearless growing up.

Alesha's first job was at Ladbrokes. She had planned to become a PE teacher. She even completed a sports studies diploma. She was going to attend Loughborough University. But then, something exciting happened. While at dance classes in London, a talent scout noticed her. Another scout approached her on a train. This scout was forming a music group. Alesha decided to join the group instead of going to university.

1999–2005: Mis-Teeq group

Alesha's music career started in 1999. She met Sabrina Washington at a dance school in London. They decided to form a group. Later, they saw Su-Elise Nash auditioning for another group. Alesha and Sabrina asked Su-Elise to join them. They became a trio and soon signed with Telstar Records. With a new member, Zena McNally, they became Mis-Teeq. This was a popular UK garage/R&B girl group.

In October 2000, Alesha sang on the song "Rumours" by Damage. It reached number 22 on the UK Singles Chart. In January 2001, Mis-Teeq released their first single, "Why". A garage remix helped it reach number 8. Zena McNally left the group around this time. Mis-Teeq continued as a trio.

They then released "All I Want". This song was even more successful, reaching number 2. In October 2001, their first album, Lickin' On Both Sides, came out. It featured hits like "One Night Stand" and "B with Me". In 2002, Mis-Teeq was nominated for a BRIT Award. They won a MOBO Award for Best Garage Act. After their first album's success, Mis-Teeq became the faces of JD Sports stores.

In 2003, Mis-Teeq released their second album, Eye Candy. This album included singles like "Scandalous" and "Can't Get It Back". In 2004, Mis-Teeq toured the United States. They released their American debut album, a mix of their first two albums.

In 2004, Alesha appeared in the N.E.R.D music video "She Wants to Move". The last song she recorded with Mis-Teeq was "Shoo Shoo Baby". This song was for the Disney film Valiant. In March 2005, their Greatest Hits album was released. It was announced that the group would separate. Each member wanted to start a solo career.

Alesha married Michael Harvey Jr in June 2005. They divorced in November 2006.

2006–2008: Solo music and Strictly Come Dancing

Alesha started her solo career after Mis-Teeq broke up. She signed a big deal with Polydor Records. She spent a year writing and recording her first solo album, Fired Up. She worked with many producers during this time. She was known simply as "Alesha" for her solo work. In June 2005, she announced her first solo single would be "Superficial". However, "Lipstick" was chosen instead. "Lipstick" was released on 14 August 2006. It reached number 14 on the UK Single Charts.

Her second single, "Knockdown", came out on 30 October 2006. It reached number 25 on the UK Download Chart. But on the official UK Singles Charts, it only reached number 45. On 6 November 2006, Polydor Records decided to stop working with Alesha. They gave her all the rights to her unreleased album, Fired Up. Around this time, her marriage also ended.

In 2007, Alesha took part in series 5 of Strictly Come Dancing. Her dance partner was Matthew Cutler. Alesha was unsure about joining at first. She worried it might harm her music career. She later said she was afraid it would affect her career. They were favorites from the third week of the show. They often received the highest scores from the judges. Alesha was highly praised for her dancing. In the final, they received 4.5 million votes. They won the competition, beating Matt Di Angelo and Flavia Cacace.

2008–2009: The Alesha Show and Strictly Come Dancing judge

Alesha Dixon performing in Leeds in 2008.

After winning Strictly Come Dancing, Alesha was sought after by many record labels. Even Polydor Records, her old label, wanted to sign her again. But Alesha chose to sign a four-album deal with Asylum Records in 2008. Her first new album, The Alesha Show, was released in the UK in November 2008.

The first single from the album, "The Boy Does Nothing", became her first solo top ten hit. It jumped from number 84 to number 8 on the UK Singles Chart just from downloads. The song eventually reached number 5. It also became popular in Europe and Australia. This single sold 1,000,000 copies worldwide.

The second single, "Breathe Slow", entered the UK Singles Chart at number 39. It climbed for three weeks and reached number 6. This made it Alesha's second top ten hit from downloads alone. It eventually peaked at number 3, becoming her highest-charting single. "Breathe Slow" sold over 200,000 copies in the UK.

The third single, "Let's Get Excited", was released in May. It reached number 13 in the UK Singles Chart. This was the first song from The Alesha Show not to reach the top 10. However, the song helped boost album sales. The Alesha Show reached a new peak of number 11. The album sold over 300,000 copies in the UK. The fourth single, "To Love Again", was released in November 2009. This ballad was written by Alesha and Gary Barlow. It was from the deluxe version of the album, The Alesha Show – Encore. Alesha also went on a 17-date national tour called The Alesha Show. It started in Nottingham in October 2009.

In July 2009, it was announced that Alesha would join the Strictly Come Dancing judging panel. She replaced Arlene Phillips. This change caused some discussion in the media. Alesha had to change three dates on her tour to be on the live show. Some viewers criticized her judging debut. However, the BBC said they were "delighted" with Alesha.

2010–2011: The Entertainer album

In early 2010, Alesha started working on her third album, The Entertainer. She planned to release it in the summer. In March, she went to Denmark to record with Soulshock & Karlin. They were the producers of her song "Breathe Slow". Alesha also worked with Rodney Jerkins, a famous record producer.

On 16 June, Alesha announced the album would be called Unleashed. On 30 June, her fan site revealed the first single was "Drummer Boy". It was produced by Shama Joseph. On 5 August, Alesha decided to change the album name to The Entertainer. "Drummer Boy" was released in August. It reached number 15 on the UK Singles Chart.

On 16 September, it was announced that Alesha had worked with Roll Deep. She was featured in their single "Take Control". This song appeared on both Roll Deep's album and The Entertainer. "Radio", the second single from The Entertainer, did not do well. It failed to reach the Top 40 when released in November 2010. The album also had little commercial success. A year later, it was noted that the album had sold 60,000 copies.

Alesha admitted the album didn't sell well. But she said she would always prefer to "take a chance creatively". She commented that "Drummer Boy" was a risk. It was very different from her previous work. She said she was glad she made it. She prefers to make unique records, even if they don't succeed.

2012–present: Britain's Got Talent and new music

Alesha wrote a new song, "Do It Our Way". It was for the New Year Weight Watchers campaign. The song was released on iTunes on 1 January 2012. On 2 January, Alesha announced she was leaving Strictly Come Dancing. She wanted to work on other projects. It was later announced she would join Britain's Got Talent as a judge. She replaced Michael McIntyre. She joined Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, and David Walliams. Some reports suggested she earned much more money by moving to ITV.

In September 2012, Alesha worked with rapper Ashley Walters. They collaborated on his new song "Your Love". The single was released in November.

In June 2013, it was announced that Alesha was expecting her first child. Her partner was backing dancer Azuka Ononye. On her 35th birthday, 7 October 2013, she announced the birth of her daughter, Azura Sienna. Alesha decided to put her fourth album on hold to focus on being a mother. She and Azuka Ononye married in 2017. Their second daughter, Anaya, was born on 20 August 2019.

In December 2014, Alesha announced new music for 2015. In March 2015, she confirmed her new single "The Way We Are" would be released on 21 June. It was released through her own record label, Precious Stone Records. This was her first single in over four years. She performed the song live during a Britain's Got Talent semi-final.

Her fourth studio album, Do It for Love, was released on 9 October 2015. It reached number 81 on the UK Albums Chart. The album's next singles were "Tallest Girl" and a new version of "People Need Love". In 2016, Alesha had a small role in the film Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie.

Alesha Dixon (left) hosting Eurovision 2023 alongside Sanina, Waddingham and Norton.

On 24 June 2017, she filled in for Nicole Scherzinger at The X Factor UK auditions. She also filled in for Sharon Osbourne and Simon Cowell later that year.

In May 2019, it was announced Alesha was expecting her second child. In September 2019, she joined the judging panel for America's Got Talent: The Champions season two. In June 2021, she became a judge on the tenth season of Australia's Got Talent. On 4 November 2021, Alesha was a guest judge on RuPaul's Drag Race UK. Her appearance was very well received. Alesha co-hosted the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 in Liverpool. She hosted alongside Julia Sanina and Hannah Waddingham. Graham Norton joined them for the final show.

Artistry

Musical style

Alesha performing in 2009.

When Alesha first became known with Mis-Teeq, she was mainly the group's MC (rapper). Sabrina Washington usually sang the main vocals. Sabrina encouraged Alesha to rap from the start. She said it added something different to the group. It was rare to hear a woman MC at that time.

When Alesha started her solo career, her first UK album, The Alesha Show, changed her style. The album had no rapping. It was mainly R&B and soul. This was different from Mis-Teeq's music, which focused on garage and hip hop. Alesha said the album had "a lot more guitar-written songs with pop produced around it". Her third album, The Entertainer, mostly features dance and pop songs.

Alesha is a songwriter and singer. She often writes or co-writes her own songs. She said she wrote most of The Alesha Show herself or with others. Critics have suggested some of her songs are about her own life. For example, "To Love Again" (2009) was co-written with Gary Barlow. Reviewer Andy Gill said Alesha's voice is better suited for upbeat songs. He felt her bubbly personality fits dance anthems more than slow ballads. However, Caroline Sullivan from The Guardian praised her live singing. She said Alesha is more powerful than one might expect. She could hold her own against her band while dancing.

Influences

Alesha has often said Madonna is a big influence. She loved Madonna as a young girl. Alesha feels she has been on a musical journey with Madonna. Alesha's song "Let's Get Excited" even mentions Madonna. The music video for the song included a "Madonna tribute" with voguing. Alesha has also called Kylie Minogue her childhood idol. The first record Alesha ever bought was "Push It" by Salt-n-Pepa. She loved that they were raw and did their own thing. She likes artists who don't just do what people expect.

Alesha grew up in Welwyn Garden City, which was mostly white. But her father, Melvin, would take her to the Notting Hill Carnival in London. This helped her experience her Jamaican heritage. The music she heard there influenced her taste. She bought dancehall records by artists like Shabba Ranks. When asked about her favorite songwriter, Alesha named Lauryn Hill. She admires Lauryn Hill for talking about real life. Alesha also said Neneh Cherry was a great influence. Cherry, a mixed-race singer, inspired Alesha from a young age. Alesha remembered seeing Neneh Cherry on TV and telling her mum, "Mummy, she looks like me."

Activism and charity work

Alesha believes that celebrities have a "moral responsibility" to do good things. She told Blues & Soul in 2010 that her fame comes with a responsibility.

In 2009, Alesha climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania for Comic Relief. She climbed with other celebrities like Cheryl Cole and Gary Barlow. Together, they raised over £3,500,000. This money helped fight malaria in Tanzania. In June 2009, Alesha became an official ambassador for the charity Help a London Child. She said she felt "very honoured" to be asked.

Alesha supports the African-Caribbean Leukaemia Trust (ACLT). This charity works to increase the number of Black and Mixed Parentage people on the UK Bone Marrow Register. Alesha has also supported Nickelodeon's "See Something, Say Something" campaign. This is a UK initiative against bullying.

Alesha cares about animal rights and is a pescetarian. She is Vice-President of the League Against Cruel Sports. This charity works to stop cruelty to animals in sports. In 2012, Alesha went to Romania with World Animal Protection. She helped rescue two brown bears from a closed zoo. The bears were moved to a sanctuary. In 2014, Alesha asked her Twitter followers to sign a petition. It called for a ban on slaughtering animals without being stunned first. Alesha also supports the PetRetreat scheme by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA). This scheme helps foster pets for victims of family problems. The pets are later reunited with their owners.

Alesha is also a representative for the cosmetics company Avon. On International Women's Day 2012, she launched Avon's "Pass It On" campaign. This campaign aimed to highlight family issues in the UK. It encouraged buying a special necklace. All money from the necklace sales went to charities like Refuge and Women's Aid. In March 2013, Alesha led a walk to the Houses of Parliament. This walk raised awareness about family problems. Alesha said that awareness of these issues is still low.

Alesha has worked with several LGBT charities. These include Switchboard and RUComingOut. She supports same-sex marriage and gender equality. She also believes in more support for trans individuals. Alesha is popular in the LGBT community. She has performed at many gay pride parades in the UK. She headlined London Pride and Brighton Pride in 2016.

In September 2020, Alesha wore a necklace that spelled "BLM" on Britain's Got Talent. This was a reference to the Black Lives Matter movement. Some people complained about her necklace. Alesha's actions showed her support for the dance group Diversity. They had performed a routine referencing the murder of George Floyd the week before.

Other ventures

Alesha at her fragrance launch in 2014

Besides singing, Alesha has also worked as a TV presenter. She has made three documentaries. She is also a businesswoman with various endorsement deals. In November 2009, Alesha announced her own jewellery line. In January 2014, she launched her fragrance, Rose Quartz. Alesha has represented brands like Ford cars and Toblerone chocolate. She also worked with cosmetics company Avon and airline Thomson Airways. Alesha was also the creative director of the gym chain LA Fitness from 2009. She voiced the character of Bliss in the 2016 version of Powerpuff Girls.

Presenting

Alesha has presented many shows in the UK. These include the MOBO Awards (in 2002, 2010, and 2011). She also presented CD:UK and ITV2's coverage of the Brit Awards. She hosted the Live From the Red Carpet show at the 62nd British Academy Film Awards. She has been a guest on BBC One's This Week twice. In 2008, Alesha presented her own mini-documentary. It was called Alesha: Look But Don't Touch and aired on BBC Three. The show explored how digital technology creates "perfect" images. In 2009, there were talks about Alesha having her own chat show.

In 2008 and 2009, she co-presented Children in Need. She returned to present the telethon in 2011. In March 2010, Alesha co-presented the Mister World 2010 pageant in Korea.

Since August 2011, Alesha has presented Alesha's Street Dance Stars for CBBC. This is a street-dance competition. She also appeared in the CBBC series 12 Again. In May 2013, Alesha was a guest presenter on the ITV show Lorraine.

In summer 2013, Alesha and Paddy McGuinness co-presented Your Face Sounds Familiar. This was an ITV reality show.

In 2014 and 2015, Alesha co-presented parts of ITV's Text Santa telethon. In 2016, she co-presented Sport Relief 2016 on BBC One.

In 2017, Alesha co-presented Dance Dance Dance. This was a six-part reality series for ITV.

In 2019, Alesha co-hosted BBC’s Saturday night show The Greatest Dancer.

On 22 February 2023, it was confirmed that Alesha would co-host the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 in Liverpool. She hosted with Hannah Waddingham and Julia Sanina. Graham Norton joined them for the grand final.

Discography

• Fired Up (2006)
• The Alesha Show (2008)
• The Entertainer (2010)
• Do It for Love (2015)

Filmography

Television

Film

Concert tours

Headlining

• The Alesha Show (2009)

Supporting

• Enrique Iglesias UK Tour (2009)

Awards and nominations

Images for kids

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  Alesha Dixon in 2013

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  Alesha Dixon performing in 2009

See also

In Spanish: Alesha Dixon para niños