Nicole Scherzinger facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nicole Scherzinger
Scherzinger in 2012
Born	Nicole Prascovia Elikolani Valiente (1978-06-29) June 29, 1978 (age 46) Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
Other names	Nicole Kea
Occupation	Singer songwriter dancer actress television personality
Years active	1997–present
Works	Solo discography and songs Pussycat Dolls discography filmography
Partner(s)	Lewis Hamilton (2007–2015) Thom Evans (2020–present; engaged)
Musical career
Origin	Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres	R&B pop hip hop dance
Instruments	Vocals piano
Labels	A&M Interscope RCA Epic
Signature

Nicole Scherzinger (born Nicole Prascovia Elikolani Valiente on June 29, 1978) is an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and actress. She is also a popular television personality. She is best known as the lead singer of the R&B-pop group the Pussycat Dolls.

The Pussycat Dolls sold over 55 million records worldwide. This made them one of the best-selling female groups of all time. Nicole was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, and grew up in Louisville, Kentucky. She started acting at 14 and studied musical theatre in college.

Nicole left college to follow her dream of a music career. She toured with the rock band Days of the New. Later, she joined Eden's Crush, a girl group formed on the TV show Popstars. After some small acting roles, Nicole became the lead singer of the Pussycat Dolls.

She also started a solo career. Her first album, Killer Love (2011), included hit songs like "Right There" and "Don't Hold Your Breath". Her second album, Big Fat Lie (2014), followed. Both albums did well internationally.

Nicole has been a judge on many TV talent shows. These include The Sing-Off (2009–2010), The X Factor US (2011), and The X Factor UK (2012–2013, 2016–2017). She also judged Australia's Got Talent (2019) and The Masked Singer (2019–2023). In 2010, she won Dancing with the Stars.

She has also acted in plays like Cats (2014) and Sunset Boulevard (2023–2024). She voiced a character in the Disney film Moana (2016). Nicole has won a Laurence Olivier Award for her acting. She also supports charities like the Special Olympics and UNICEF UK.

Early Life and Education

Nicole Prascovia Elikolani Valiente was born on June 29, 1978, in Honolulu, Hawaii. Her father was Filipino and her mother was Native Hawaiian, Ukrainian, and Polish. Nicole's father left when she was two. Her mother then married Gary Scherzinger, who adopted Nicole. She took his last name.

When Nicole was six, her family moved to Louisville, Kentucky. She grew up with "not much money." She worked as a waitress and took modeling jobs to help her family. Nicole was raised Roman Catholic and went to church often.

At 14, she joined the Actors Theatre of Louisville. She acted in her first play, La Bête. In 1996, she graduated from the Youth Performing Arts School. She played Alice in Alice in Wonderland. Nicole was surprised to get the part, as she was competing "against a girl with blue eyes and blonde hair."

She later received a scholarship to Wright State University. She studied theatre arts and dance. During college, Nicole played lead roles in musicals like Chicago and Guys and Dolls. In her last year, she sang for the rock band Days of the New. She left college to tour with them.

Music Career Highlights

Starting with Eden's Crush

In 2001, Nicole's mother saw a TV ad for Popstars USA. This show aimed to create a new girl group. Nicole was hesitant at first, but decided to audition. She sang Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You". She became one of five members of the group Eden's Crush.

Their first song, "Get Over Yourself", was released in March 2001. It was very popular, reaching number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Their album, Popstars (2001), also did well. They toured with 'N Sync and Jessica Simpson. However, their record label went bankrupt, and the group broke up.

Becoming a Pussycat Doll

In 2003, Nicole wanted a solo music deal. She auditioned for Robin Antin, who created the Pussycat Dolls burlesque group. Nicole joined the new music group version of the Pussycat Dolls in December 2003. She became the lead singer.

The group's first album, PCD, came out in September 2005. Their song "Don't Cha" became a huge international hit. Other popular songs from the album included "Stickwitu" and "Buttons". "Buttons" was even nominated for a Grammy Award.

Nicole also worked on her own music. She sang on Avant's "Lie About Us" (2006). She also teamed up with Diddy on "Come to Me". This song became her first solo top-ten hit in the US.

In 2007, Nicole planned to release her solo album, Her Name is Nicole. She released a few songs from it, but they didn't become big hits in the US. So, she decided to put her solo album on hold and focus on the Pussycat Dolls' next album.

The Pussycat Dolls performing on tour in 2006

The Pussycat Dolls' second album, Doll Domination, was released in September 2008. It included hits like "When I Grow Up" and "I Hate This Part". In 2009, the group went on the Doll Domination Tour. During the tour, Nicole helped rewrite the song "Jai Ho" from the movie Slumdog Millionaire. The new version, "Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny)", became a number one hit in 17 countries.

After the tour ended in August 2009, the group took a break. In December 2009, Nicole became a judge on the TV show The Sing-Off.

Solo Success and TV Appearances

In May 2010, Nicole and her dance partner Derek Hough won the tenth season of Dancing with the Stars. In July 2010, she was a guest judge on The X Factor UK. She helped form the famous boy band One Direction by suggesting the boys be put together.

Scherzinger arriving at The X Factor auditions in Newark, New Jersey

In October 2010, Nicole released "Poison". It reached number three in the UK. She then announced she was leaving the Pussycat Dolls to focus on her solo career. Her first solo album, Killer Love, was released in the UK in March 2011. It debuted at number eight. The song "Don't Hold Your Breath" became her first number-one solo hit in the UK. "Right There" also did very well.

In 2011, Nicole became a judge on the American version of The X Factor. In February 2012, she went on her first solo tour in the UK. She also had a small role in the movie Men in Black 3. In June 2012, she returned as a judge for The X Factor UK. She mentored the Boys category, and her act, James Arthur, won the show.

New Music and Stage Roles

In March 2013, Nicole released the song "Boomerang". In February 2014, she signed a new record deal. Her second album, Big Fat Lie, came out in October 2014. It included the song "Your Love", which reached number six in the UK.

In December 2014, Nicole made her West End debut in the musical Cats. She played the role of Grizabella and received great reviews, especially for her singing of "Memory". She was even nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award.

In 2015, Nicole won the TV show I Can Do That. She also co-hosted the variety show Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris. In 2016, she returned as a judge for The X Factor UK. She also voiced Sina in the Disney animated film Moana. In 2017, Nicole starred as Penny in the TV film Dirty Dancing.

The Masked Singer and Pussycat Dolls Reunion

In 2019, Nicole became a panelist on the popular show The Masked Singer. This show features celebrities singing in costumes, hiding their identities. She also judged Australia's Got Talent and The X Factor spin-off shows.

In December 2019, the Pussycat Dolls reunited for a performance on The X Factor: Celebrity finale. They sang their old hits and a new song, "React". "React" was released in February 2020 and did well.

In 2021, Nicole voiced Miranda Trese in the Netflix anime series Trese. She also played Grace Farrell in NBC's musical TV special Annie Live!. The Pussycat Dolls reunion tour was later canceled due to various reasons.

In 2022, Nicole announced she would release new solo music. She performed at the Coronation Concert for King Charles III in May 2023. She sang "Reflection" from Disney's Mulan.

Sunset Boulevard and Broadway Debut

In 2023, Nicole starred as Norma Desmond in the musical Sunset Boulevard in London's West End. Her performance was highly praised. Critics called it "career-defining." She won the 2023 Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Musical Performance and the 2024 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for this role.

In 2024, she made her Broadway debut in the same role. She also performed at the 77th Tony Awards.

Musical Style and Voice

Nicole Scherzinger has a soprano singing voice. She is known for her powerful vocals. Music critics have praised her voice, calling it "incredible." Andrew Lloyd Webber, a famous composer, said her recording of "Memory" was the "best recording of anything of [his] music ever done."

Nicole considers herself a perfectionist when it comes to her music. She has worked on many different music styles, including pop, R&B, hip hop, and rock. Her album Killer Love had a Europop sound and explored dance and electronic genres.

She also chooses songs that she can perform well live. Nicole is known for her strong stage presence and dancing. She can "out-dance her four dancers" while singing live. Rolling Stone magazine readers voted her as one of their favorite dancing musicians.

Personal Life

Nicole has been open about her past struggles with bulimia, an eating disorder. She worked with therapists to overcome it.

She prefers to keep her personal life private. Nicole dated Nick Hexum from 2000 to 2004. She had a long-term relationship with Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton from 2007 to 2015. In 2020, she confirmed her relationship with former rugby player Thom Evans. They became engaged in June 2023.

Charity Work

Nicole is involved in many charity efforts. After the 2010 Haiti earthquake, she sang on the charity song "We Are the World 25 for Haiti". She also took part in a telethon to help those affected.

Inspired by her aunt, who has Down syndrome, Nicole became a global ambassador for the Special Olympics. She recorded a song for a charity album to benefit the organization. Since 2014, she has supported UNICEF UK. She has traveled to places like Guyana and Kenya to visit centers that help children in poverty.

In 2015, she sang on the song "Love Song to the Earth" to raise awareness about climate change. In 2016, she was part of a remake of the Black Eyed Peas song "Where Is the Love?" to support a non-profit foundation. In 2019, she joined protests against building a telescope on Mauna Kea in Hawaii, a holy site for native Hawaiians.

Other Ventures

Fashion and Endorsements

In April 2010, Nicole launched her own collection of lingerie, shoes, and jewelry with the clothing store C&A in Brazil. In March 2014, she designed a 30-piece clothing line with the online retailer Missguided. This collaboration helped the retailer's profits grow.

Nicole has also endorsed many products. She recorded a song for Unilever. She has endorsed the imPress Nails manicure line and was an ambassador for Herbal Essences from 2012 to 2014. In 2013, she became an ambassador for British Airways and Müller Corner yogurts. In 2014, she joined Proactiv+ as a celebrity ambassador for their skin care products.

In 2016, Nicole became the face of Perfectil, a vitamin product. In 2023, she was named the first non-British godmother for P&O Cruises' ship Arvia.

Discography

• Killer Love (2011)
• Big Fat Lie (2014)

Stage and Screen Credits

Film

• Men in Black 3 (2012)
• Moana (2016)
• Moana 2 (2024)

Stage

• Rent (2010)
• Cats (2014–2015)
• Sunset Boulevard (2023–2025)

Awards and Nominations

Images for kids

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  The Pussycat Dolls performed for U.S. and coalition service members in 2008.

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  Nicole Scherzinger at a soundcheck in Moscow, 2018.

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  Whitney Houston has been cited by Nicole Scherzinger as her idol and biggest influence.

See also

In Spanish: Nicole Scherzinger para niños

• List of artists who reached number one on the UK Singles Chart
• List of people from the Louisville metropolitan area