Alesha Dixon is an English singer, rapper, dancer, television personality, and author. She rose to fame in the early 2000s as a member of the R&B, garage, and hip-hop group Mis-Teeq, before embarking on a solo career. Her debut album, Fired Up, was released in 2006 but her popularity as a singer declined, and she was subsequently dropped from Polydor. However, her career was revitalized when she won the fifth series of the BBC One dancing competition show Strictly Come Dancing in 2007, which led to a successful musical comeback and a recording contract with Asylum Records. Her second album, The Alesha Show, was released in 2008 and achieved platinum certification in the UK. Dixon's success as a television personality includes becoming a judge on the seventh series of Strictly Come Dancing in 2009 and then quitting to become a judge on the ITV talent show competition Britain's Got Talent in 2012. In addition to her judging roles, she has hosted several television shows, including Alesha's Street Dance Stars, Your Face Sounds Familiar, and The Greatest Dancer. Dixon is also an author and has written a series of children's books titled Lightning Girl. In 2022, she was a judge on the tenth season of Australia's Got Talent and hosted the Eurovision Song Contest.
A multitalented personality, Alesha Dixon is an English singer, rapper, dancer, TV host, and author. Dixon first rose to fame as a member of the R&B, garage, and hip-hop group Mis-Teeq in the early 2000s. The group enjoyed significant commercial success with seven top-10 hits in the UK and two double-platinum albums before disbanding in 2005. Dixon then embarked on a solo career, releasing her debut album, Fired Up, in 2006 under Polydor Records. Although her popularity as a singer waned after the release of her singles "Lipstick" and "Knockdown," she experienced a musical resurgence after winning the fifth series of Strictly Come Dancing in 2007. Following her stint in the dancing competition, Dixon was signed to Asylum Records and released her second album, The Alesha Show, in 2008. The album was a commercial success, with its singles "The Boy Does Nothing" and "Breathe Slow" becoming chart-toppers in the UK. Dixon also took on a judging role on the seventh series of Strictly Come Dancing in 2009 and became a judge on Britain's Got Talent in 2012. She has since released two more albums, Do It for Love and The Entertainer, and has hosted several TV shows, including The Greatest Dancer, Comic Relief, and Eurovision Song Contest 2023. Additionally, Dixon has authored a children's book series called Lightning Girl.
Alesha Dixon, whose birth name is Alesha Anjanette Dixon, was born on October 7, 1978, in Welwyn Garden City, England, UK. She is the daughter of Beverly and Melvin and grew up with her five siblings. Dixon comes from the Afro-Jamaican ethnicity. Her parents separated when she was four, and her father moved away, resulting in a "very dysfunctional" family life, as Dixon later described it. Witnessing her mother suffer from domestic violence from her partner between the ages of eight and ten, Dixon only spoke publicly about the issue 21 years later in 2010. She created a documentary for the BBC called "Don't Hit My Mum," focusing on domestic abuse from a child's perspective, and remarked on her own childhood as a time of negativity and fear, with few positive memories. Dixon attended Monk's Walk School in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, and worked at Ladbrokes as her first job. Although she aspired to become a PE teacher after college, Dixon completed a diploma course in sports studies and had planned to attend Loughborough University. However, a talent scout from a production company approached her during dance classes in London, and another scout forming a group approached her on the train home.
Alesha Dixon's career began in 1999 when she met Sabrina Washington at a dance school in London. Together, they formed a girl group called Mis-Teeq, after spotting Su-Elise Nash at an audition for another group. They were signed to Telstar Records with the addition of Zena McNally, and their unique blend of UK garage and R&B music gained their popularity. In 2001, they released their first single "Why", which was initially unnoticed until a garage remix was produced, leading it to chart at number 8. They went on to release several successful singles and their debut album, Lickin' On Both Sides, in 2001, which earned them a nomination at the BRIT Awards and a MOBO Award for Best Garage Act. In 2003, they released their second album, Eye Candy, and toured the United States. After releasing their Greatest Hits album in 2005, the group announced their separation to pursue solo careers. During her time with Mis-Teeq, Dixon also featured on the single "Rumours" by Damage in 2000 and appeared in the N.E.R.D music video for "She Wants to Move" in 2004.
After Mis-Teeq disbanded, Alesha Dixon signed a three-album deal with Polydor Records and released her solo debut album, Fired Up, in 2006. The album was recorded over a year and featured collaborations with producers such as Richard X, Xenomania, and Paul Epworth. Her first single, "Lipstick," was released in August 2006 and peaked at number 14 on the UK Singles Chart. However, her second single, "Knockdown," did not perform as well and led to Dixon being dropped by Polydor. At the same time, Dixon was going through a divorce from her husband, Michael Harvey Jr, due to his affair with Javine Hylton. In 2007, Dixon joined the cast of Strictly Come Dancing, partnered with Matthew Cutler. They were the favorites from the third week and received high praise from the judges, with Dixon even being likened to a young Josephine Baker. They went on to win the show, receiving 4.5 million votes in the final.
After winning "Strictly Come Dancing," Alesha Dixon signed a four-album contract with Asylum Records in 2008. Her first album, "The Alesha Show," included the hit singles "The Boy Does Nothing," which reached number five on the UK Singles Chart, and "Breathe Slow," which peaked at number three. The album also included the singles "Let's Get Excited" and "To Love Again." In addition to her music career, Dixon joined the Strictly Come Dancing judging panel in September 2009, replacing Arlene Phillips. Her debut was met with criticism, but the BBC was pleased with her performance.
In early 2010, Alesha Dixon began working on her third studio album, which she planned to release during the summer. Dixon flew to Denmark to record with Soulshock & Karlin and later secured a recording session with Rodney Jerkins. The album's name was initially revealed as Unleashed but later changed to The Entertainer. The lead single was "Drummer Boy", produced by Shama Joseph, and the second single was "Radio". However, both singles and the album made a little commercial impact, with the album selling only 60,000 copies. Dixon acknowledged the lack of commercial success and said she would always prefer to take creative chances. In 2012, Dixon wrote and released "Do It Our Way" for the New Year Weight Watchers campaign, which was available as a digital download on iTunes. On 2 January, Dixon announced that she was leaving her role as a judge on Strictly Come Dancing to join the judging panel of Britain's Got Talent.
In 2014, Alesha Dixon announced that she would be releasing a new single in either March or May 2015, with her new single "The Way We Are" eventually being released on 21 June via her own record label. This marked Dixon's first single release in over four years, and the first live performance of the song took place during one of Britain's Got Talent semi-finals. Her fourth studio album titled Do It for Love was released on 9 October 2015 but only peaked at number 81 on the UK Albums Chart. In the following years, Dixon made various TV appearances as a judge on several shows, including The X Factor UK, America's Got Talent: The Champions, and Australia's Got Talent. In 2021, she also appeared as a guest judge on the third series of the BBC drag competition series, RuPaul's Drag Race UK, which was met with widespread acclaim.
Alesha Dixon is a married woman and her current husband is Azuka Ononye, a Nigerian dancer. The couple began dating in 2012 and announced the news of their first child's arrival in June 2013. Their daughter, Azura Sienna Ononye, was born in October 2013. After dating for several years, Alesha and Azuka got married in 2017. Their first daughter, Azura Sienna was born in the year 2013. The couple welcomed their second daughter, Anaya Safiya Ononye, in August 2019. Alesha's current marriage seems to be going well, and the couple seems happy together with their two daughters.
Before her marriage to Azuka, Alesha was previously married to the British rapper Mc Harvey in 2005. However, their marriage lasted only a year after Mc Harvey admitted to having an affair with singer Javine Hylton. Following her divorce, Alesha dated the British actor Matt Di Angelo in 2007 and had a brief encounter with actor Robert Kazinsky around the same time. She was also linked to American musician Pharrell Williams in May 2007, but their relationship didn't last long. Despite her past relationship experiences, Alesha seems to have found happiness in her current marriage to Azuka Ononye.
Alesha Dixon is a well-known personality in the entertainment industry, having established herself as a multi-talented artist. She is a singer, rapper, and dancer, with a successful career in the music industry. Alesha's main source of income is from her music career, which has brought her both money and fame. According to some online reports, her current estimated net worth is around $10 million, with an estimated salary of over $1 million.
Apart from her music career, Alesha has also ventured into the world of endorsements and advertising. She has signed contracts with several prominent brands, including Ford, Toblerone, Avon, and Thomson Airways. Through these partnerships, Alesha has been able to further expand her portfolio and increase her earnings. Her ability to excel in multiple fields has allowed her to maintain her position as a popular figure in the entertainment industry, making her a highly sought-after talent in the business world as well.
Alesha's physique includes a height of 5 feet 7 inches and a weight of approximately 58 Kg. She possesses light brown hair, brown eyes, and an athletic body type with measurements of 36-25-37 inches. Her 34B bra size is accompanied by a great body and a shiny smile, accentuated by her long legs. Alesha typically wears a dress size of 8 (US) and a shoe size of 10 (US), which can also be converted to 7.5 (UK) or 42 (EU).
Alesha works out with her personal trainer, Janet Malinowska, two or three times a week, but she does not follow a rigid schedule and enjoys switching up her exercise routine. She follows the 80/20 rule and ensures that she never misses breakfast. Additionally, she loves trying out the Detox diet to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Alesha Dixon participated in the fifth series of the popular BBC show, Strictly Come Dancing, and won the competition with her partner Matthew Cutler. The show is a dance competition where celebrities are paired with professional dancers, and they perform different dance styles each week, competing for the judges' scores and the public's votes. The scores are based on several factors such as technique, choreography, musicality, and overall performance. Alesha's win on Strictly Come Dancing in 2007 helped to kickstart her career in the entertainment industry. It led to a successful musical comeback and her signing with Asylum Records. The win also helped to establish her as a public figure and led to several presenting opportunities, including hosting the dance competition show, Dance Dance Dance, and becoming a judge on Britain's Got Talent.
Initially, her career aspirations were aimed at becoming a physical education (PE) teacher. However, fate had different plans for her when she caught the attention of a scout who recognized her talent. This opportunity propelled her into the entertainment industry, which ultimately resulted in her achieving great success as a singer, rapper, dancer, television personality, and author. Had she pursued her original career path as a PE teacher, Alesha's life could have taken a completely different turn. It's interesting to ponder what might have happened if that scout hadn't discovered her, but it's clear that she has made the most of the opportunities that have come her way and have had a significant impact on the entertainment industry.
Alesha Dixon has opened up about her difficult childhood, describing it as very dysfunctional. She has spoken about how witnessing her mother become a victim of domestic abuse had a profound impact on her. She has said that she doesn't have many positive memories of her upbringing due to the trauma she experienced. Despite her difficult start in life, Dixon has gone on to achieve great success as a singer, rapper, dancer, television personality, and author.
In 2016, Alesha Dixon made a brief appearance in the film "Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie". The film was based on the popular British television show of the same name and featured a star-studded cast, including Jennifer Saunders, Joanna Lumley, and Kate Moss. Dixon appeared in a scene set at a fashion show, playing herself and delivering a humorous line to one of the characters. The cameo marked Dixon's first appearance in a major motion picture. Despite its mixed critical reception, the film was a commercial success, grossing over $37 million worldwide. Dixon's appearance in the film helped to further raise her profile as a public figure and solidified her status as a multi-talented entertainer.
Alesha Dixon has been open about her admiration for Australian pop icon Kylie Minogue. She has spoken publicly about how Minogue was her childhood idol and how she used to listen to her music and watch her music videos, inspired by her energy, style, and charisma. Dixon has also cited Minogue as a major influence on her own music career, particularly in terms of her performances and stage presence. Over the years, Dixon has had the opportunity to meet and work with Minogue on various occasions. In 2007, Minogue was a guest judge on the fifth series of Strictly Come Dancing, which Dixon went on to win. Dixon has also performed at various events alongside Minogue and has been a guest on her television shows. Despite her own success, Dixon has never forgotten her admiration for her childhood idol and continues to speak highly of Minogue as a role model in the entertainment industry.