Nicole Scherzinger

Nicole Scherzinger is an American recording artist, songwriter, actress, and television personality. Born in Honolulu, Hawaii and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, she performed in various singing competitions and musicals before joining American rock band Days of the New as a backing vocalist and later becoming one of the members of the illfated girl group Edens Crush in 2001. She rose to fame as the lead singer of the burlesque troupe turnedrecording act, the Pussycat Dolls becoming one of the worlds bestselling girl groups of all time. During their hiatus Scherzinger planned to embark on her solo career with Her Name is Nicole but was later shelved after four singles failed to impact the charts. Following the disbandment of the Pussycat Dolls, Scherzinger became a judge for two seasons of The SingOff and in 2010 won the tenth season of Dancing with the Stars.

Scherzinger was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, into a Catholic family. Her father, Alfonso Valiente, is of Filipino descent, and her mother, Rosemary Elikolani, is half Native Hawaiian and part Ukrainian Her mother was eighteen at the time of Scherzingers birth and lived in an inner city neighborhood. Scherzingers 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 stepfathers 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 thanks 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.

Source: Wikipedia