Nicole Prescovia Elikolani Valiente Scherzinger (also known as Nicole Kea; born June 29, 1978) is an American singer-songwriter, dancer, model and occasional actress, best known as the lead singer for the Pussycat Dolls.
Scherzinger was born in Honolulu to a Filipino father and a Russian/Hawaiian mother. Recently in an interview in Vienna, she stated that she has German ancestry on her mother's side. Her mother Rosemary was eighteen at the time of Scherzinger's birth and lived in an inner city neighborhood. Nicole's parents separated when she was a baby. The family moved to Louisville, Kentucky when she was six years old, with her sister Ke'ala and her German-American stepfather Gary Scherzinger.
She stated she had a "conservative Catholic" upbringing. She first attended Meyzeek Middle School as an adolescent. Growing up, Nicole states that she didn't have a lot of money and the singer thanks her mom 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. It is here that she first met her long time friend, actress Liz Davito.
As a teenager, Scherzinger was the first runner-up at the 1996 Kentucky State Fair's Coca-Cola Talent Classic contest. Scherzinger majored in acting and musical theatre at Wright State University, where she played Velma in Chicago and Julie La Verne in Show Boat, but put her studies on hold in 1999 to sing backing vocals for the rock band Days of the New.
She took the surname Scherzinger when she was adopted by her stepfather.
Scherzinger met Nick Hexum of rock band 311 backstage at a Days of the New concert in 2000 or 2001. They dated and later became engaged, but broke it off sometime in 2004. She was the inspiration for their song "Amber" and appeared in the music video.
Scherzinger is currently in a relationship with 2008 Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton.
She was ranked at number 22 on Maxim's Hot 100 in 2006 and 21 in 2007. Scherzinger appeared on the March 2008 cover of Men's Fitness magazine.
In April 2008, Scherzinger recorded a cover version of "Rio" by Duran Duran for an advertising campaign for Unilever's Caress brand of body wash. A commercial video was released, and the single was released via download only, after May 2008.
In 2008, in support of Barack Obama, she was one of many musicians to contribute to a track by will.i.am called "Yes We Can". Also on September 5, 2008, Scherzinger joined an all-star cast to perform the charity song "Just Stand Up" on live TV.
Scherzinger performed "America the Beautiful" at WWE WrestleMania XXV in Houston, TX at the Reliant Stadium on April 5, 2009.
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