Nicole Scherzinger Biography

NICOLE SCHERZINGER

Date of Birth: June 29, 1978

Actress, singer, dancer and model Nicole Elikolani Prescovia Valiente was born into a strict Roman Catholic family in Honolulu, Hawaii. Father Alfonso Valiente and mother Rosemary separated when Nicole was just a baby. By the time she was six, her mother and stepfather Gary Scherzinger moved Nicole and her sister Keala to Louisville, Kentucky. Gary adopted Nicole and she took his last name.

As a child, Nicole received a purple boom box and a Whitney Houston cassette for Christmas. She credits the success she has today to her mother's influence and Whitney's powerful voice. She attended the Youth Performing Arts School at duPont Manual High School, and also performed with Actors Theatre of Louisville. When Nicole was 18 she was runner up in Coca-Cola's talent classic contest at the Kentucky State fair.

Nicole attended Wright State University, majoring in acting and musical theater. However, she put her education on hold to sing backup vocals for the rock band Days of the New. In 2001 Nicole competed in the premiere season of Popstars, earning herself a spot in an all girls band titled Eden's Crush. Within time, Nicole became the main vocalist and the 2001 single "Get Over Yourself (Goodbye)" hit the Top 10 on Billboard Hot 100.

However, Nicole felt being in the band was torture and she hated it, despite having had the opportunity to tour with *NSync and Jessica Simpson. During her time with Eden's Crush, Nicole was offered a position in the successful band Black Eyed Peas, but had to decline due to her contract with her band (the position was later given to Fergie.) Eden's Crush eventually disbanded due to their record company, London-Sire Records, going under.

In 2003 the Pussycat Dolls were looking for new band members and Nicole joined. She sang most of the lead vocals and the band quickly become popular with the hit singles "Buttons," "Don't Cha," "Stickwitu," and "When I Grow Up." She was the only member of the band to have songwriting credits on both their albums: 'PCD' and 'Doll Domination.'

Throughout her journey in the Pussycat Dolls, rumors continually circulated about the singer wanting to become a solo artist, which happened in 2008. Her first album, 'Her Name is Nicole,' has never officially been released—however, songs from that album are available on iTunes.

Throughout her career Nicole has managed to stay in the limelight by modeling, taking on minor acting roles, and starring in reality television shows. She appeared on Sabrina, The Teenage Witch, My Wife and Kids, How I Met your Mother and Wizards of Waverly Place.

Nicole has also appeared in small roles in theatrical releases. However, she's best known for being on several reality television series. In the first and second season of NBC's singing reality show The Sing-Off, Nicole appeared as a guest judge. In 2010 she hosted The X Factor UK edition, and in 2011 she moved on to judge the first season of The X Factor in the States, but she was not asked to return for a second season. The same year, Nicole played a supporting role in the major motion picture Men in Black 3, starring Will Smith. More recently, she lent her voice to the Disney animated feature Moana (2016), starring Dwayne Johnson and Auli'i Cravalho.

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