Alesha Dixon - Biography

In a nutshell

It's funny how certain members of pop groups tend to be the ones who break away and become more famous than the others. And this is again the case with Alesha, formerly of everyone's favourite RnB/Pop trio Mis-Teeq. But after the group parted ways Alesha decided to try her hand at a solo career. Read more on that later.

As one of seven children, Alesha had planned to become a PE teacher but met her band mates while attending a dance academy in London. They signed to Telstar Records and Mis-Teeq was born.

After a brief success with the group (who, lets be honest, didn't really fully capture the public's attention) they went their separate ways in 2005.

I guess when you're in a group you have to decide if it's ever going to be worth your while starting a solo career. Gary Barlow's attempt didn't exactly work, did it? But Alesha thought she could grab a new audience and recorded an album with some great producers like Richard X and Xenomania. However things didn't really take off after lead single Lipstick only managed a paltry new entry at number 14 and she eventually parted ways with her record company.

It all went quiet.

Until...

Strictly Come Dancing came to the rescue!

Alesha appeared in the 2007 edition of the show with her dance partner Matthew Cutler. Although not initially a favourite with either the bookies or fans of the show, she pulled off some absolutely stunning performances to end up being crowned champion. Alesha fans around the world screamed with joy.

Although that was a high point in her life, her marriage break up was all too well documented in the tabloid newspapers. After marrying MC Harvey (of So Solid Crew) in 2005, they are in the process of getting divorced.

Things are picking up for Alesha, though. After initially being completely hated from all sides of the press for taking a judge's role on the 2009 series of Strictly Come Dancing, she proved her critics wrong and looked right at home giggling next to Craig every week. She even did a little duet with Brucie on the 2009 final. Well, that's not exactly a high point in her career but definitely worth a mention...

Did you know?