Alesha Dixon

Last Updated on Sunday, 06 September 2009 21:54 Thursday, 03 September 2009 23:27

Its all about the dance. At least it is if your name is Alesha Dixon. In 2007, Alesha won Strictly Come Dancing. The media exposure ensured her second album was a hit. This year, it was announced that Alesha is to become judge on Strictly Come Dancing.

Her dancing began as a child when she learned street dancing. in 1999, Alesha formed Mix-Teeq with dance class mates Sabrina Washington and Su-Elise Nash. Telstar signed the trio shortly afterwards and added a forth member to the band, Zena McNally.

Despite McNally leaving the band, Mis-Teeeq continued as a trio and their first album Lickin' On Both Sides received a nomination at the BRIT Awards. Their second album Eye Candy was released in 2003, and that same year they released their self titled album in America - an amalgamation of their first and second UK albums. Whilst about to start work on their third album, Telstar Records went into administration and it was time for the curtains. A Greatest Hits Compilation followed and the band formally split in 2005.

Alesha didn't waste much time after the split. A $600,000 three album deal with Polydor Records saw her first solo album Fired Up released. In November 2006, Polydor and Alesha parted ways leaving the door open for Asylum Records to sign her for a four album contract in 2008. The Alesha Show was her first album with Asylum Records and the first single released from it The Boy Does Nothing became a top ten hit in the UK. Tagged the British Beyonce by the Strictly Come Dancing host, Alesha later said

"There's only one Beyoncé. When Bruce says that I get embarrassed. It’s very sweet... but it’s not true."

In October, Alesha begins a 17 date UK tour.

She's not quiet on the charity front either. No wearing a big red nose for Charity Relief for Alesha. She'd prefer to climb Mount Kilmanjaro. That effort raised over $1.3 million for Comic Relief (Cheryl Cole, Gary Barlow, Denise Van Outen all went along on the climb). She's also made numerous appearances for Children in Need and is an ambassador for 'Help a London Child'.

View our Alesha Dixon Gallery and pictures

Worryingly, Alesha is a bit OCD - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. On the cleanliness of her house she is quoted as saying

"My friends call me Monica because she's the one in Friends who's obsessed with cleaning. I always think the house looks messy; a messy house can depress me. It can make me feel messy. If my house is clean and everything is in order, I feel better."

Watch Alesha Dixon being interviewed by Capital FM

As well as cramming in modelling (represented by Select Model Management), Alesha has also appeared in commercials for Ford and was the face of Ecko Red. Do you know what rap poetry is? Neither do we, but Alesha spends a lot of her time writing it. We know the next question you have is about sex toys. In her own words:

"Fair play to women if they want to empower themselves or want to go out and buy all their little sex toys. Not my cup of tea personally - I'm quite old-fashioned, which would probably bore the pants off a lot of people. I like my serious relationships. I have a healthy sex life and I don't need any tools. My man does a perfectly good job himself! "