**With a media career spanning over 15 years, Alesha Dixon has been through it all. From the highs to the lows, here’s everything you need to know about the singer and TV presenter. **
Alesha Dixon early life
Alesha Anjanette Dixon was born on 7 October 1978 in Welwyn Garden City to Jamaican father Melvin and English mother Beverly Harris. She has six half-siblings; two on her mother’s side, and four on her father’s.
Alesha describes her early life as ‘very dysfunctional’, after her father walked out when she was just four.
Subsequently Alesha witnessed her mother suffer domestic violence at the hands of a new partner. Speaking during BBC documentary Don’t Hit My Mum, she said: “When I think about that time, I don’t remember living in harmony, I don’t remember any fun times, I suppose because negativity has clouded it.
“The negative times and the scary times have blocked anything that was good. I believe every child has the right to grow up in an environment where they feel secure and fearless going into the world, and I didn’t really feel that.”
Alesha Dixon music career
Despite being one of the most famous singers and television personalities in the country now, Alesha’s first job was in Ladbrokes – and her ambition was to be a PE teacher. But when she was 21 Alesha met Sabrina Washington and they, along with Su-Elise Nash, went on to form UK garage and R&B group Mis-Teeq.
Between 1999 and 2005 Mis-Teeq were dubbed the UK’s answer to Destiny’s Child, and they scored seven top 10 singles.
In March 2005 Mis-Teeq separated and Alesha signed a solo record deal with Polydor.
Her solo material failed to match the success of Mis-Teeq and Alesha was dropped.
Following judge success on Strictly Come Dancing, Alesha released platinum-selling album The Alesha Show, which spawned the hit single The Boy Does Nothing.
In 2010 Alesha released her third solo album The Entertainer, but it failed to match the success of her previous effort.
Alesha with her fellow BGT judges David Walliams, Amanda Holden and Simon Cowell
For her latest musical release Alesha set up her own label, Precious Stone Records. During an appearance on Graham Norton’s BBC Radio 2 show, Alesha explained that her fourth album was about her love for music.
Alesha Dixon television work
After nearly a year out of the public eye, Alesha took part in series five of Strictly Come Dancing in 2007. She went on to win the show, and is currently the most successful contestant ever – with an average point score of 36.5/40.
A year later she joined the panel of Strictly Come Dancing as a judge. Alesha announced she was quitting Strictly Come Dancing in 2012, and later revealed she would join the Britain’s Got Talent judging panel.
Alesha Dixon personal life
Alesha started dating So Solid Crew’s MC Harvey in 2000, and they married in June 2005.
Alesha and Azuka
She filed for divorce from Harvey in 2006, after his affair with Javine Hylton was revealed.
In October 2013 Alesha and partner Azuka Ononye welcomed daughter Azura Sienna.