Saturday, April 18, 2009

Nicole Prescovia Elikolani Valiente Scherzinger (also known as Nicole Kea)

Born on June 29, 1978
Nicole Prescovia Elikolani Valiente Scherzinger (also known as Nicole Kea) is an American singer-songwriter, dancer, model and occasional actress, best known as the lead singer for the Pussycat Dolls. She took the surname Scherzinger when she was adopted by her stepfather.

"Busta Rhymes is pretty phat, man. He is so much fun. He's so humble and he just makes you feel good. When you're around him, you feel magical."

"To me, a Pussycat Doll is fearless but also vulnerable. We're strong, but we like to play too."

"Starting to sing, and seeing like all the kids, and everybody in front of us, I was just like had this huge smile on my face. And the lights, and the people, and the energy, and the fans, and the people, "Nicole", and "Oh My Gosh Eden's Crush!" It was just like, uh, it was such a rush!"

"When I was young, I signed all of my yearbooks with, "Remember me when I am famous" I didn't know it would happen so fast. "

"Beauty has to start with the inside first. If you're happy with yourself and you take care of yourself, then you will shine on the outside."

- Nicole Scherzinger

Scherzinger appeared on the second album by Days of the New, released in 1999. She also recorded two songs with Barry Drake's F.O.B, which were released in 2001. In 2001, Scherzinger competed in the premiere season of The WB's television show Popstars, on which she earned a spot in the all-girl pop group Eden's Crush. She became one of the main vocalists for the group. The group's 2001 single "Get Over Yourself (Goodbye)" peaked at number one in sales and hit the top ten on Billboard Hot 100. They toured in support of both *NSync and Jessica Simpson. "Love This Way" was the second single chosen from the Popstars album; however, their record company, London-Sire Records, folded and the group eventually disbanded. Songwriter Kara DioGuardi contributed one track to the album, and later went on to co-write with Scherzinger for PCD, Doll Domination and Her Name Is Nicole.

In May 2003, Scherzinger joined the Pussycat Dolls burlesque troupe, who were being re-cast as recording artists. She had first seen them performing on The Late Show with David Letterman in November 2002, where Carmen Electra sang "Big Spender" from the Bob Fosse musical Sweet Charity. In 2006, Scherzinger said "It caught my eye because I’d played Velma Kelly in [Fosse's] Chicago in college." The Pussycat Dolls now have worldwide status as a popular singing group, with "Don't Cha", "Buttons", "Stickwitu" and "When I Grow Up" as Top 10 hits in the U.S.. The album PCD went double-platinum in 2006. Scherzinger sang nearly all lead vocals on the album, with Carmit Bachar and Melody Thornton also contributing.

Scherzinger is the only group member with songwriting credits on PCD; she co-wrote "I Don't Need a Man" with Kara DioGuardi and producer Rich Harrison, and co-wrote "Buttons" with producer Sean Garrett. Another collaboration with DioGuardi, "Flirt", became a B-side to "Stickwitu" and a bonus track on PCD.

In 2006, Scherzinger toured with the Pussycat Dolls for their album promotion. It was revealed in 2006 that the Dolls are salaried employees of Interscope Records, giving the label a high level of control over the group's finances and business decisions.

Scherzinger appeared on the March 2008 cover of Men's Fitness magazine. She was called the lead or "Queen Doll". As with PCD, Scherzinger is the only group member to have songwriting credits on the second Dolls' album Doll Domination.

Along with the Pussycat Dolls, Scherzinger was asked by Ron Fair to record the English version of "Jai Ho", the hit song from the film Slumdog Millionaire. The new version titled "Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny)" was released to iTunes on February 23 2009, and elsewhere worldwide on February 24. A video accompanying the song has been shot at a Vienna train station and was released worldwide on March 13, 2009. It is believed that the new single will be performed several times in March.

Following the popularity of "Don't Cha" and the continuing rise of the Pussycat Dolls, Scherzinger recorded a series of duets or "guest appearances", predominantly with male vocalists. In 2005, she appeared on recordings by Shaggy, Vittorio Grigolo, and Will Smith. In 2006 she sang on Avant's single "Lie About Us" , and Diddy's hit "Come to Me" (which she also co-wrote). Other appearances are listed in her discography.

In 2006 she also made a "Bench Body" brand underwear commercial in the Philippines.

From 2006 until the present day Scherzinger has been working on her debut album tentatively titled Her Name Is Nicole. She recorded or wrote nearly 100 songs for the album which was supposed to be released in 2007[citation needed]. Production credits included will.i.am, Timbaland, Kara DioGuardi, Ne-Yo, and Pharrell Williams. Collaborators for the album included Macy Gray, Akon, Busta Rhymes, Timbaland and Sting. Recordings were varied including the pop song "Baby Love", the ballad "Just Say Yes" and the Hawaiian heritage-inspired "Puakenikeni". A description of the album and recording background can be found on Nicole's Facebook account.

Some of the songs from the proposed album have now been released by other artists including the Pussycat Dolls who recorded "Happily Never After", "Who's Gonna Love You" and "When I Grow Up" for Doll Domination and Christina Milian who is set to record "Punch You In Your Sleep" for her new album Elope

Solo single releases
Released between July and December 2007, singles from the proposed album were "Whatever U Like", "Baby Love", "Puakenikeni" and "Supervillain" (the latter two released via iTunes only). All of these singles were unsuccessful in the US, "Baby Love" had been moderately successful in Europe reaching top 20 in most countries. The album itself was pushed back several times throughout 2007 and 2008 and has now been shelved.

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. This is currently Scherzinger's last performance as a solo artist before embarking on the Pussycat Dolls new World Tour.

In October 2008, she promoted Clear Shampoo and Conditioner, succeeding Rain who also endorsed the same product. Both commercials were reportedly aired throughout Southeast Asia. In 2008, she also appeared with LeBron James in a sneaker commercial.

Scherzinger performed “America the Beautiful" at WWE WrestleMania XXV in Houston, TX at the Reliant Stadium on April 5, 2009.

In both her interviews and live performances, Nicole Scherzinger exudes self-confidence and a true sense of strength, all while emanating an irresistible aura of femininity. She has gone on record saying that her favorite dance move is the "booty shake," which she effortlessly pulls off at any given opportunity. Like Gwen Stefani and Britney Spears before her, Nicole Scherzinger is clearly not afraid to use her sexuality to accentuate her performances, which is why she landed at No. 70 on our 2007 Top 99 Most Desirable Women list and at No. 48 on the 2008 edition.She was ranked at number 22 on Maxim's Hot 100 in 2006 and 21 in 2007.

Random Facts
* Attended Wright State University in Ohio
* Majored in Theatre at college
* Sang back-up vocals for band, Days of the New
* Toured with Days of the New as a female background vocalist
* Formerly engaged to 311 singer, Nick Hexum
* Joined reknowned Burlesque group Pussycat Dolls under the stage name, Nicole Kea
* Performed at The Actors Theatre of Louisville
* Toured with Jessica Simpson as a member of Eden's Crush
* Performed two tracks on F.O.B.'s album, "Love Is a Woman's Game"
* Guest starred on sitcoms My Wife and Kids, Half & Half and Las Vegas
* Sings back-up vocals on Will Smith's If U Can't Dance (Slide)
* Recorded a version of UB40's Breakfast in Bed, as Nicole Kea, featured on 50 First Dates Soundtrack
* Eden's Crush opened for Nsync on their Pop Odessey Tour
* Co-wrote "Buttons" and "I Don't Need a Man" which are both featured on The Pussycat Dolls' debut album.
* Co-wrote "Flirt", a bonus track found on the re-release of PCD's debut album.
* Co-wrote "Come To Me", her duet with rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs.
* Publishes music under the BMI company "She Rights Music".

Filmography
Actress:
1. "Cane" .... Nicole (1 episode, 2007)
- Family Business (2007) TV episode .... Nicole
2. Be Cool (2005) .... Pussycat Doll
3. Love Don't Cost a Thing (2003) .... Champagne Girl
... aka Love Don't Co$t a Thing (USA: promotional title)
4. Chasing Papi (2003) .... Miss Puerto Rico
5. "Wanda at Large" .... Gorgeous Woman (1 episode)
- The Plane Trip (????) TV episode .... Gorgeous Woman
6. "Half & Half" .... Jasmine (1 episode, 2002)
- The Big in with the in Crowd Episode (2002) TV episode .... Jasmine
7. "My Wife and Kids" .... Veronica (2 episodes, 2002)
- The Kyles Go to Hawaii: Part 1 (2002) TV episode .... Veronica
- The Kyles Go to Hawaii: Part 2 (2002) TV episode .... Veronica
8. "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch" .... Pop Star (1 episode, 2001)
... aka "Sabrina Goes to College" (USA: promotional title)
... aka "Sabrina" (USA: promotional abbreviation)
- Finally! (2001) TV episode .... Pop Star

Soundtrack:
1. The 25th Anniversary of WrestleMania (2009) (TV) (performer: "America The Beautiful")
... aka The 25th Anniversary of WrestleMania (USA)
... aka WWE WrestleMania XXV (USA: informal title)
... aka WrestleMania 25th Anniversary (USA: poster title)
2. "So You Think You Can Dance" (2 episodes, 2007-2008)
- The Top 18 Perform (2008) TV episode (performer: "Whatever U Like")
- Season Finale: Part 2 (2007) TV episode (performer: "Whatever U Like")
3. "Video on Trial" (1 episode, 2008)
... aka "V.O.T." (Canada: English title: short title)
- Episode #3.20 (2008) TV episode (performer: "Scream")
4. "Gossip Girl" (1 episode, 2008)
- A Thin Line Between Chuck and Nate (2008) TV episode (performer: "Happily Never After")
5. "CSI: NY" (1 episode, 2007)
- The Deep (2007) TV episode (performer: "Whatever U Like")
6. 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007) (performer: "Physical")
... aka Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (Germany) (USA: promotional title)
... aka Les 4 Fantastiques et le Surfer d'Argent (Canada: French title)
7. Premiya Muz-TV 2007 (2007) (TV) (writer: "Buttons", "I Don't Need A Man")
... aka Премия Муз-ТВ 2007 (Russia)
... aka The Muz-TV Music Awards 2007 (International: English title: informal title)

Birth name Nicole Elikolani Prescovia Valiente
Also known as Nicole Kea, Queen Doll
Genre(s) Pop, dance-pop, R&B
Occupation(s) Singer, songwriter, dancer, actress, model, music producer
Years active 1999–present
Label(s) Polydor, A&M, Interscope
Associated acts Pussycat Dolls, Days of the New, Timbaland, Sean Combs, Keri Hilson, T.I., Will.I.Am, Sean Garrett, Will Smith, Nelly, Rihanna, Eden's Crush, Violet UK, Missy Elliott
Website www.hernameisnicole.com

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