Nicole Scherzinger

Nicole Scherzinger has been engaged to former Scottish rugby player Thom Evans since 2023. She previously had relationships with Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton, whom she dated from 2007 to 2015, and Bulgarian tennis player Grigor Dimitrov, whom she dated from 2015 to 2019. She was engaged to 311 lead singer Nick Hexum, whom she dated from 2000 to 2004.

Scherzinger has spoken about experiencing bulimia and body dysmorphia during the height of the Pussycat Dolls' popularity. She said the disorder lasted nearly a decade and that she overcame it with help from therapists and life coaches.

Born in Honolulu and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, Scherzinger began performing professionally at 14 when she joined the Actors Theatre of Louisville and appeared in La Bête. She graduated from the Youth Performing Arts School at duPont Manual High School in 1996, where she performed in productions including Alice in Wonderland.

She studied theatre arts and dance at Wright State University and took leading roles in regional productions of Chicago, Guys and Dolls, and Show Boat. During her final year, she contributed vocals to Days of the New's self-titled second album and its supporting tour, leaving university to pursue the opportunity.

Scherzinger gained her first major recording opportunity through the WB talent competition Popstars USA. She joined Eden's Crush with Ana Maria Lombo, Maile Misajon, Ivette Sosa, and Rosanna Tavarez. Their single "Get Over Yourself" reached number eight on the Billboard Hot 100, while their album Popstars reached number six on the Billboard 200. The group later disbanded after its record label went bankrupt.

After will.i.am recommended her to producer Jimmy Iovine, Scherzinger auditioned for the Pussycat Dolls in 2003. She became the group's lead singer and handled most of the vocals on PCD, the 2005 debut album. The album produced the international hits "Don't Cha," "Stickwitu," and "Buttons," and Scherzinger was its only member with songwriting credits.

The Pussycat Dolls' second album, Doll Domination, reached number four on the Billboard 200 and included "When I Grow Up" and "I Hate This Part." Their version of "Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny)," credited to A. R. Rahman and the Pussycat Dolls with Scherzinger as a featured artist, reached number one in 17 countries. The group announced a hiatus in 2009, and Scherzinger left in 2010 to concentrate on her solo career.

Scherzinger's planned first solo album, Her Name Is Nicole, was shelved after several singles failed to gain significant chart impact. She instead released Killer Love in 2011. The album reached number eight on the UK Albums Chart, while "Don't Hold Your Breath" became her first solo number-one single in the United Kingdom. Her second album, Big Fat Lie, followed in 2014 and included the single "Your Love," which reached number six on the UK Singles Chart.

She won the tenth season of Dancing with the Stars in 2010 with Derek Hough. She later judged The Sing-Off, The X Factor USA, The X Factor UK, Australia's Got Talent, and The Masked Singer. During her guest judging appearance on The X Factor UK in 2010, she helped assemble the group that became One Direction. In 2012, she mentored James Arthur, Rylan Clark-Neal, and Jahmene Douglas on The X Factor UK, with Arthur ultimately winning the series.

Scherzinger's screen credits include a brief appearance in Men in Black 3, the voice of Sina in Disney's animated film Moana, Penny Rivera in the television film Dirty Dancing, and Grace Farrell in Annie Live!. She also provided the English voice of Miranda Trese in the Netflix animated series Trese and voiced Mo's mother in Ralph Breaks the Internet.

Her stage work includes Maureen in a Hollywood Bowl production of Rent and Grizabella in the 2014 West End revival of Cats. She later played Norma Desmond in the 2023 West End revival of Sunset Boulevard, winning the Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Musical Performance and the 2024 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical.

The production transferred to Broadway in 2024, marking Scherzinger's Broadway debut. Her performance as Norma Desmond earned her the 2025 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical.

Scherzinger became a global ambassador for the Special Olympics, inspired in part by her aunt who has Down syndrome. She has supported UNICEF UK since 2014 and visited projects serving children in Guyana, Manila, and Kenya. She also participated in the charity projects "We Are the World 25 for Haiti," Hope for Haiti Now, Stand Up to Cancer, and "Love Song to the Earth."

Her other ventures have included a clothing collection with C&A, a 30-piece range with Missguided, the fragrance Chosen by Nicole Scherzinger, and an interior design range called Nalu. She has also performed at major events including the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games opening and the 2023 Coronation Concert, where she sang "Reflection" with pianist Lang Lang.