Alesha Dixon

Dixon is one of seven children born to an English mother and Jamaican father. She has five half brothers and one half sister. She was educated at Monks Walk school, Welwyn Garden City, Herts and had planned to become a PE teacher after leaving college. After completing a diploma course, she had planned to take up a place at Loughborough University when she was approached on a train by a record producer, who asked her if she could sing, and on the way back home she was approached again by someone who asked if she was in a band. She then decided to put her degree on hold.

Her career began in 1999 when she met Sabrina Washington when they both joined Dance Attic (a popular hip-hop/jazz dance academy in West London), and together they formed a duo and recorded a demo titled Inspiration. During an audition, they met with Su-Elise Nash, and then together they formed a trio. They were soon signed to Telstar Records with the addition of a new member, Zena McNally, and became the popular UK garage / R&B girl band, Mis-Teeq.