In a new interview with ES Magazine singer turned TV personality Alesha Dixon revealed what her father said to her after she told him she was going to join the girl group Mis-Teeq.
“I remember the day I said to my dad that I wanted to be in a girl group. Bless his soul, he said, ‘What makes you think you’re going to succeed? Black people from this country don’t succeed’. And I remember saying to my dad at 15, 16, ‘I’m not going to base my decisions in life based on other people’s successes or failures. I have to make my own path’.
Dixon’s father is black (Jamaican) and her mother is Caucasian (English).
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Interesting…..
Well it is a good thing that Alesha didn’t let her father’s words hold her back and she pursued her dreams, but let’s be honest here Alesha was never really going to face the same struggles that black females have faced and still face trying to break in to the world of entertainment.
When the Mis-Teeq ladies decided to go their separate ways STRONG lead singer Sabrina Washington was more or less ignored while Alesha had music executives and later TV executives banging down her door.
Alesha has a bubbly personality and is likeable so I can see why she has done so well and become a highly paid TV personality. But also having that “suitable ethnic look” that entertainment industry folk adore over here also worked in her favour too.
Your thoughts please…..
Categories: UK News
MAD NEWS UK 
I agree, light skinned/mixed race black women are more pleasing to the eye of the white man than dark skinned sisters, so Dixon´s so called “struggle” from the start wasn´t exactly going to be the same as her dark skinned non mixed brethren. I´ve yet to see a dark skinned non mixed black woman/man in the media who has had as much coverage and flexibility as Dixon.
Co-sign she is the acceptable face of “black”. I have heard this quote before but it was more in relation to the music/girl group thing I hope they haven’t twisted her words.
Janice you are so on point. colourism in the uk amongst non blacks is major
Yup, I agree. As much as I admire Alesha’s ‘can do’ attitude, lets not pretend that her career trajectory would be the same if she looked like India Irie.
Ask Denise Williams about that too. She talked about it, in terms of endorsements.