The Britain's Got Talent star appeared in an iconic music video before taking a seat at the judging panel
Alesha Dixon admitted that she needed an oxygen mask while on the set of a music video as she worked herself too hard and "didn't want to let them down".
The Britain's Got Talent judge first rose to fame in the early 2000s when she was part of the group Mis-Teeq. During their time together, they achieved seven UK top 10 hits and two top 10 double platinum albums.In 2007, the singer appeared on Strictly Come Dancing alongside professional dancer Matthew Cutler. She ended up lifting the Glitterball trophy and even became a judge on the show for three years from 2009 to 2011.
In 2012 she left the BBC ballroom to be a judge on Britain's Got Talent and has stayed ever since.
However, before reaching high levels of fame, Alesha starred in the 2004 music video for N.E.R.D's iconic single, She Wants To Move.
Appearing on Capital XTRA Breakfast with Manny Norte, she admitted it feels "like a lifetime ago", and when asked how it happened, she explained: "So, I did a photoshoot for a magazine at the time called Arena; I think I just got back from Jamaica. The casting director had seen me on this magazine.
She read inside that I was in a group, so she thought, ‘Okay, so she must be able to dance.’ And she presented this image to Pharrell [Williams]. And apparently, word on the street, I don't know if this is true, apparently it was between myself, Naomi [Campbell] and Tyra [Banks]."
Alesha continued: "But he didn't want necessarily… Like, because I wasn't well known in America, he didn't necessarily want a well-known face, and he wanted somebody that could dance.
"And then I had to go meet Pharrell. That was very intimidating. I had to rap for Pharrell, which was even more intimidating!"
After stating that she "was in the best company with the best calibre of people, and it was one of the best experiences that I ever had", Alesha shared her need for an oxygen mask on set.
The singer recalled: "I had to have an oxygen mask on the day of the video, did I tell you that? Because you know what I'm like, energy-wise. I was so hyped up, like, trying to make this right.
"Because I wasn't a professional dancer, so I didn't want to let them down. And I wasn't a typical video girl. I mean, I was an artist. So, I didn't want to let them down.
"So, I was trying my hardest, and I was going for it, going for it, going for it, going for it! At one point I couldn't breathe, so they had to give me the oxygen mask!"
Tune into Capital XTRA Breakfast with Robert Bruce & Shayna Marie weekdays from 6:30am-10:00am, also available on the Global Player app
