And she told how she and former bandmates Sabrina Washington and Su-Elise Nash were forced to rebel against racism, with even her father saying they were doomed to flop because of their skin colour.
They went on to enjoy huge chart success in the early Noughties, with seven top ten singles before splitting in 2005.
Alesha said: “I was thinking about something a record company executive said to me once, which was that black girls won’t sell records in the UK.
“When Mis-Teeq came on the scene we were very conscious of the fact we were a black girl group from the UK and there weren’t really many others who looked like us.
“Even my own father, when I told him I wanted to be in a group, he was so against it.
“Telling your parents you want to be in a girl group sounds ludicrous, and I can understand why any parent would be nervous about that.
“But he was more worried because we were women of colour. He felt like that was a reason we shouldn’t pursue it because it might go against us.
“Actually that fuelled us to make us want to work even harder, to say, ‘No, we won’t be identified by that’.”
It wasn’t just racism the girls had to battle against, Alesha also says one exec even demanded she lose weight.
Speaking on The Russell Howard Hour, which airs on Sky1 today, she added: “Our manager got a phone call from someone at the record company who said I was looking a bit heavy on TV.
“So my answer was, ‘Come on then, let’s go and get another burger’. I’m such a rebel in that respect.
“I pride myself on not being the type of person who would ever succumb to someone else’s perception of what they think I should or shouldn’t look like and do.”
The Britain’s Got Talent judge, inset left and below with Sabrina and Su-Elise, made the revelation after Little Mix told how they were told to flirt with key figures at a radio event in America to get their tracks played in the US.
However, Alesha said no one would have ever dared say that to the Mis-Teeq ladies as they were “quite feisty”.
She hasn’t changed.
Read more from Simon Boyle's Bizarre column
bizbit
THE doors are opening for Spencer Matthews now he’s a relative of the royals.
He is to be the face of the Ben 10 Deluxe Omnitrix Watch ads.
Spenny will soon know the Cartoon Network show after becoming a dad in September.
Queen Margot is on a high
Margot Robbie’s career is reaching new heights – and so is she.
The Hollywood A-lister, Oscar-nominated for her role in I, Tonya, will soon be portraying Queen Elizabeth I in the upcoming movie Mary Queen of Scots.
And Margot – seen on a trapeze in the December/January issue of Harper’s Bazaar mag – reckoned her colleagues treated her differently after she was transformed into the monarch.
She said: “I’d say, ‘Hey, how was your weekend?’ But they wouldn’t even get close to me. It was very alienating.”
Getting ready for the role was a three-hour process involving the make-up team applying a bald cap and prosthetic scarring to mimic smallpox.
Margot added: “Normally there’s someone who steps in and says, ‘No, keep all the girls looking pretty!’
But Josie Rourke, the director, was keen to explore how Queen Elizabeth’s looks affected her relationships. Everyone had the guts to do it.”
Between that and her new love of gymnastics, she’s certainly got stomach.
bizbit
Camila Cabello has opened up about her long-term boyfriend, dating guru Matthew Hussey.
She said: “He’s so similar to me. We’re just weird and silly and stupid together.
"He makes me the happiest I’ve ever been in my life.”
Rolf Harris is dumped by Kate
Kate Bush has wiped the voice of convicted sex offender Rolf Harris from a new remastering of her 2005 album Aerial.
The disgraced Aussie entertainer, who sang and provided a spoken word part on her track A Sky Of Honey, is being replaced by Kate’s son Bertie in the new version being reissued on vinyl and CD.
Harris was found guilty of 12 counts of sexual assault in 2014.
In Kate’s Before The Dawn show in London that year Bertie performed the vocal parts instead of Harris.
A spokesman for Kate, above, said: “The role of the painter has been taken by Bertie since the live shows, including the live album.
“This group of remastered albums is the definitive presentation of Kate’s work to date.”
The first half of her reissued back catalogue will be released tomorrow. The second half, including Aerial, is coming on November 30.
But Harris’s voice is still on versions of the song on streaming services.
He also played the didgeridoo on the original album, as he did on her 1982 record The Dreaming.
It’s unclear whether it is still his playing on the remastered edition – but in all fairness, I can’t think of any other professional didgeridoo players.
bizbit
Backstreet Boys singer AJ McLean still struggles with alcohol after rehab in 2001, 2002 and 2011.
He said: “I have no shame in saying I’ve relapsed over the past year.
"It’s no secret that this is a disease, and that it’s a daily struggle.”
Jessie’s magic on the mic
They might be one of the most unexpected couples in showbiz but Channing Tatum and Jessie J are keen to prove they’re the real deal.
The Magic Mike actor was so in awe of his new girlfriend’s emotional performance at the Royal Albert Hall on Tuesday that he posted a snap of the stage on Instagram and wrote: “This woman just poured her heart out. Whoever was there got to witness something special.”
Jessie revealed her struggles with fertility before singing Four Letter Word.
She said: “I was told four years ago that I can’t ever have children. I don’t tell you guys for sympathy, because I’m one of millions of women and men that have gone through this.”
The couple have been together since September, after Channing’s split from his wife Jenna Dewan in April.
I’m not sure Channing’s Magic Mike Live shows will be quite as moving.
Miley’s back in black
Miley Cyrus’ telly comeback couldn’t be further from her role as the clean-cut Hannah Montana.
The singer has landed a role in Black Mirror, one of Netflix’s darkest shows, and has been filming for the fifth run of Charlie Brooker’s hit sci-fi series in Cape Town, South Africa.
It is not known what part Miley is taking on but all will be revealed when the follow-up drops in the coming months.
Fans are already hoping that her famous wrecking ball might have something to do with the cracked screen during Black Mirror’s opening titles.
The pop star’s new job comes after she vowed never to return to acting after Hannah Montana finished in 2011.
She said: “I thought after my show I was going to act.
"I did one movie and said ‘I’m never doing that again. I’m going to do music for the rest of my life’.”
Well that didn’t last long.
Jonas eyes up Chezza
The chance of a hit single clearly comes before friendship for Jonas Blue, but I don’t blame him.
The chart-topping DJ has revealed he is planning a collaboration with Cheryl following the success of her comeback single Love Made Me Do It – even though he’s mates with her ex Liam Payne.
In an exclusive interview, Jonas, said: “I would love to work with Cheryl. She’s an incredible talent and I love what she’s doing now musically.”
His wish comes despite Jonas, who unveiled his debut studio album Blue last week, working with Liam and Canadian singer Lennon Stella on his single Polaroid.
And the hitmaker is so close with the former One Direction singer that he has even become accustomed to his training regime.
He added: “He’s super into his fitness training.
“I think I saw some dumbbells in his dressing room. I have Calvin Klein pants (on my rider).”
Let’s hope Jonas asks for more than that . . .
Russell on split
Russell Tovey has revealed he is having therapy after his split from fiance Steve Brockman.
The former Gavin & Stacey actor said: “I’ve been seeing a therapist and discovering stuff about myself.”
But he hasn’t had much luck finding a new man since things ended with the rugby coach in the spring.
Speaking on Jessie Ware’s Table Manners podcast, he explained: “On a date gay guys know everything about me. They follow me on Instagram, they’ve seen something I’ve done, it’s always unbalanced. They know more about me than I do.”
bizmeter
George Ezra’s sold-out gig tonight at Wembley Arena is going to be a family affair – he will be supported by his younger brother Ten Tonnes. Talented George will then be hitting the road again in March for a UK arena tour – and that has already sold out too. Impressive.
The Grinch has pipped Bohemian Rhapsody to the No1 box office spot. The animated festive film has taken a solid £5.02million from its first three days and is Universal’s best opening in the UK since Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again. It also surpasses the £3million opening for the 2000 version of The Grinch starring Jim Carrey.
Rising star Sam Fender is being tipped as an early contender for the Brit Awards’ Critics Choice after playing two sold- out nights at London’s Omeara this week. The Geordie’s single That Sound has already had its first UK radio spin as a “Hottest Record In The World” premiere on Annie Mac’s Radio 2 show. His EP Dead Boys is out on November 20.
Singer-songwriter Lewis Capaldi played a stripped-down set at his sold-out Shepherd’s Bush Empire gig in London – and danced with male strippers during opening track Grace. The Scot, who is friends with Niall Horan, also had a string quartet join him during the gig on Tuesday. There was definitely something for everyone.
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