I used to be cagey about my love life. I was cagey for four years. Az and I only decided to come out because we were pregnant. Otherwise, we would have kept it quiet. It really was a case of staying private. I am not one of those people who frivolously throws their private life out there.

Alesha Dixon

Categorized in : I Am People Life Love

When you are knocked down you have two choices - stay down or get back up, stronger.

Alesha Dixon

stronger choices two

It was the lowest point of my life. I just kept thinking, 'What have I done to deserve this?' I didn't see the point in living.

Alesha Dixon

lowest-point done thinking

By the way, dancers are not human beings. How can you be human and do what they do?

Alesha Dixon

dancer humans way

I think people in England take things for granted, we complain about our NHS system and yes it's not perfect but believe me it's far better than what they've got here.

Alesha Dixon

nhs believe thinking

Strictly has just given me a real zest for life. Life is so short. We should all grasp it.

Alesha Dixon

zest real life-is

Obviously music is my first job.

Alesha Dixon

music-is jobs firsts

Sometimes in life, when bad things happen to us, or things aren't going our way, or we're faced with a challenge or a problem, it's how you look at the problem; it's how you do it to change your mindset, to dilute the negativity.

Alesha Dixon

look you change life

Once you've been through tough times, you can only become stronger.

Alesha Dixon

you stronger tough-times tough

If you have a positive frame of mind, you can manifest positive things in your life.

Alesha Dixon

you mind positive life

Life's too short to dwell on things. When you go through experiences that are bad, it's a good thing. You learn from it - become a stronger person. Life is a roller coaster, and you don't know what's going to be thrown at you next, so all you can do is give it your best shot.

Alesha Dixon

best good you life

I've always been taught that life is a series of chapters, and it's all about moving forward and not carrying around baggage.

Alesha Dixon

life-is-a moving-forward life moving

I prefer to focus on who I am as a person and what I stand for. We all want to look good, but I find it more rewarding to work on feeling good and going a bit deeper beneath the surface.

Alesha Dixon

i-am good focus work

On a plane, you're in your own little bubble, so I try and enjoy it and don't get worried or frustrated about delays.

Alesha Dixon

your try you enjoy

As much as I love beach holidays, I do really like to get out and about and explore. It's why I like Los Angeles: because I can easily drive to Malibu or Santa Monica to see what they have to offer. I get itchy feet if I stay still too long in one place when I'm abroad.

Alesha Dixon

holidays drive love long

Even though it's called Music Of Black Origin, it's not just music for black people. Music is for everybody. I think it's good that black music is acknowledged, and it's open for lots of artists, including white artists who have been inspired by black musical heritage.

Alesha Dixon

good black music people

At home, my daughter Azura has got this long blonde wig that she loves, and she's obsessed with Rapunzel, but you need to have balance. It's important that she understands her curly hair is beautiful, too.

Alesha Dixon

you daughter home beautiful

When I saw Neneh Cherry singing on TV, I was so glad that there was someone of the same ethnicity - and with the same curly hair - for me to look up to.

Alesha Dixon

look me singing hair

The older you are, the wiser you are. The more comfortable you are in your own skin, the more you know yourself, the more patient you are. I don't sweat the small stuff any more.

Alesha Dixon

skin yourself small you

I exercise to stay strong, healthy, and stage-ready. I never prepare for a red carpet - I just go with the flow.

Alesha Dixon

never go red strong

Life's easier and nicer when you let go of the past and look to the future.

Alesha Dixon

look you future life