Nicole Scherzinger – the ex-Pussycat Doll in line for a top judging job on US X Factor – has revealed her determination stems from being rejected for a role as a dancing toothbrush.
The singer, 32, was heartbroken when she failed to score the job in a toothpaste ad ten years ago, when she was still an unknown wannabe.
She told The Sun: “I got really close but didn’t ever get the job. I auditioned for this Colgate commercial once. I was really desperate for the job.
“They didn’t cast me as the dancing toothbrush and I would have been spectacular.
“I was struggling and I tried so hard for the job. They were teaching us choreography for the dancing toothbrush and just turned to me and said ‘no’. It was crushing.
“But I just felt at that moment I was going to prove them wrong. One day they would see I was SO that dancing toothbrush – and so much more.”
The knock-back spurred Nicole on to win a place in girlband Pussycat Dolls.
Now with a successful solo career also under her belt, she is being lined up for a job on X Factor after impressing Simon Cowell as a guest judge last year.
Nicole told the paper: “I made it very clear to Simon. I would love to do X Factor, but only if I am on the same judging panel as him.”
This may rule her out of UK X Factor, as Simon is suspected to be leaving to concentrate on the US version, but means she could be open to joining the American panel.
The music mogul confirmed during an interview with Access Hollywood that Nicole is being considered for the panel, along with stars such as Mariah Carey, George Michael and Paula Abdul.