Nicole Scherzinger

Like Bruno Mars, Scherzinger was born in Hawaii and has multiethnic roots: Her father is Filipino and her mother is of Native Hawaiian and Ukrainian descent. When she was about 5, she moved to Louisville, Kentucky, where she "stuck out like a sore thumb." Many people assumed she was Puerto Rican, and when she started acting, she was steered toward those roles.

Scherzinger was born Nicole Valiente, but her parents divorced when she was a toddler, and a few years later when her mother married Gary Scherzinger, he adopted her and Nicole assumed his last name.

Scherzinger was a member of Eden's Crush, one of the first bands created on a TV show. The show was called Popstars, and in 2001 an American version was made for the first time. Thousands of singers auditioned, and Scherzinger made the cut along with four other girls. They had a #8 hit with their debut single, "Get Over Yourself," but broke up a short time later.