She is determined to excel when it comes to her upcoming stint on Strictly Come Dancing.
And in order to do so, Alexandra Burke has revealed she ‘cancelled everything’ including her album to dedicate her schedule to the dancing competition.
Speaking ahead of her Strictly debut, the singer, 29, explained her decision to do so had been inspired by a few pearls of wisdom her late mother, Melissa Bell, 53, had given her.
Focused: Alexandra Burke, 29, has revealed she ‘cancelled everything’ including her album to dedicate her schedule to the dancing competition
Alexandra had revealed her mother, Soul II Soul singer Melissa, had passed away at the end of August. She took to social media in the days that followed to tell fans she was thankful for the love and support she had received.
And remembering her mother as she gears up for her first appearance on Strictly Come Dancing, the former X Factor winner explained her strict focus on being her best for the show comes from advice her mother had once given her.
She said: ‘The moment I found out that I was going to take part in Strictly, I cancelled everything. I cancelled my album, my single, recording, everything.
‘My mum always said to me, “Be great at one thing and the rest will follow.”
Inspiration: The singer, 29, explained her decision to do so had been inspired by a few pearls of wisdom her late mother, Melissa Bell, 53, (pictured above) had given her
‘When I was doing X Factor, she made me stop dancing and acting and said acting will follow – eight years later, acting followed with The Bodyguard and Sister Act so she wasn’t wrong!’
Alexandra continued: ‘The she said to me dancing will follow, of course I dance in videos and stuff, but now it’s followed. My dream has followed, the three things I love more than anything in the world is singing, dancing and acting… here I am doing one of the three things I love.’
While the she is very much used to being up on stage, Alexandra admits that if she isn’t with a microphone in hand, she feels ‘out of her comfort zone’ and the thought of performing each weeks makes her want to ‘throw up’.
‘I am very nervous,’ she confessed. ‘My anxiety shoots through the roof when I think about live shows.
‘I know this is a really funny thing to say coming from someone who won a TV show nine years ago, but I hate cameras. I really still don’t like them and I don’t think I ever will because I know what’s behind them is millions of people watching you.’
Luckily for Alexandra, she has close friend Aston Merrygold on hand to help her through her nerves, as he too is among this year’s Strictly lineup.
The former JLS star and Alexandra had competed on The X Factor together back in 2008, with Alexandra beating Aston and his bandmates to win the show.
‘Aston and I have a special relationship,’ she said. ‘I am constantly clinging to him because he is my comfort and my support.
History: Alexandra has also worked with Strictly judge Craig Reveal-Horwood previously, as he had directed Sister Act: The Musical when she had starred in the show
‘The fact there is somebody there who is my friend and who I know is amazing. I am rooting for that man 100%. I especially want to support him because he’s expecting a new baby soon and he’s going to be away from his family, from his Mrs, for quite some time.’
Alexandra has also worked with Strictly judge Craig Reveal-Horwood previously, as he had directed Sister Act: The Musical when she had starred in the show.
Asked whether she thinks he will be tougher on her in comparison to the other contestants on Strictly, Alexandra replied: ‘I don’t think he even knows what I’m capable of because I don’t even know what I’m capable of!
‘It could go either way, but I think Craig in himself, regardless of who you are and if he has worked with you before, he’s done everything… I’m not scared of him. He’s brilliant, but he is a big old soft teddy bear.
‘I’m not scared of him’: The brunette beauty shrugged off claims Craig could be tougher on her because he has seen her in action on stage before
Star-studded: Alexandra is set to take to the dance floor on Saturday night when Strictly returns to BBC, joining the likes of Mollie King, Ruth Langsford, Brian Conley and EastEnders star Davood Ghadami
‘Anyone can believe what they want when they watch him on TV being the mean Craig but he’s not mean!’
Alexandra is set to take to the dance floor on Saturday night when Strictly returns to BBC, joining the likes of Mollie King, Ruth Langsford, Brian Conley and EastEnders star Davood Ghadami.
Her appearance on the show comes after she shared the heartbreaking news of her beloved mother’s death via social media just last week.
Alexandra told fans she is trying to stay strong as she struggles to cope with her tragic loss. In an emotional message shared to Twitter, Alexandra said: ‘Just wanted to take a moment and say thank you to all of those who have sent such loving messages to myself and the family.
‘It all feels unreal but I’m trying my best to stay strong. I miss my mummy so much.’
‘It all feels unreal’: the pop star told fans she is ‘trying my best to stay strong’ as she struggles to cope with her heartbreaking loss
‘It was always a dream of hers’: former X Factor winner Alexandra said her proud mother would have wanted her to continue with Strictly
Supportive fans rushed to leave messages of condolences for Alexandra, with many praising her mother and telling her to stay strong but also take time to heal.
One wrote: ‘You need to grieve, don’t hold it all in… being strong is ok… but you need to let it out… xx.’
Another said: ‘So sorry for your loss remember you’re only human and do what’s right for you x’
A third added: ‘Sending you the biggest virtual cuddle I can. Take each day at a time and do what’s right for you at this very sad time.’
And a fourth said: ‘It’s ok not to feel ok. Everyone has their own way of dealing with grief. Remember all the good times, it’ll make you smile on bad days.’
Grieving: Alexandra and the Burke family announced the passing of Melissa Bell on August 29, saying they would ‘never forget her unconditional love, support, charisma, strength and courage’
Alexandra has vowed to continue with her appearance on BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing, which was announced before her mother’s tragic death.
In a statement, she said last week: ‘Mummy has always been my biggest supporter and was over the moon when I told her I was doing Strictly. It was always a dream of hers that I would one day be part of the show and I know that she would have wanted me to carry on xx.’
Melissa was just 53 years old when she passed away after a nine-year battle with kidney failure, which was brought on by diabetes.
A statement from the Burke family said Melissa died on August 28 and paid tribute to her ‘unconditional love, support, charisma, strength and courage’.
A statement from the Burke family said Melissa died on August 28 and they will be ‘eternally proud and thankful to call her our mummy’
The family said: ‘It is with the heaviest and saddest of hearts that the family inform you our beautiful, funny and loving mum, Melissa Bell has passed away.
‘Our beautiful mother gained her wings on Monday 28th of August 2017, a day that has changed our lives forever.
‘We will never forget her unconditional love, support, charisma, strength and courage throughout her life.
‘We are eternally proud and thankful to call her our mummy.
‘We would be grateful if you could respect our privacy at this difficult time.’
In 2013, Alexandra revealed that she had been looking after her mother, who was on life-saving dialysis eight hours a day.
Alexandra bought her mum food and spent £20,000 renovating her house so she could have the dialysis treatment there rather than in hospital.
She also began to raise the profile of organ donation after Melissa refused to take her daughter’s.
Melissa Bell was the lead singer for Soul II Soul for their hit single ‘Wish’
In a joint interview four years ago, Alexandra said: ‘I’ve tried three or four times. But mum made the choice and shut down the discussion because the doctors said it could mean I wouldn’t be able to conceive.
‘She didn’t want to restrict me from having my own life. But I was willing to adopt because I want to do that anyway.’
Melissa said that asking her famous daughter to give away a kidney would be ‘downright wicked and selfish’.
Alexandra responded by telling her, ‘I don’t think it would be a selfish choice. It’s been offered to you. I’m your daughter. Take it!’
The Broken Heels singer was inspired by her mother and said she wanted to be a singer ever since she saw her mother on Top Of The Pops.