Born in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, she began acting at the age of 14 and studied musical theatre at Wright State University. Nicole Scherzinger ( / ˈ ʃ ɜːr z ɪ ŋ ər/ born Nicole Prascovia Elikolani Valiente June 29, 1978) is an American singer, actress, and television personality.