Nicole Scherzinger: I still love ex Lewis Hamilton
Nicole Scherzinger and Hollywood actor Dane Cook were seen leaving 30 seconds apart from the same small bar on Sunset Blvd called The Den (Pic:Splash)
She has kept a dignified silence after having her heart ripped apart when she split from the man she thought she would spend the rest of her life with.
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But now Nicole Scherzinger has finally opened up about her relationship with British F1 race ace Lewis Hamilton, and bravely admits, I still love him.
Speaking for the first time about losing the man she wanted to have beautiful angel babies with after four years together last November, the emotions are clearly still raw.
Its all very recent, she adds in a quiet voice. And its hard for me to talk about it. But we are good friends. Were great friends.
Although Nicole is leaving the door open on her relationship status, feelings dont disappear overnight.
Fans were hoping for a reconciliati! on betwe en US X Factor judge Nicole, 33, and F1 star Lewis, 26, after they were pictured in an embrace just weeks after announcing their split in October.
The reasons given were transatlantic work schedules which kept them apart and the fact that Lewis wasnt ready to settle down and start a family.
Work is now their priority. Right now, hes got to focus on his career and Ive got to focus on mine, says Nicole.
Lewis added, Yeah, were friends and we can move forward. Its never easy going through tough times. Its these kind of times that are sent to try you.
Not surprisingly, stunning Nicole isnt short of admirers. She was recently linked to Brit rapper Tinie Tempah, but Nicole knocked back rumours that the couple hit it off when he performed on the US X Factor this month.
We didnt even meet backstage, she says angrily. Its the most ridiculous thing that people are saying something went on. Im not that kind of girl.
There is one rapper she does have time for, though, and thats 50 Cent, whom she collaborated with on her single Right There, released back in May.
I was really happy to have him on the song, says Nicole. He made it sound like a classic.
But it took some time for the pals to get their chemistry spot-on in the sizzling video.There was one point when we were performing, she explains, and I went to go forward and we headbutted each other. We rolled about laughing.
Pussycat Dolls
After a roller-coaster 2011, the new year will be about Nicole finally making time for herself and preparing for her first spectacular solotour in the UK in February, and the U! S releas e of her debut album Killer Love.
Next year Ill work on me, she admits. Its a new chapter. Ive got a new journey Im going on. Its amazing. I feel its just the beginning.
She is relishing the challenge of being a solo star on a par with contemporaries Katy Perry and Rihanna, and finally distinguishing herself from the Pussycat Dolls.
I am so excited for the tour, Nicole grins. It will be based on Killer Love and there will be an acoustic element too. The album is special to me because it depicts raw emotions, and a side of me nobody knew. All everyone knew was the Pussycat Dolls.
Indeed, Nicole is showing a deeper side, especially in her chart-topping track Dont Hold Your Breath which is a far cry from the bubblegum pop of her Dolls days.
The words to that are uplifting, she agrees. If you think Im coming back, dont hold your breath / What you did to me, boy I cant forget.
I didnt write it, but I always choose songs I can relate to. I share the same story as these women. A lot of songs are empowering because everybody who has been through a hard time in a relationship or in their lives can relate to it.
This has been a milestone year in Nicoles TV career after she was snapped up to replace Cheryl Cole as a judge on the US X Factor alongside Simon Cowell, LA Reid and Paula Abdul. It is a rewarding job and Nicoles act Josh Krajcik has made tonights big final where he takes on Simons act, Melanie Amaro, and LAs protg, Chris Rene, for a $5m recording contract.
US X Factor's Nicole Scherzinger, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell
But there have been many challenges along the way. The feuds between the judges reached fever pitch and Nicole revealed that Simon didnt speak to her for an entire week after! she vot ed out his teen protg Drew Ryniewicz.
More recently, Nic suffered a backlash after not saving Cowells other child star, Rachel Crow. X Factor is a massive job, absolutely, she says.
But I had no idea how time consuming it would be. People dont see the work we put into our contestants behind the scenes, and Im so proud.
The reason I wanted to be a judge is to mentor other artists and help to bring out the best in them. I also loved working with my contestants LeRoy Bell and Stacy Francis.
But its not easy going up against Mr Nasty.Paula and I stand up to Simon, Nicole smiles. Im very passionate and I know a lot about this stuff.
"I put a lot of time and work into my contestants so sometimes, if I disagree with what hes saying, I have to speak up and stand up for myself.
Hes pretty upset with me, and with Paula, about Drew. He really believes in her and it was hard to watch her go home. But now he knows what it feels like for us. At the end of the day, only one person can win.
But Cowell had better not freeze Nicole out for too long because Andrew Lloyd Webber has already come knocking. Nicole was thrilled to get her first opportunity to sing opera in front of him when he hand-picked her to perform Phantom Of The Opera at the Royal Variety Show in Manchester in front of Princess Anne earlier this month.
Nicole Scherzinger (pic: Reuters)
She flew into London for just 48 hours for the opportunity of a lifetime, after revealing it was her dream to work with the musical theatre impresario, and also had dinner with Lord Lloyd-Webber.
So it seems Nicole has plenty to look forward to in 2012. X Factor next year? she says. Hopefully. Well see. Id love to work with Andrew on a TV show. That would be awesome.
!Music al theatre is a huge passion of mine and he is the godfather of it. He practically invented it. Just to be able to work with him is such an honour.
I got to perform Phantom for its 25th anniversary and it was a dream come true to perform for Andrew and the princess.
UK tour starts in Belfast on February 15. The album Killer Love is out now.