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Nicole Scherzinger: I always wondered if God would bless me with a Down’s syndrome child
Nov 26 2013

‘We’re trying to get the message out that no matter how different you are or if you have disabilities – or special abilities as I like to call them – everyone deserves the same opportunities,’ says pop star and X Factor judge Nicole Scherzinger of her work as global ambassador for the Special Olympics.

The 35-year-old became a Special Olympics ambassador because she grew up with an aunt who has Down’s syndrome. Keziah Frederick, 33, is the youngest of Scherzinger’s mother’s ten siblings. Before Scherzinger moved from Hawaii to Kentucky as a child, they were raised together and had a close relationship.

‘She is such a positive influence and inspiration for me,’ says Scherzinger. ‘People get caught up in everyday little problems and in their own vanity and Keziah is always happy and there to give you love and a hug no matter what. She’s a big walking ball of love – she inspires me to be happy, help others and be more grateful.’

Growing up, they had a love of music and performance in common. ‘I always sang and she loved to hear me sing,’ says Scherzinger. ‘Music brought us together. That’s how she expresses herself – through creativity. She loves anything to do with singing, acting or dancing – she memorises scenes and can mimic people very well.’

Scherzinger has brought her aunt into the studio. ‘I can’t remember how many times we’ve recorded A Whole New World from Aladdin or I Will Always Love You together – those are her favourite duets.’

Frederick has closely followed her niece’s career – from being a backing singer in a rock band to appearing on the US version of talent show Popstars and joining short-lived girl group Eden’s Crush. From there, Scherzinger joined burlesque-troupe-turned-pop-act Pussycat Dolls before becoming a solo singer and ‘schamazing’ X Factor judge.

Scherzinger says Frederick was particularly impressed with her work in Pussycat Dolls. ‘She knew all the moves and did the dances – she loved it,’ she says. ‘She’s an adult, she’s well over 21 and she reminds us of that all the time – she has the occasional beer at family parties.’

Now, Scherzinger has recorded O Holy Night, which features on the organisation’s fundraising album A Very Special Christmas.

The Special Olympics were established in the US in 1968 before coming to Britain ten years later, aiming to engage people with intellectual disabilities in sport. It runs 150 clubs in Britain.

Special Olympics GB hosted its ninth National Summer Games in August, where 1,700 athletes competed in 12 sports over three days. Ninety Special Olympians will be representing Great Britain at the European Summer Games in Belgium next year, followed by the World Summer Games in Los Angeles in 2015. One of its goals is to encourage young people with and without intellectual disabilities, to play together on sports teams.

Scherzinger says her aunt faced some difficulties growing up. She underwent open heart surgery and was bullied. ‘The bullying didn’t last long – we’re a big family and very protective of her,’ says Scherzinger. ‘My mother is one of ten siblings, my grandmother had 18 brothers and sisters and she has 60 grandchildren. Keziah had an army behind her so no one was going to mess with her.’

The family banned the word ‘retard’ in the house. ‘I really don’t like people using that word,’ says Scherzinger. ‘It looks down on people with learning disabilities and really we should look up to them – my aunt is more than capable of doing things. That word implies people with learning disabilities are “less than” but really they’re “more than”.

‘My aunt has opened my eyes and my heart to these special people… I always wondered if maybe God would bless me with a Down’s syndrome child,’ she reveals. ‘If not, I’m considering adopting one.’

Has she put a time frame on this plan? ‘I’ve got an album to do first,’ she laughs. She’s also filming The X Factor and has been too busy to finalise Christmas plans – but she hopes to spend it with her family in Kentucky or Hawaii.

Which might come with its own problems. ‘Keziah is always the centre of attention at family parties, the most fun person, trying to make everyone laugh,’ says Scherzinger. ‘When I’m back in Hawaii, where she lives, I bring her on stage and all my cousins get mad that she gets special treatment.’

Special Team GB: A source of pride

To mark her role as Special Olympics ambassador, Scherzinger met some of the Great Britain squad, including 16-year-old Tom Hawkins, an artistic gymnast from London.

She also met 15-year-old Sophie Dalglish, a rhythmic gymnast and X Factor fan, who ‘hardly slept’ with excitement before meeting Scherzinger.

Sophie’s mother, Inger, says: ‘Special Olympics has given Sophie a new lease of life. After competing, she wore her six medals the whole journey home from Bath to south-east London – her three sisters could hear her coming the whole way from the station.

‘She really looks forward to her training three times a week, whereas before she would just sit in front of the telly and eat a whole packet of biscuits.’

O Holy Night features on album A Very Special Christmas, out on Dec 9.

Source: Metro.co.uk

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