SHE’S one of TV’s most beautiful women – but good looks haven’t been enough to save Alesha Dixon from being axed by her modelling agency after a row.
The Britain’s Got Talent and Greatest Dancer judge has been represented by the same company that looks after catwalk queens Kendall Jenner, Daisy Lowe and many more of the biggest names in the business.
But I’m told Elite Model Management has decided to part ways with the former Mis-Teeq singer after she turned down hundreds of thousands of pounds in work for high street brands because she didn’t feel it suited her image. She insisted she is only interested in high fashion campaigns — which resulted in a dispute with frustrated agency chiefs.
A source tells me: “Elite has worked with superstars all over the world. But somehow the deals on the table never seemed good enough for Alesha, even though they were with big chains and massive household names in the UK, not to mention worth about half a million quid.
“She just kept saying no to every offer. It caused complete frustration.
“They clearly had different views over what sort of brands were going to want to hire her than she does.”
An agency source added: “She seemed to like the status of being associated with a big agency.”
Alesha, who was glammed up on Sunday night alongside fellow BGT judge Amanda Holden at the show’s auditions at the London Palladium has been removed from Elite’s website.
A former representative confirmed the firm had decided to cease working with her.
Elite has been one of the biggest names in fashion since the Seventies. It discovered supermodels including Cindy Crawford, inset, and Lara Stone.
Meanwhile, Alesha has landed her US TV break after Simon Cowell hired her for America’s Got Talent: The Champions.
So don’t expect her down the job centre any time soon.
READ ON FOR MORE OF SIMON BOYLE’S BIZARRE COLUMN
Ant’s dis-tress
ANT arrived for BGT looking a bit flat – but quickly styled up his trademark quiff for a group photo with pal Dec and show judges David Walliams, Simon Cowell, Alesha Dixon and Amanda Holden.
Amanda earlier shared a picture of acupuncture needles in her neck that she had to cure a migraine.
Simon monsters Masked rival
THE Masked Singer goes from strength to strength but Simon Cowell isn’t a fan.
He branded it “disrespectful” and “depressing” while filming auditions for Britain’s Got Talent.
Talking to a hopeful, Simon said: “There are so many people like you who need a break.
“When I see shows like The Masked Singer or The Voice, where people have their back to a singer – which I find so disrespectful – if we’re not careful, people like you won’t have these shows to have a shot on. Which is why I am very thankful ITV have given us the five-year deal they did.
“Where else do you go? If the future is shows like that, you might as well give up. There’s talent in every country. You showcase people and give them an opportunity.
“It reminds us why we make these shows, to meet people like you. Otherwise it’s just going to be an ex-soap star dressed as a monster, and I can’t think of anything more depressing.”
Sounds like someone’s jealous.
bizbit
KIM Kardashian has released a trailer for her documentary about tackling a criminal reform crisis in the US. In it she says: “There is a mass incarceration problem in the United States.” The Justice Project is out in April.
All eyes on Billie
THERE’S no danger of Billie Eilish blending in.
She wore these eye-catching trousers, a hoodie and trainers for the red carpet of iHeartRadio’s Alter Ego festival in LA, where her performance kicked things off.
The 18-year-old has just been announced as the youngest singer to land a Bond theme, for the spy’s next outing, No Time To Die.
Her outfit is a long way from Daniel Craig in a tux . . .
Gaga hit by leak
A SNIPPET of a new Lady Gaga song has leaked online in the run-up to her comeback.
Her team scrambled to pull down the track, called Stupid Love, but someone had already captured it.
In it she sings: “I don’t need a reason, not sorry I want your stupid love.”
The lyrics appear to be about her romance with former fiancé Christian Carino, who she split from in early 2019 after two years.
I’ve heard it and it is definitely reminiscent of her former pop sound.
It is not clear if it will be her first solo music in four years but in a social media post in October she was seen playing the song on her phone.
It comes after I revealed last week there will be a new Gaga single next month.
By the sounds of it she’s back to her best.
bizbit
AL PACINO says he was so high at the 1975 Oscars that fellow actor Jeff Bridges had to tell him what was going on. Al was a Best Actor nominee for the second Godfather film. He said: “I had a few things. I was not completely myself.”
Cap’s odd doubles
HE’S surely the UK’s most eligible bachelor, but some potential suitors might be put off approaching Lewis Capaldi . . . as they think he is Angela Merkel.
The Someone You Loved singer says he is often mistaken for the German Chancellor.
And less weirdly he is also considered a dead ringer for legendary Bat Out Of Hell rock star Meat Loaf.
Lewis said: “It is Meat Loaf or Angela Merkel. She is a big-time player, yeah.
“But I am not Angela Merkel or Meat Loaf. I get told I look like Meat Loaf. Look, nothing wrong with Meat Loaf at all. Love him so much, but he is 72 years old.
“He is getting on now, like a bat outta hell.”
Actually, Germany may hold some romantic hope for Lewis. Having been there with him last year, I know the ladies there love him.
Brad’s up for a bit of choc ’n’ role
IN what would be his most unlikely role yet, Brad Pitt wants to play Willy Wonka in a new version of Charlie And The Chocolate Factory.
His production company Plan B is set to produce the Roald Dahl remake for Warner Bros, having worked on Tim Burton’s version in 2005.
Brad had to concede the role to Johnny Depp back then, but pals say this time he wants to put on Wonka’s top hat and tails to impress his and ex Angelina Jolie’s six kids.
A source said: “Plan B floated the idea of Brad playing the role 15 years ago and that could possibly be on the table again. He’s more intrigued than ever and would love the blockbuster pay cheque.
“Plus, it’s the kind of movie his younger kids have been bugging him to make for years, where he could unleash his silly, comedic side like never before. Brad has a passion for Roald Dahl’s story and the last Wonka film put his company on the map. It would be a real left-field choice, but Brad is certainly in contention.”
Harry Potter producer David Heyman – who was also behind Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, for which Brad earned an Oscar nomination on Monday – bought the rights to the Willy Wonka story with Warner Bros in 2016.
Ryan Gosling and Donald Glover – also known as rapper Childish Gambino – are among the other names who have been touted for the role, made famous by the late Gene Wilder in 1971.
Paddington director Paul King is attached to the film, which is expected to be set before the events of Charlie And The Chocolate Factory.
I’ll happily put myself forward for a role as an Oompa-Loompa . . . and will accept payment in chocolate.
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bizmeter
TAYLOR SWIFT ordered Justin Bieber to get out of a gym so she could work out alone – and he said no. US news site TMZ said Justin’s security team did leave the West Hollywood fitness centre when asked but he stood his ground and finished his session.
SAM Mendes’ World War One epic 1917 won the top movie prize at the Producers Guild Awards in LA on Saturday. Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Fleabag and Sky drama Chernobyl both won telly awards, in the comedy and limited series categories.
HARRY and Meghan’s wedding performer Sheku Kanneh-Mason is the first cellist to break into the Official Albums Chart Top Ten, with his record Elgar at No8. Violinist Nigel Kennedy was the last classical musician to do so, in 1989.
GLASTONBURY Festival organiser Emily Eavis will collect the NME’s Godlike Genius Award at its 2020 gongs, back after a year off. Slowthai, Billie Eilish, FKA Twigs and AJ Tracey are all nominated. THE 1975 will close out next month’s ceremony.
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