Nicole Scherzinger Reacts to X Factor's 'Ageist' Over 25s Category: 'Kind of Crazy'

Nicole Scherzinger was a fan-favorite judge at The X Factor during her years on the competition show, especially considering her involvement in creating the British-Irish boyband One Direction.

She is also known as a judge who is outspoken and does not shy away from confrontation, which is why it came as no surprise to fans when the former Pussycat Dolls singer called out The X Factor for being "ageist."

"It's kind of crazy when you think when I was doing the X Factor it was like once you're 25 you're in the 'overs'," the singer said while appearing on the How to Fail podcast.

"Isn't that crazy? So like, only people who are 25 and below, they're the only people that count, that need music and art? No!"

According to the Daily Mail UK, Scherzinger was referring to the competition show's "over 25s" category.

Nicole Scherzinger's Career Flourishes

It has been a few years since the "Right There" hitmaker served as a judge on The X Factor, but it is clear that she is still updated with the show despite moving on with her career.

"People talk about ageism. I think the failure, the tragedy is that I'm 45 years old, I've never been more fit physically, I've never been more wise in my mind, I've never been more focused, more determined," she added.

After her stint at the competition show, Scherzinger went on to guest on The Masked Singer and pursued her theater career again. In 2023, she joined the West End cast in its third revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Sunset Boulevard.

Nicole Scherzinger Earns Olivier Award Nomination

After returning to the theater scene, the "Don't Hold Your Breath" singer earned flowers for her leading role as Norma Desmond.

Scherzinger was nominated for Best Actress in a Musical at the Olivier Awards, the British equivalent of the Tonys, while Sunset Boulevard earned a total of 11 nods from Oliviers. After its successful London run, the show will be coming to Broadway in late 2024. It will mark Scherzinger's Broadway debut.

Scherzinger was born in Honolulu, Hawaii but was raised in Louisville, Kentucky. She began her path to the music industry at a young age by joining local girl groups, but she shot to stardom after joining The Pussycat Dolls in 2003.

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Nicole scherzinger, The X Factor, Broadway
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