| Kimberly Wyatt | |
|---|---|
Wyatt on the PCD World Tour |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Kimberly Kaye Wyatt |
| Born | February 4, 1982 Warrensburg, Missouri, U.S. |
| Genres | Pop, R&B, electronica, dance |
| Occupations | Showgirl/vedette, singer, songwriter, dancer, model, actress, choreographer |
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Labels | A&M (2004–2010) Chime Entertainment (2010-present) |
| Associated acts | Pussycat Dolls, Her Majesty & The Wolves, Taio Cruz, Aggro Santos |
| Website | beautifulmovements.dipdive.com |
Kimberly Kaye Wyatt (born February 4, 1982) is an American showgirl, singer-songwriter, dancer, model, actress and choreographer. She is best known as a former member of the American pop/R&B girl group and dance ensemble, the Pussycat Dolls. She joined the Pussycat Dolls in 2003. In 2010, she announced her departure from the group, continuing with her new band Her Majesty & The Wolves.
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Kimberly Wyatt was born in Warrensburg, Missouri, a town near Kansas City.[1]
Wyatt began dancing at the age of seven.[1] At the age of 14 she earned a scholarship to study in New York's Joffrey Ballet and the Broadway Dance Center.[2] At the age of seventeen, she graduated from high school and flew to Las Vegas to audition for cruise ship and casino shows.
British tabloid Daily Mirror reported that Wyatt was the victim of molestation:
'I've been molested and also been the victim of attempted rape (when she was a dancer on a cruise ship). The problem was the way my parents dealt with it. They chose partying over maybe my safety at times. When I tried to talk to them about it they were like, "We don't even want to hear it, cos we don't want to deal with it." So it was up to me to cope, and I didn't know how. That had a lot to do with me going off to be a dancer at such an early age. Dancing saved me.'[3]
She worked in a revue on Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas for two years.[1] In 2001 she moved to Los Angeles despite getting an offer from Hubbard St. Dance Co.[1] In 2002, Wyatt became one of the dancers on the comedy sketch show, Cedric the Entertainer Presents as a Cedsation.[4]
In 2003, she was a dancer for Nick Lachey's music video. Robin Antin was the choreographer, and it was here where she asked Wyatt to join the Pussycat Dolls.[1] She is best known with her dance sign, standing oversplit, which is shown in most of Pussycat Dolls music video. She stated herself in Loose Women that it is her trademark move, as she said that "her leg has become a celebrity in its own rights."[5] Wyatt's first vocal role in the Pussycat Dolls came when she recorded a solo song called "Don't Wanna Fall in Love" for the Deluxe Edition of their second album, Doll Domination.
After Jessica Sutta, on February 26, 2010 Wyatt was the next member to announce her departure from the group. She made the decision before but she stated it officially in the Loaded Magazine. She said the Dolls gave her more than she could ever have before, but there were difficulties, and it wasn't always easy. She left the group because she wasn't happy of her position in the group. She continued stating
Money and fame can't buy happiness. Ultimately I think that happiness is the most important thing in life and I think that once I started to get to know myself more and more I was like 'You know, I don't think that my happiness is within this group right now'. I wish that it was different because I love what we do on stage. I love being a Doll, but as far as variables off-stage are concerned – I just couldn't do it anymore.[6]
Three months after her departure from the group, Wyatt spoke to Digital Spy about her time in the band. Wyatt said: "I was in a situation where I was unable to grow creatively or as a human being by being in the group. The situation had to change or I had to change. Once I found out the situation wasn't going to change, I had to take the decision upon myself. Almost all of us have left and been pursuing our own thing, and that's how it's been left. As far as I know the group has fully disbanded."[7]
Wyatt is one of three judges of Sky 1's dance show, Got to Dance, alongside Ashley Banjo and Adam Garcia.[8] Got to Dance premiered on Sky 1 in January 2010.[9] In September 2010, it was announced that Got to Dance would return for a second season.[10]
On March 5, 2010, she posted a solo song named "Not Just a Doll" on her official website, thus discussing why she left the Pussycat Dolls and what she has planned with her solo project. She said "It's gonna be quite a journey now that we're all venturing out on our own. We're a sisterhood, and we support each other in everything that we do. I left because I want to be the creative being that I am. I've been so blessed to be in the studio working on new music, writing music, writing things that make me feel something, that relate to me, that tell a story."[11]
She made her musical solo debut being featured on Aggro Santos track "Candy". "Candy" was the lead track for the film StreetDance 3D, the first 3D dance film starring Flawless, Diversity and George Sampson, which was released on May 21, 2010. The song charted at #5 on the UK Singles Chart.[10] In October 2010, it was announced that Wyatt along with Paula Abdul and Travis Payne will be judges on Live to Dance, the US version of Got to Dance.[12]
Wyatt revealed to Digital Spy that she is recording her first solo album and confirmed that she has already worked with rappers Paul Wall and Baby Bash and producers from "The Cold Chamber" like Mickaël on the record.
I've recently been in the studio a lot. It started because I wanted to write but the more I did it, the more comfortable I got in the booth and started creating my own album. A lot of it so far has a dance feel, because it came about from what I could do on stage. I love electronica music, so there's a lot of inspiration from that. I've been very fortunate to work with people like Paul Wall and Baby Bash who have made appearances on my album. Singing is something that has always been second nature to me, but it's also a challenge and I love a challenge. Singing is kind of my future and music is my engine.[13]
She also confirmed that she is in talks to collaborate with Missy Elliott: "Missy Elliott's one of my biggest inspirations and I think her music videos are so cool. When me and the Dolls filmed the 'Whatcha Think About That' video with her, we became good friends and we've kept in touch ever since. She was also in a girlband before going solo, so she's given me many words of wisdom! As far as working with her goes, it's all about having the right song and the right opportunity to make it. The right song hasn't come around yet, but I'm hoping it will, because I'd love to work with her again!"[14] In another interview she stated that her album would electro, pop and dance music, but also ballads and softer, sweeter and breathier tracks too.[15]
On Thursday 16 December 2010, Wyatt appeared on the BBC music/comedy show Never Mind the Buzzcocks, with Vic Reeves and Noel Fielding.
On Sunday 9 January 2011, she was a guest on the BBC2 lifestyle programme Something for the Weekend.
Taio Cruz recorded a fifth version of "Higher" which he recorded with Kimberly Wyatt is set for release. This version debuted on ITV's Daybreak on 14 February 2011 and was later performed on BBC's Let's Dance for Comic Relief on 19 February 2011.
In 2010, Wyatt teamed up with former Jupiter Rising member Spencer Nezey, forming a group called Her Majesty & The Wolves. She revealed, "Right now, I'm just happy to be doing this track with Aggro called Candy, and I'll be working on a project called Her Majesty And The Wolves." "It's me and a friend coming up with some new music, kind of electro-pop and house influences, and we're ready to put on a really good show. I'm excited for the future."[16]
Wyatt has signed with Above and Beyond Branding (AAB) ahead of the release of her single "Stars In Your Eyes". As part of the agreement, AAB are handling all of Wyatt's branding including campaigns, endorsements, special projects and branded appearances. She joins the company's impressive roster including Kelly Rowland, David Guetta, Kelis and Esmee Denters. Her single is released on January 3 under the name Her Majesty and The Wolves.[17]
Their album called 111 was released in UK in July 11, 2011. Of the sound of the album, Kimberly revealed, "There are 80's dance influences but ultimately our sound is fresh. There are so many tracks I am so excited about".[18]
| Year | Single | Peak positions | Certifications (sales thresholds) |
Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK [19] |
IRL [20] |
EUR [21] |
POL [22] |
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| 2010 | "Candy" (Aggro Santos featuring Kimberly Wyatt) | 5 | 14 | 20 | 5 | Aggro Santos.Com | |
| Year | Single | Album | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | "Not Just a Doll" | Digital download | Available through Amazon.com and iTunes.[24][25] |
| Year | Song | Artist | Album | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | "Don't Wanna Fall in Love" | Pussycat Dolls | Doll Domination | Included on the Deluxe edition.[26] |
| Title | Year | Director(s) |
|---|---|---|
| "Candy" (with Aggro Santos) | 2010 | Emil Nava[27] |
| "Glaciers" | Jess Holzworth[27] | |
| "Stars in Your Eyes" | Justin Harder[27] | |
| "Goodbye/Goodnight" | 2011 | TBA[27] |
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Cedric the Entertainer Presents | Dancer |
| 2004 | Starsky & Hutch | Nightclub Dancer |
| 13 Going on 30 | Dancer | |
| 2005 | Be Cool | Pussycat Doll |
| 2008 | Celebracadabra | Herself |
| 2009 | Just Dance | Dancer |
| Poor Paul | Actress | |
| 2009–pre | Got to Dance | Judge |
| 2010 | Shooting Stars | Guest (as 'Kimberley White') |
| Never Mind the Buzzcocks | Guest | |
| 2011–pre | Live to Dance | Judge |
| Daybreak | As guest performing "Higher" with Taio Cruz | |
| Celebrity Juice | Guest | |
| 2011-12 | Ask Rhod Gilbert | Guest |
| 2011 | 8 Out Of 10 Cats[28] | Herself |
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