Alesha Dixon says she'd lock herself in the bathroom and cry during 'Greatest Dancer' filming
Alesha Dixon has confessed she struggled with her mental health during the filming of BBC competition show The Greatest Dancer.
The singer was eight months pregnant with her daughter while filming the second series of the show in 2019.
Read more: Dixon says witnessing violence as child shapes her as mother
She told The Sun that she found it "overwhelming" to work on the show while pregnant and also looking after her first child.
Dixon said: "I would have moments when I felt really down and was really struggling but didn’t really know why.
“I think a lot of women can relate to locking themselves in the bathroom and having a little cry.”
Watch: Alesha Dixon reveals work on new album
The 42-year-old star, who rose to fame as part of girl band Mis-Teeq in the noughties, said pregnancy was "confusing" for her mental state.
She said she has been inspired recently to talk openly about mental health in the wake of the "empowering and exciting" decisions of tennis star Naomi Osaka and Olympic gymnast Simone Biles to bring the issue into the spotlight.
Read more: Dixon reflects on challenging lockdown schooling
Dixon added: "On the one hand you are joyful, excited and happy to be having a baby, but then your hormones and your emotions are saying the opposite.
“It’s like you don’t have control of your emotions and feelings, which can be scary.
“Your emotions get the better of you but then you have to dust yourself off, put on a smile and get on with your day pretending that everything is okay. It can be hard."
Dixon has returned to music in recent months with single War, ahead of an album which she has been working on for several years.
The star said that music has "always been like therapy" for her and that returning to the studio has really helped her mental health.
Read more: Dixon backs Diversity amid BLM performance row
“There is so much talk about regarding mental health at the moment and so many people are being transparent about what they are going through, it just felt like the perfect time to put out this song," Dixon revealed.
She added: “What I am trying to say is, all of us at some point feel like we are in a battle with our own mind.”
Watch: Alesha Dixon reflects on the birth of her second daughter
