People News

Travis Payne: Nicole Scherzinger is a true star

Oct 11, 2012, 14:21 GMT

Nicole Scherzinger

Nicole Scherzinger is 'very qualified' to be a talent show judge, legendary choreographer Travis Payne has claimed.

Travis - who is best known for inventing some of Michael Jackson's signature moves - immediately saw star potential in the former Pussycat Dolls singer while judging US programme 'Popstars' in 2001 and thinks she has all right qualities to mentor other pop hopefuls on British series 'The X Factor'.

Travis told BANG Showbiz: 'I think Nicole's very qualified. I remember being a judge on a show called 'Popstars' years ago which is where I found her, and was very insistent in her continuing on in the process through the auditions.

'She always thanks me for that, but I saw in her that she was a star and she just needed to be discovered. I met her in Chicago. She was in college and she had pigtails and glasses - not at all the vixen that we've come to know now!

'I think she's immensely talented and she's had enough experience that she can mentor others.'

Despite working closely with Nicole and the likes of Madonna and Lady Gaga, Travis is yet to find an artist who exudes as much star quality as Michael Jackson or even comes close to having his talent.

Travis doesn't think his legacy will ever be bettered and his reign as the King of Pop will last forever.

Travis admitted: 'There are many great artists out there that will have rich legacies of their own, but I think that Michael was a very unique individual who paved a way for a lot of those people.

'It wasn't just a talent, it was the timing, it was the innovation, it was the pioneering that I think are going to be very difficult for anyone to top ... That just doesn't happen anymore.'

Travis is a choreographer on the 'Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour' by Cirque du Soleil. The spectacular show opens in the UK on Friday 12 October at London's O2 arena and runs until October 21.

For tickets visit www.livenation.co.uk