Nicole Scherzinger Ethnicity: Filipino, Hawaiian, Ukrainian & Polish Background Explained

Quick answer: Nicole Scherzinger is 50% Filipino (Ivatan), 25% Ukrainian, 12.5% Hawaiian, and 12.5% Polish. She was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, on June 29, 1978, and raised partly in Louisville, Kentucky.

What Is Nicole Scherzinger's Ethnicity?

Nicole Scherzinger's ethnicity represents a rich blend of Pacific Islander, Eastern European, and Asian heritage. Born as Nicole Prascovia Elikolani Valiente on June 29, 1978, in Honolulu, Hawaii, Nicole's name itself reflects her multicultural background — "Elikolani" (Elikalani) being Hawaiian and "Valiente "being Filipino. Her father, Alfonso A. Valiente Jr, is Filipino, while her mother, Rosemary Elikalani Frederick, carries Native Hawaiian, Ukrainian, and Polish ancestry.

This diverse heritage has profoundly influenced Nicole's career as an entertainer, her connection to music and dance, and her sense of identity. Raised partly in Louisville, Kentucky, but born and early childhood spent in Hawaii, Nicole grew up navigating multiple cultural traditions and languages, with music and dance being central to her family experience.

Father's Side

Nicole's father, Alfonso A[lueta] Valiente Jr, is of Filipino descent, specifically from the Batanes Islands (also called Ivatan region) in the Philippines. Her paternal grandfather was Alfonso Arca Valiente, born in Kauai County, Hawaii, to Filipino parents, the former from Basco, Batanes — one of the major islands of the Batanes Islands region. Alfonso Arca was the son of Salvador Valiente y Batiforra (Salvador Batiforra Valiente) and Adriana Arca e Idel (Adriana Idel Arca).

Salvador was himself the son of Gaspar Valiente and Martina Batiforra. Adriana was the daughter of Domingo Arca and Máxima Idel. This paternal line represents Filipino immigration to Hawaii, a significant part of Hawaiian history dating to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when Filipinos came to work in Hawaii's sugar plantations and subsequently established themselves as integral members of Hawaiian society.

Nicole's paternal grandmother was Joaquina "Jojo "Alueta y Ferido (Joaquina Ferido Alueta in Filipino), a Filipino emigrant from Manila. She was the daughter of Juan Alueta y Amarante (Juan Amarante Alueta) and Aniceta Ferido y Figura (Aniceta Figura Ferido). Juan was the son of Francisco Alueta and María Amarante. Aniceta was the daughter of Mateo Ferido and Raymunda Figura. The Alueta family represents Manila's urban Filipino heritage, bringing city culture and traditions to Hawaii.

Mother's Side

Nicole's mother, Rosemary Elikalani Frederick, carries a complex multicultural heritage from both her parents. Her paternal side brings Polish and Ukrainian ancestry, while her maternal side brings Native Hawaiian and Ukrainian heritage.

Nicole's maternal grandfather (on her mother's side) was John Irvin Frederick, born in New York, who was the son of William F. Frederick and Stella Bolka. William was born in Pennsylvania to Polish parents, William Frederick/Fredrick and Frances Vencowski/Viencoski/Vinskowski. Stella was born in Pennsylvania to ethnic Ukrainian parents from Ulucz, Poland — Michael Bolka and Catherine/Kathryn — who were Russian Orthodox Christians.

Nicole's maternal grandmother was Katherine P. Lenchanko, now Katherine Frederick, born in Hawaii. Katherine was the daughter of John Ivan Lenchanko, Sr. and Angeline Kawailani Kea. John Ivan was an ethnic Ukrainian emigrant from the Kiev region, from a village called Berezno. He and his wife were Russian Orthodox Christians who immigrated to Hawaii. John Ivan was the son of Nikita Demidovich/Dimidovich Lenichenko/Lenitchenko/Lesnichenko and Praskovia/Paraskovia Kuzminichna/Kuzminisha Zenchenko, who were also ethnic Ukrainian emigrants from the Kiev region.

Most significantly, Angeline Kawailani Kea was Native Hawaiian, the daughter of John Louis Kea/Mano and Margaret Dionicia/Dionisia Namakaokalani "Maggie "Iopa. This connection to the Native Hawaiian people represents an important and direct link to Hawaii's Indigenous heritage.

Grandparents: A Complete Picture

Paternal Grandfather: Alfonso Arca Valiente (b. Kauai County, Hawaii) – Filipino (Ivatan) Paternal Grandmother: Joaquina "Jojo "Alueta y Ferido (b. Manila, Philippines) – Filipino Maternal Grandfather: John Irvin Frederick (b. New York) – Polish and Ukrainian Maternal Grandmother: Katherine P. Lenchanko Frederick (b. Hawaii) – Ukrainian and Native Hawaiian

Stepfather's Heritage

Nicole's surname "Scherzinger "comes from her stepfather, Gary Scherzinger, who has German ancestry. After her parents' divorce when she was young, her mother remarried, and Gary Scherzinger became an important figure in Nicole's life, giving her the surname by which she is known professionally.

Mother: Professional Hula Dancer

Nicole's mother, Rosemary Elikalani, was a professional hula dancer — a significant cultural role in Hawaii. Hula is a sacred Hawaiian art form with deep spiritual and historical meaning, and professional hula dancers are custodians of Hawaiian cultural tradition. Rosemary's role as a hula dancer meant Nicole was directly exposed to Hawaiian culture, dance, and artistic expression from birth.

Nicole has spoken about learning discipline from watching her mother juggle multiple jobs while raising her, and about how her mother kept her connected to Hawaiian culture even after the family moved to Kentucky. The influence of Rosemary's artistic career profoundly shaped Nicole's own path into entertainment and music.

Nicole Scherzinger in Their Own Words

In interviews, Nicole has expressed profound pride in her multicultural heritage. When discussing her ethnicity and family background, she shared:

"Yeah, it's everything. I feel like some of the best voices in the world are Filipino voices. I got my voice from my Hawaiian side, too — my grandmother."This quote encapsulates how Nicole understands her identity — as a synthesis of her Filipino father's heritage and her Hawaiian mother's lineage, with both contributing to her vocal talents and artistic ability.

Nicole has also spoken about the economic challenges her family faced and how her mother's artistic commitment inspired her own path:

"I grew up in a family where my grandmother sang and always played the ukulele. My mother was a hula dancer. But we didn't have the means or the money to help put me through classes or be taught any lessons."This reflection demonstrates Nicole's awareness of her family's working-class background and how determination and talent compensated for financial limitations. Her family's artistic traditions — her grandmother's singing and ukulele playing, her mother's hula dancing — created an environment where artistic expression was valued and practiced.

Career as Lead Singer of The Pussycat Dolls

Nicole Scherzinger became the lead vocalist of The Pussycat Dolls, an international pop and R&B group. The band achieved massive commercial success, with over 55 million records sold worldwide, making them one of the best-selling female groups of all time. The Pussycat Dolls' members included Carmit Bachar, Kaya Jones, Ashley Roberts, Jessica Sutta, Melody Thornton, and Kimberly Wyatt, representing a diverse international group.

Nicole's prominence as the lead voice of The Pussycat Dolls made her a global icon and brought visibility to a multiethnic and multicultural musical group during the 2000s.

Solo Career & Artistic Evolution

Beyond The Pussycat Dolls, Nicole carved out a solo career with albums including Killer Love (2011) and Big Fat Lie (2014). She has also worked as a television personality, judge on competition shows, and actress, demonstrating the versatility characteristic of her diverse cultural background and artistic influences.

Education & Early Performance Experience

Nicole began acting at age 14 and studied musical theatre at Wright State University in Ohio. Before achieving fame with The Pussycat Dolls, she toured with the American rock band Days of the New and found mild success with Eden's Crush, a girl group created through The WB's talent competition Popstars. These early experiences shaped her performance skills and professional trajectory.

Is Nicole Scherzinger Alive?

Yes, Nicole Scherzinger is alive as of 2026. She continues to work in entertainment, music, and television, maintaining an active career and presence in the global entertainment industry.

Visual Family Tree

Sources

Ethnicity & Family Background

• EthniCelebs: Nicole Scherzinger
• Wikipedia: Nicole Scherzinger
• Onlycelebo: Nicole Scherzinger Ethnicity, Heritage, and Family Roots

Interviews & Heritage Quotes

• Inquirer Entertainment: Nicole Scherzinger Proud of Her Filipino, Hawaiian Roots
• XPT Magazine: Meet Rosemary Elikolani - Nicole Scherzinger's Mom

Biography & Career

• Last.fm: Nicole Scherzinger Biography
• IMDb: Nicole Scherzinger
• PeoplePill: Nicole Scherzinger Biography

Education & Early Career

• Wright State University Newsroom: AskMen Bio About Former Wright State Student Nicole Scherzinger
• The Pussycat Dolls Wiki: Nicole Scherzinger