Alexandra Burke's Post X Factor Life From Heartbreaking Loss To Wedding Joy

Alexandra Burke, who will tonight be lending her extraordinary vocals to the BBC’s Big Night of Musicals, has come a great distance since her time on The X Factor, from going through dangerous skilled recommendation to discovering love with fiancé Darren Randolph

Eighteen years have now handed since Alexandra Burke captivated judges along with her highly effective efficiency of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah, and he or she’s nonetheless persevering with to wow followers along with her breathtaking vocals.

Having beforehand starred in hit exhibits corresponding to The Bodyguard and Sister Act, the X Factor champion will this night (March 28) be bringing a style of the West End to residing rooms throughout the UK, giving a preview of the model new musical I’m Every Woman – The Chaka Khan Musical on the BBC’s Big Night of Musicals by the National Lottery.

Taking to Instagram this week, Alexandra spoke with nice anticipation about her new function, which is able to little doubt delight musical theatre lovers. She wrote: “From rehearsals to closing our Hackney Empire run… wow. It’s really happened. I originated a role, and I’m still pinching myself.

“I do not suppose I’ll ever have the phrases to absolutely clarify the way it feels taking part in Chaka Khan, however I do know I’m extremely grateful to have been chosen by the legend herself and to be a part of such a particular solid and firm. This present has been an emotional rollercoaster, however telling Chaka’s story has meant the whole lot. A narrative that reminds us you possibly can undergo the hearth and nonetheless rise

The singer has skilled a outstanding journey following her meteoric ascent to stardom, together with supporting none apart from Beyoncé herself on tour, incomes a number of BRIT Award nominations, and embarking on a triumphant West End profession. Now aged 37 and a mom of two, the Broken Heels star has additionally discovered appreciable joy in her private life, and is trying forward to marriage along with her footballer love, Darren Randolph.

Here, the Mirror explores Alexandra’s eventful life after X Factor, from appearances on programmes together with Strictly Come Dancing and The Great Celebrity Bake Off, to anticipating married life forward.

Horror panic assaults

In 2013, the Bad Boys vocalist left her report label to give attention to reside efficiency and launched her West End profession as a principal solid member in The Bodyguard, taking up the main function from Beverley Knight. She subsequently starred in Sister Act The Musical in 2016, and the next yr, she took half in Strictly, the place she partnered with Gorka Marquez and progressed to the ultimate.

However, her dedication to music continued, and he or she unveiled her third album, The Truth Is, in 2018. In 2021, Alexandra participated in Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins and have become the only real feminine contestant to full the punishing collection. However, this proved to be an especially difficult expertise.

She subsequently revealed her difficulties readjusting to on a regular basis life and sought skilled assist to handle panic assaults. In 2021, she instructed the Mirror: “I was crying all the time. If I saw an advert for the Army, I had a panic attack. That side of it was really awful. I did get therapy. I wasn’t sleeping well at all. I always thought there was somebody outside waiting to attack me. So I got a bit paranoid.”

Heartbreaking loss

Drawing power from reminiscences of her late mom, Soul II Soul singer Melissa Bell, who handed away in 2017, has confirmed essential to Alexandra’s admirable perseverance. “All I could do was think of my mum because I was just like: ‘She’d be so immensely proud of me. She’d be so proud’.”

“To have gone through this, my family already thought I was nuts anyway,” Alexandra defined. “My father was like: ‘Why would you do this to yourself?’ And here I am, standing here ready to just tell my family that I’ve actually passed. I’m so overwhelmed. My goodness, it was probably the best decision I’ve ever made in my whole entire life.”

That similar yr, Alexandra disclosed in an interview that she narrowly missed out on stardom at simply 12 years outdated when Stevie Wonder provided her a report deal – just for her mom to flip it down. Despite taking time to course of the revelation, Alexandra absolutely helps her mum’s alternative. Speaking to Mail Online, she defined: “My mum made the precise determination. She all the time believed children must be children, to have the opportunity to go to college, be with your folks on the cinema and theme park. And not to ever take that from a baby since you will not get these years again.”

Shock bleach recommendation

In 2021, Alexandra appeared in Leigh-Anne Pinnock’s documentary, Race, Pop and Power, the place she shared the stunning recommendation she as soon as acquired to ‘bleach her pores and skin’ if she wished to make it within the music enterprise. “I remember when my mum used to take me to certain management companies. I won’t name them now because they’re still friends and that’s good, and it’s all love,” she recalled. “But when I was 15, they told me and said: ‘We’ve got one black person, we can’t have another’. And I got that a couple of times.”

Becoming visibly emotional, Alexandra confessed: “They said, ‘You need to bleach your skin or you won’t sell any records’. That’s what’s so f**ked up about this industry. That’s what, at times makes me feel at times that I don’t want to be industry. It took my confidence away so much, at times, that I felt I couldn’t be me.” She additionally revealed that sure people had instructed her, “Because you’re Black, you need to work 10 times harder”.

Love life and household

Back in 2015, Alexandra tried her luck on Celebrity First Dates, although her night with skilled mannequin Louis failed to spark a follow-up. Three years later, she turned engaged to stage supervisor Joshua Ginnelly, however they known as off their engagement after 12 months. She subsequently started relationship Hull City footballer Angus Macdonald, supporting him via a two-year relationship throughout which he battled and overcame bowel most cancers. The pair parted methods in 2020.

By 2021, Alexandra had discovered romance with footballer Darren Randolph, and the smitten pair went on to have two kids collectively in 2022 and 2023. During an look on Loose Women in 2023, Alexandra turned emotional whereas discussing why she’d opted to hold her child’s title and gender non-public. She burdened that whereas she’d chosen a public profession, her household hadn’t signed up for the eye, acknowledging the “hard” toll her movie star standing had taken on them.

“I come from X Factor, and I’m very grateful for the platform,” she stated. “In the process of being who I am, the impact on them is hard.” Becoming visibly upset, Alexandra added: “They never asked for it, I asked for it… I want to protect the baby as much as I can.” She defined she’d permit her little one to make their very own determination about public life when older. Reflecting on turning into a mum, she shared: “I’ve never felt so content in my life, and I’ve never known love like this. It’s overwhelming, and I don’t know how to put it into words. I’m so happy.”

Also in 2023, the star set tongues wagging a few potential secret marriage to Darren after dubbing him ‘hubby’ on Instagram. However, she subsequently clarified they weren’t even engaged but, explaining that ‘wifey’ and ‘hubby’ had been merely their affectionate nicknames. “Let me be very clear about this… I called him ‘hubby’ because he calls me ‘wifey’ and those are just nicknames for each other,” she instructed Mail Online. “We need to remind him to put a ring on it… There’s no rush, when it’s meant to happen, it will happen.'”

However, the next yr, the lovebirds confirmed that wedding bells had been certainly ringing, with Darren having proposed after three years collectively. Breaking their thrilling information on Instagram in September 2024, the duo posted adoring images of the proposal second, alongside a heartfelt video showcasing the romantic location the place Darren dropped to one knee.

Captioning the footage, a delighted Alexandra gushed: “Here’s to us forever! I can’t believe I get to marry my best friend. Bring on the Burke-Randolph wedding. I can’t wait to call you my husband.”

Darren reportedly proposed to Alexandra at London’s luxurious five-star Rosewood resort. An insider revealed to The Sun: “Alexandra had no idea this was coming and was on cloud nine. Darren had gone all out to plan the most special moment for her, and it was perfect. [..] They couldn’t be happier to start moving towards the next stage of their life together.”

Looking to the longer term, Alexandra has beforehand spoken about her aspirations to develop their younger brood. During a July 2024 look on Loose Women, she revealed: “I returned to work two months after having both babies. I love to work. I want to make them proud. My mum did that with us. I’m so desperate for another baby. I would take more time off if I had a third. I don’t regret anything, but after that first few months, they’re basically off to college. So I get why people want more time.”

Back in July 2025, Alexandra joked that it was “time to actually start planning” in an Instagram post celebrating one yr of being engaged. She instructed followers: “A year ago today, we got engaged and only recently had the chance to celebrate with some of our favourite people. Life has been full (and a little chaotic) with two babies in tow, but what a night! A night full of love, laughter, music, dancing, fireworks, and let’s be honest, sore feet (and a few sore heads). If the engagement party is anything to go by… the wedding is going to be unreal. Time to actually start planning!”

Showing love for her younger household in an Instagram post shared early this yr, full with lovable snaps of her little ones, proud mum Alexandra penned: “Eternally thankful for the blessings that God has given me and for the incredible support around me. I truly couldn’t do this without my village.”

Big Night of Musicals airs this night (March 28) from 7:45 pm on BBC One. Do you’ve a narrative to share? Email me at julia.banim@reachplc.com. Follow Mirror Celebs on Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads

Alexandra Burke’s post X Factor life from heartbreaking loss to wedding joy