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Alex Parks
Biography
Winner of the BBC talent contest Fame Academy in 2003, Alex Parks was hailed as one of reality TV's most interesting and original performers. Born in 1984 in Mount Hawke, Cornwall, Parks started songwriting at the age of 13. While studying theatrical and performing arts at college, she learned to play the guitar and performed in local band One Trick Pony, where she was introduced to the music of Ani DiFranco and Joni Mitchell. Parks initially planned to move to Amsterdam to learn the art of clowning, but her career path changed dramatically when her father submitted an application for the second season of Fame Academy. Among 12,000 hopefuls, she became the youngest contestant chosen to appear on the show, which combined Big Brother-style fly-on-the-wall footage with live studio performances from undiscovered artists. While on the show, she earned rave reviews from the judges for her husky-voiced, emotional renditions of songs by the likes of Christina Aguilera, John Lennon, and Coldplay, and soon built up a loyal fan base. After performing the co-written "Maybe That's What It Takes" in the finals, she beat fellow contestant Alistair Griffin to win a record contract with Polydor and keys to a flat in Notting Hill.
Selected Discography

Honesty
2005
Introduction
2004
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