Kimberley Locke

Locke is an American singer-songwriter, TV personality and plus-size model who was inspired by such singers as Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston, Patti LaBelle, and Diana Ross – recording music in the dance and pop genre. As a young woman, Locke started up a quartet which would be her precursor to stardom; the singer would go on to audition for American Idol in Nashville for the show’s second season.

This turned out to be a smart move for Locke, who finished third, behind winner Ruben Studdard, and has since gone on to perform on the show twice. Locke signed a record deal with Curb Records due to her success on the show, which led to her creating her debut album One Love which reached the Billboard Hot 100, as well as transatlantically – featuring in the UK Charts. Locke would create several more successful albums, with Locke’s release of her version of Up On The House Top saw her reach the top spot of Adult Contemporary charts.

Locke is currently focusing on her cooking career, having an avid interest in food, as well as lifestyle coaching and modelling – which saw her feature on the Ellen DeGeneres show. The singer-songwriter is also a philanthropist, particularly raising awareness for AIDS and breast cancer, as well as being a member of the entertainment council of Feeding America.