Ever since Chico burst into the homes of the nation with his cheeky dance moves and powerful vocal talents on The X Factor, he has been a force to reckon with. He knocked Madonna off the top of the UK charts with his catchy number one single It's Chico Time, has toured the UK as part of a sell-out national tour and even co-wrote, produced and starred in a BAFTA-nominated short film called Winner Takes All. Not bad for a guy who started out life as a goat herder on the plains of Morocco.
There were humble beginnings for the charismatic entertainer. Chico whose real name is Yousseph Slimani] was born into a loving family in Bridgend, Wales but at the age of two his father took him to Morocco. Here, he was raised by his grandparents on a small farm. "I had a beautiful, loving childhood," explains Chico. "We were very poor, but it was a very loving environment that was very traditional and very pure. It was us, nature and the traditions of a thousand years. We never struggled for food because we grew our own and lived off the land I'd even work on the farm herding the goats to help out."
At 13, Chico returned to the UK to live with his father and complete his schooling and even at this age he was turning heads with his entertaining nature and charming personality. "I was hyper happy at school," continues Chico. "I was an intelligent kid who couldn't speak English, so I couldn't express myself. I had to start from scratch and sit in a remedial class because I couldn't speak the language and yet I was bright. It was a very frustrating time."
His goal has always been to entertain, but there has been plenty of other work along the way. "I was a trainee hairdresser, a mechanical engineer, an electrical engineer and then I joined a dance troupe to raise money for my ill grandmother," he reveals. "She had a stroke so I found myself supporting my grandparents and uncles in Morocco. I'd send money back to them every month without fail even if I didn't have enough for my rent or my food."
After a four-year stint as a compere singer, it was time to set the world alight with a certain television talent show. "I had the time of my life on The X Factor," chuckles Chico. "It was a rollercoaster of emotions. It was exhilarating, amazing and fantastically Chico-tastic! By the time I left I'd made reality TV history by singing my own song, It's Chico Time, live on air during the finals and I had achieved all I needed to achieve. I was ready."
A few months later, Chico unleashed his first solo single and it stormed straight to the top of the charts. The work hasn't stopped since, with a follow-up single [released August 14] and an album in the pipeline, as well as numerous appearances on TV and around the UK. He even won a celebrity edition of Blind Date during the Prince's Trust 30th birthday television celebrations, notching up a date with Dame Edna Everage in the process.
"I'm a charismatic, positive person who loves life and loves to put a smile on people's faces," Chico reveals. "But I put this all down to hard work and PMA a positive mental attitude. If you dream it, believe it and work for it, you'll achieve it."
A new addition to the Chico clan on 5 June 2006 was the birth of his first daughter. "I'm absolutely thrilled to be a father," he adds. "My baby's name is Lalla-Khira, which means 'divine blessing'. She's a healthy, happy, bouncing bundle of joy and I'm really enjoying bringing her up."
"The future's bright," Chico concludes. "Alongside my work, I've also started a charity called The Rainbow Child Foundation and I'm hoping it will raise money for children all around the world. I've already opened an orphanage in Cambodia and I can't wait to expand on it. I'm a very spiritual person, so it gives me a really nice feeling to know I can help others."
Indeed, with all this and much, much more in the process, one thing is for certain… Chico's time has only just begun.
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