The singer’s mother, Melissa Bell, who was also a singer, as part of R&B act Soul II Soul, died of kidney failure in August 2017 just days before Alexandra began training for Strictly Come Dancing.
Alexandra performed an emotional track from her new album on Loose Women, and she couldn’t hold back the tears.
After sitting down alongside the hosts after her performance, Alexandra said: “I don’t want her spirit to go away. I wrote that song for mummy before she passed, so she heard it at least.”
The X Factor winner then became visibly emotional as Ruth Langsford passed her a tissue.
“Sorry guys,” Alexandra told the panel as she wiped away her tears.
Janet Street-Porter then exclaimed: “She was so amazing, she was the one who wanted you to do everything, she pushed you.”
Alexandra retorted: “She made so many sacrifices for all of us, for all the kids. She made sure food was on the table, that clothes were on our back and she never stopped working.”
She also divulged how throwing herself into Strictly had helped her cope with her grief, saying: “I love to work. I just think I’m a girl that had a big dream and still has big dreams.
“I know I won factor 10 years ago but there is still so much I’d like to accomplish.”
She went on to speak up on the claims she had been a “diva” on the show, and the viewer backlash she faced at the time.
“I did keep my silence for a very long time, for 11 weeks on the show. I’m not going to fight fire with fire. I was having a great time,” Alexandra said.
“Everyone around all of us in Strictly, they’re so supportive. Not just contestants, the production company, everyone backstage, they get everyone through week by week. I can’t thank them enough.
“I just remember the day we did the red carpet reveal, that was the day mum passed. Early hours that morning. No one knew, I went on stage, smile on my face and I left everything for behind the scenes. That’s the way mum’s always taught me to be.
“Maybe that’s not the right way. She’s always said to me, had me in training, when the camera’s on, you’re ready, you put that smile on your face.
“That’s why the lyrics are, ‘I’m going to stand up straight and put the smile on my face and pull back my shoulders,’ because that’s how I’ve been trained to be.”
Loose Women airs weekdays at 12.30pm on ITV.
