Nicole Scherzinger has hit out at rumours about a feud between herself and her The X Factor co-judge Tulisa Contostavlos.
Speaking to The Sun, the former Pussycat Dolls singer admitted that she and ex-N-Dubz star Tulisa did have an awkward start - but that they soon broke the ice.
She said: "I think it took her a second to warm to me, because we didn't know each other.
"When we got to sit down and share some wine together [we began to] talk and see each other as humans. [We told] each other about our backgrounds and stories and own lives [and then] we really related to one another.
"We're both fighters and survivors. We're tough cookies underneath it all. We just show it in different ways."
And Nicole, who worked as a judge on The X Factor USA last year, said she and Tulisa had been bonding by sharing their weak and strong points.
"She told me she would show me the ropes with how to be raw and honest and I said I'd show her the ropes on how to be more confident on stage," she explained.
"She is used to being in a group on stage and she's used to two guys. Now she is a solo artist... and I've been through that. I feel like I can learn a lot from her and she can learn a lot from me."

Tulisa has [uuid=cf559b27-f4d1-427d-bd33-756e2da5a45e]previously also denied a "beef"[/uuid] with Nicole.

[uuid=52440b59-a391-4181-80ec-003ec4154c8e]THE X FACTOR IS BACK FOR 2012! CHECK OUT PICS HERE[/uuid]