Cheryl Cole made her homeland proud at the Pride of Britain awards Monday night!

The 28-year-old singer stunned in a pale pink dress from fellow Brit Victoria Beckham's line. She Tweeted before the soiree: "How can I still be nervous about red carpets after 10 years.. Eeek!"

At the London celebration, a video of Cole's time with troops in Afghanistan was shown. Her ex, Derek Hough (they dated from June 2010 to May of this year), Tweeted well wishes to her, saying, "Look forward to seeing @Cherylcole visit the troops tonight for pride of Britain . Good luck Dimples x"

Derek is now reportedly dating Lauren Conrad, but he and Cheryl are clearly on good terms!

Cole also addressed her firing from The X Factor USA, telling the BBC she "didn't do regrets" when it came to the stint.

After months of drama between Simon Cowell and Cheryl Cole, the former American Idol judge is coming clean about what really happened between the two Brits.

Cheryl was originally set to leave her post as a judge on the U.K.’s X Factor for a spot on the U.S. version, premiering in September. Then earlier this summer, Ms. Cole was dropped from the U.S. show. No reason was given then, but now Simon is saying that Cheryl wasn't happy in America, so she reached out to her reps to see if she could return to her original show.

Simon told The Hollywood Reporter:

"I came to the conclusion that she may not be as comfortable here because I was seeing a different person. She was like Princess Diana when she would walk out in England, and I accepted the fact that people didn’t know her here, but I think it did have an effect on her.”

Simon confronted Cheryl on the second day of filming, explaining to her that she had “to raise your game a bit. This is America, it’s a much tougher market." Shortly after, Simon got Cheryl a huge pay raise – upwards of $4 million! – to return to the U.K. show, and by the next day they were negotiating the deal. However, Cheryl never responded to the final round of negotiations. Honest as usual, Simon revealed that he’s “not happy with the way it played out."

The two haven’t spoken since the incident.

Cheryl Cole is enjoying all Hollywood has to offer ... gorgeous weather and a dinner date with gorgeous dancer Derek Hough.

The twosome, who were reportedly dating earlier this year, dined together at Nobu in West Hollywood. Instead of walking out together, they chose to leave in separate cars. Sneaky!

Ms. Cole has been reportedly getting cozy once again with her ex-hubby Ashley. So what's with the former X Factor judge having a romantic dinner date with Derek? No doubt ... makes for a sexy love triangle.

Looks like Cheryl Cole has traded in the X Factor for a Sun Protection Factor.

The singer said she would be taking some time for herself when she got ousted from the U.S. X Factor, and she seems to be doing just that!

Cole has been partying in Hollywood with GIrls Aloud bandmate Kimberley Walsh, and the two did some sunbathing Monday.

And ... check out Cheryl's tattoos! Every rose has its thorn, as they say!

Cheryl Cole has had quite a hectic summer thus far, and she's finally speaking out to assure her fans she's doing just fine!

Cole was fired from her judging gig at the American X Factor after only four days (her heavy English accent and lack of chemistry with other judges were to blame) and it has recently been revealed she's been uninvited to the biggest event of the season; the Santa Barbara charity polo match being held in honor of Prince William and Kate Middleton when they visit LA next month.

Apparently the Girls Aloud singer was planning to make her comeback at the ultra-exclusive star studded event for the Royals, but her invitation to the party was withdrawn following her firing from the U.S. X Factor, it has been reported.

Double ouch.

Still, Cole took to her blog to thank her fans for their support, expressing:

"Where do i start? I have had the weirdest past few weeks (nothing unusual there though.) I wouldn't even know how to begin to tell you all about it. What I do know for certain is that I have the BEST, most unbelievable people out there, who I feel so lucky to call my support system. I have been reading your letters and opening my prezzies ( I feel very spoilt ) and hearing all of your kind, special and inspiring things you want to say to me."

Cole went on to say she is thankful for all the free time she has been given (she turned down the offer to return to her old job on the UK X Factor) and it sounds like she's grateful to get some much-needed downtime.

Britain's Sweetheart reveals: "I have not had in so long to just chill with my loved ones and do the normal things that I like to do. See my friends and family and be with my doggys :D. It feels long overdue and sooooo good, even my feet are happy to not have to wear a pair of high heels hehe."

Stay positive, Cheryl!

Read Cole's entire letter to her fans, after the jump ...

Apparently, Cheryl Cole only has hard feelings towards Simon Cowell (so the rumors say.) Regardless, the former X Factor judge holds no grudges against Paula Abdul.

Cole sent Abdul, who is still a judge on the show, a bouquet of flowers. Abdul Tweeted a pic of the posies, saying, "At the Wed @TheXFactorUSA I got the sweetest gift from #CherylCole -she sent me this beautiful bouquet of flowers."

According to the Hollywood Reporter, judge LA Reid got a fruit basket. And Cowell got a big box of ... nothing. That's gotta be an awkward green room!

Cole is rumored to have several offers for the other TV shows since parting ways with both the US and UK versions of the show a few weeks ago. Nichole Scherzinger, who was set to be co-host of the show, replaced her as a judge. Shortly after, it was reported that Cole would not return as a judge of the UK X Factor, which she had judged since 2008.

Twitter

Oh, Paula ... good thing you get along with everyone!

The newest X Factor judge, Nicole Scherzinger, posted the above photo of she and Ms. Abdul during production on Fox's reality show. The former Pussycat Doll also wrote, "After finishing my vry 1st day on the new job, every1 has bn amazing! Thanku NJ 4 welcoming me. I'm truly grateful & excited 2 B judging."

Ironically, just a month before, Paula was striking a similar pose with ousted X Factor judge Cheryl Cole. The "Straight Up" singer had posted the smiling photo with Ms. Cole on her Twitter account. What a difference a month makes!

Can we say ... awkward?!

Simon Cowell is finally speaking out on the controversy surrounding Cheryl Cole's exit from the U.S. version of The X Factor.

He tells the U.K.'s The Sun that the decision for Cole to leave the show was "never personal." Instead, he realized she just wasn't ready for America.

"I'm sorry. I'm not a monster. I hope we're still close friends. She's still a star. The hardest thing to accept is that everyone has painted me as a monster because I embarrassed her. ... But the truth was I was protecting her. I just want people to be in the best place at the right time."

"It wasn't that she was terrible - she was good. I just thought she'd be happier in the UK."

Cowell said that Cole's accent had nothing to do with the decision, despite rumors, and that she was not "fired."

"We noticed she was quieter than normal. The feeling was that she was slightly out of her comfort zone in America. ... The intention was to do it quietly and say to her she had an option to rejoin the UK show. ... At the end of the day we were saying, 'Move to another show for even more money'. There was an offer of around £2.5million on the table including bonuses. How is that sacking someone?"

Cowell revealed that he wasn't the one to inform Cole of the decision -- instead it was the show's executive producer Richard Holloway.

"I wasn't the right person. I felt she would be more comfortable to hear it from him."

Cole now won't appear on the U.K. X Factor either. She had been a judge on that show since 2008.

Cowell said Cole was given a deadline to decide if she would return to the U.K.'s The X Factor, but she let it pass without informing anyone of her choice. Then, she was offered a last chance to return to the U.S. show, where she was still under contract. But Cole and her manager, The Black Eyed Peas' Will.i.am, couldn't come to an agreement with The X Factor.

What do you think of Simon's statements? Was Cheryl Cole fired?