Nicole Scherzinger Says Being In The Pussycat Dolls Was "Such A Difficult Time"

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If you're of a certain age, you most likely remember the 2000s pop group the Pussycat Dolls, who were active from 2003 to 2010 and had a few hit songs like "Buttons" and "Don't Cha."

Kimberly Wyatt, Melody Thornton, Ashley Roberts, Nicole Scherzinger, Jessica Sutta, and Carmit Bachar of The Pussycat Dolls posing in stylish, casual outfits
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Since their disbanding, the Pussycat Dolls have made several attempts to reunite that haven't ended up working out. In 2022, Nicole Scherzinger — easily the most famous member of the group — announced that their upcoming reunion tour was canceled, allegedly without notifying the other members.

Five women in colorful, stylish outfits, wearing boots and glamorous makeup, posing together outdoors with composed expressions
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There are plenty of pop groups from the late '90s and '00s that had rocky behind-the-scenes situations and questionable work conditions — and, according to a new interview from Nicole, the Pussycat Dolls were definitely one of those groups.

Five women are performing on stage, wearing stylish, revealing outfits and knee-high boots. One woman wears a leopard-print hoodie. Their arms are raised in sync
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In an interview with The Times, Nicole expressed some gratitude for her time in the group, but she also acknowledged that it was far from easy being a Pussycat Doll.

Nicole Scherzinger wearing a one-shoulder, draped red gown with a high neckline and sheer lower skirt, standing outdoors
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“I’m really proud of the music that the Dolls made, and I’m very proud of the little mark that we made with our group,” she said. “But it was very difficult, because I was really learning about myself along the way."

Kimberly Wyatt, Ashley Roberts, Nicole Scherzinger, Melody Thornton, and Jessica Sutta pose on a red carpet wearing stylish, bold outfits
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"It was such a difficult time, struggling and battling your own demons and issues and always being on the road, and they never allowed sleep in our schedule. I mean, it was just a recipe for disaster, to be honest with you."

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Nicole also specified that a lot of the working conditions the Pussycat Dolls were under couldn't happen today, and for good reason. "They have rules set in place,” she said, “and, you know, it’s more of a woke community now. But it wasn’t like that when we were doing it."

Nicole Scherzinger in a sheer, embellished gown with intricate beadwork and fringe details, posing at an event
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"It was just kind of like, ‘Work them to the bone until they’re passed out.’ It was just hard for me to sleep. I always had sleeping issues.”

Melody Thornton, Ashley Roberts, Nicole Scherzinger, Carmit Bachar, and Jessica Sutta pose on the red carpet in stylish, midriff-baring outfits at an event
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What's more, Nicole said that the group's focus on dancing over singing made her insecure about her own body as well.

Kimberly Wyatt, Ashley Roberts, Nicole Scherzinger, Jessica Sutta, Carmit Bachar, and Melody Thornton pose in stylish casual and chic outfits
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"A dancer’s body is the instrument; it’s beautiful. But I was a singer first. It was difficult for me in the beginning because I didn’t feel comfortable in my skin.”

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Read the entire interview here.