Nicole Scherzinger talks about dark times
With the Pussycat Dolls, Nicole Scherzinger celebrated many musical successes in the early 2000s. But the price for it was high, the singer looks back on this "deeply overwhelming" time not only positively. "A lot was expected of us and our colleagues," she explains.
2000s girl band pop, lascivious performances, sex appeal: that was the image the Pussycat Dolls sold for a long time. Hits like "Don't Cha" and "Buttons" catapulted the girl group around lead singer Nicole Scherzinger to the top of the charts and made the lightly clad and dance-beating women world famous. But when Scherzinger looks back on this time when the chaos around her was so immense, she does so with a tearful eye. For behind the facade of success, there was great suffering.
"So, the Dolls, that was a deeply overwhelming experience," recalls the 45-year-old in conversation with the "Sunday Times." "I'm really proud of the music the Dolls made and I'm very proud of the little mark we left with our group. But it was very difficult because I really learned something about myself."
"It was such a difficult time, we had to deal with our demons and problems and were always on the move," says Scherzinger. Sleep was never allowed in her schedule, she never felt protected. "Honestly, that was a recipe for disaster. It went: 'Make her work herself to the bone, until she collapses.' I couldn't sleep. I had always had sleeping problems."
Lead singer struggled with bulimia
Scherzinger was 24 years old when she was recruited for the Pussycat Dolls by choreographer and founder Robin Antin in 2003 - an age at which she, like many other women, did not feel good in her own skin. From this discomfort, bulimia - a diagnosis that Scherzinger explains today as the only singer among many dancers in the band - emerged. Unlike her five colleagues, she had difficulties standing in the spotlight as a singer.
With the sexy outfits, however, she had no problems: "I didn't feel exploited because I had control over what I did." She didn't like all the costumes she had to wear, but she could design her own wardrobe. "So I could wear clothes in which I felt strong, and then the girls could choose what they wanted."
"The girls" - that's Kimberly Wyatt, Melody Thornton, Jessica Sutta, Ashley Roberts, and Carmit Bachar, who, with Scherzinger, completed the Pussycat Dolls. Together, they released two studio albums and were awarded platinum several times before their paths separated in 2010 and each started their - more or less successful - own career. In 2020, the girl group came together briefly and recorded the single "React."
"I want a baby"
Scherzinger's desire for motherhood became apparent during the interview. "I want a baby," she said, her eyes shining. "I want to be a mother. I've always wanted that." She has been in a relationship with her boyfriend, former Formula One racing driver Lewis Hamilton, since 2017. The couple have been open about their plans to start a family. "I think it's important to have a family, to have children," Scherzinger continued. "I want to give that love and care to a child. I want to be there for them and support them in their dreams and goals."
Despite her busy career, Scherzinger is determined to make time for motherhood. "I'll find a way to make it work," she said. "I'll adjust my schedule if I have to. I'll do whatever it takes to be a good mother." She's not the first celebrity to balance a career and motherhood, and she's confident she can do it too. "I know it won't be easy, but I'm ready for the challenge," she concluded.
A planned reunion tour was disrupted by the Corona-Pandemic. Shortly after that, Scherzinger was then sued by Robin Antin. The reason: The singer refused to participate in the tour if she received a majority stake and the final decision-making power, according to the lawsuit. Scherzinger's lawyer dismissed these claims as "laughable and false" to the "People"-Magazine.
On a personal note, things are going better for Nicole Scherzinger. Since early 2020, she has been in a relationship with the Scottish ex-Rugby player Thom Evans. A wedding is supposed to come at some point, but a date is not yet determined due to their full calendar. And regarding the question of whether she wants children, Scherzinger told the "Sunday Times": "Oh my God, I would so love to. (...) I can hardly wait. It's like the clock is ticking. I want a baby, but work calls."
"Nicole Scherzinger's time with the Pussycat Dolls was not just about pop music and entertainment, it was deeply overwhelming and marked by significant personal struggles."
"Despite the success of their pop hits like 'Don't Cha' and 'Buttons', the Pussycat Dolls' image of sexy performances and sex appeal hid a difficult reality for Scherzinger, who struggled with bulimia during this period."
