The Pussycat Dolls FAULT Magazine Covershoot and interview

The Pussycat Dolls X FAULT Magazine

Photography: David Yeo 

Styling: Krishan Parmar

Makeup: Lan Nguyen-Grealis @ Eighteen Management using Becca 

| Emma Osborne @ One Represents 

Hair Styling: Craig Marsden @ One Represents 

Lisa Laudat @ Eighteen Management using Ouai 

Photography Assistant: Alex Forsey

Fashion Assistant: Whitney Kondolo

Words: Miles Holder

It’s been nearly fifteen years since The Pussycat Dolls burst into the charts with their debut single ‘Don’t Cha’ and the sassy lyrics are as recognisable today as when the song first hit number one. Known for their energetic performances and infectious lyricism, The Pussycat Dolls empowered female listeners from all walks of life and elevated expertly trained dancers from the sideshow to their rightful place as the main event.

As I researched for this interview, I looked back at their archive mid-naughties interviews and was astounded to see just how normalised it was to diminish the performers’ successes on the grounds of their attire and vocal arrangements.

However despite pressures from, perceived controversies, gossip columnist and television interviewers, The Pussycat Dolls never strayed from their belief system that talents will always shine through regardless of what women choose to wear on stage.

Today the Pussycat Dolls have reformed stronger than ever with their new single ‘React’ gaining over 12 million views on Youtube only a week since premiering. I caught up with The Pussycat Dolls to find out more about their hardships, triumphs and individual FAULTS; enjoy.

What was the scariest part about reforming after all these years?

Jessica: I guess the scariest part was the thought of how were the fans going to respond. Would they love it or would they hate it? However, after the X Factor performance, the fans response was overwhelmingly beautiful and showed that the world was ready for PCD to come back. 

Classic PCD fans will remember your honorary celebrity dolls, can we expect to see you recruiting any guest performers on your upcoming tour?

Carmit: In our OG days of PCD in the LA underground scene we had so many celebrity guests! I think it would be so cool to have some cameos on this upcoming tour! It will be a surprise for sure… 

I was looking back on a lot of your early interviews, and many of the questions you’re asked, are filled with sexist and demeaning questioning. I wonder if at the time it was upsetting to be treated that way or do you think it only looks bad now because we’ve come so far in terms of social awareness? 

Ashley: Wow to look back at that interview is just trippy. It got frustrating at times trying to defend ourselves. A lot of us did train professionally and the movements that we were doing came  from a place and really a foundation of ballet and grew from there. It’s amazing to see how far we’ve come and we have more to do. It’s nice to acknowledge the growth we have had.

Looking at JLo and Shakira at the Super Bowl, Jennifer is 50 years old, owning her power, owning her feminine energy, and expressing it in such a great powerful way. We are all now women as Pussycat Dolls in this present day and we are here celebrating our femininity and our sass, and hopefully inspire other’s to find that within themselves and enjoy it and celebrate it.

There have been many girl bands to come and go since your split, which group would you say personified best what it means to be a Pussycat Doll?

Ashley: There have been some amazing girl groups. I am personally a fan of Little Mix. I think they’re super talented girls, they harmonise and sing beautifully together; but they also really throw down and own their feminine power as well.

What is the biggest misconception about The Pussycat Dolls?

Nicole: I always see so much controversy surrounding what we wear, and how we perform. I think it’s important to clarify the difference between attention and intention in what we do. Everything we do comes from a place of confidence, intending to inspire and empower fundamentally other women, but also anyone who relates to it.

What’s one question no journalist has ever asked, but is something you’ve always wanted to say?

Kimberley: What’s it like being in a pop group that celebrates both dance and music equally? Being a Pussycat Doll and getting to perform and dance like we do is the ultimate dream! It’s an honour to get to celebrate ALL that we are as a group! Dancers have been treated as ‘less than’ amongst the industry for a very long time and to be in a pop group that celebrates music AND dance like we do feels pretty epic. 

What’s something you don’t want to be asked again by a journalist?

Carmit: I can’t think of a question but I do wish people would pronounce my name correctly or ask me how to, before they say it incorrectly! Lol it’s (car-meet). I changed my artist name a while ago. It’s just CARMIT with no last name. 

If you could go back to 2005 and give yourself one piece of advice, what would it be?

Nicole: I would encourage myself to be more present in the moment and enjoy the process, because it all goes by so fast. It’s a journey to love and accept yourself and I wish I’d learned not to be so hard on myself sooner, so perhaps that too?

What’s been the happiest day of your journey together?

Jessica: I would have to say the happiest day of our journey together was the first day of rehearsal for The X Factor. It felt empowering to be back with the girls again and when we started rehearsing it was as if no time had gone by at all. All the choreography came back and it felt nostalgic. I love the fact that our chemistry was still there, stronger than ever, after 10 years. 

What has been the hardest day of your journey together?

Kimberley: For me, the day of The X Factor performance was the hardest. I was fresh from a cesarean, having had Senna 7 weeks before. I was still breastfeeding and feeling very vulnerable backstage. I went into pure warrior mode and gave that performance everything I had. I was determined to celebrate how incredible our bodies are as women!

What is your FAULT?

Nicole: OMG, I’m always so late for everything, ‘late for life’ – Everyone lies to me about what time everything is so that I run relatively on time.