The Pussycat Dolls were an American girl group and dance ensemble, founded in Los Angeles, California, by choreographer Robin Antin in 1995 as a neo-burlesque troupe.

The Pussycat Dolls achieved worldwide success with the singles "Don't Cha", "Stickwitu", "Buttons", and their multi-platinum debut album PCD (2005).

Bachar's departure from the group preceded the release of their second and final studio album Doll Domination (2008), which contains hit singles "When I Grow Up", "I Hate This Part", and "Jai Ho!

However, amidst increasing delays from the COVID-19 pandemic, along with breaches of contracts and logistical issues, the reunion tour was cancelled in 2022, leaving the group's fate uncertain, and a possible disband.

The Pussycat Dolls brand diversified into merchandise, reality television programs, a Las Vegas act, product endorsements, spin-off recording groups (Girlicious, Paradiso Girls, G.R.L.

They appeared briefly in the 1998 films Matters of Consequence (dancing to Henry Mancini's "Hub Caps and Tail Lights", and Keely Smith's "When Your Lover has Gone"), and The Treat (directed by Jonathan Gems).

In November 2002 the Dolls appeared with Electra on the Late Show with David Letterman (dancing to "The Pink Panther Theme" and Squirrel Nut Zippers' "My Drag", and with Staci Flood singing "Big Spender").

The only troupe members who remained after the re-casting process were Robin Antin, Carmit Bachar, Cyia Batten, Kasey Campbell, Ashley Roberts, Jessica Sutta and Kimberly Wyatt.

"[16] During 2003, Antin struck a joint venture with Interscope Records to develop the Pussycat Dolls into a brand, with Jimmy Iovine assigning the project to Ron Fair.

[17] Singers Nicole Scherzinger, Melody Thornton and Kaya Jones[18][19] were recruited, joining Bachar, Roberts, Sutta, Wyatt, Batten, Campbell and Antin to form a new recording group.

[23] The album's lead single, "Don't Cha", was a number-one hit in various countries worldwide and became their signature song,[24][25] reaching number two on the US Billboard Hot 100.

The performance, a part of the PCD World Tour, was not well received in the Muslim state, which frowned upon the group's "eye-popping attire" and "sexually suggestive stage routines".

In August 2007, Sutta would be featured on the Paul van Dyke track "White Lies", which topped the US Billboard Hot Dance Singles chart.

[46] It attained their highest peak position on the Billboard 200,[47] but failed to match the sales of its predecessor, selling less than a sixth as many as PCD sold (in the UK),[48] and regarding it as a commercial disappointment.

[68] The group would go on to call themselves G.R.L, citing the need for differentiating from the Pussycat Dolls due to their music being less urban and they would spend the rest of the year recording their debut album.

"[74] Later in September 2019, Entertainment Tonight reported that Scherzinger has joined former members of the Pussycat Dolls for new studio sessions and the band would be reuniting for a "greatest hits" tour in 2020.

On November 30, 2019, the Pussycat Dolls performed at The X Factor: Celebrity finale with a medley of their previous hits "Buttons", "When I Grow Up", "Don't Cha", and a brand new song, "React".

[82] In February 2020, the group performed on Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway and at Nova FM 96.9's Red Room at Glass Island Sydney Harbour, Australia in March.

[96] Two organizations (Dads and Daughters and Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood) successfully lobbied Hasbro to scrap the plan,[97] saying they felt the group would have been inappropriate for children due to the overtly sexual nature of the Pussycat Dolls' songs, videos and performances.

[102] Since the Pussycat Dolls were originally a burlesque dance troupe, Scherzinger and Thornton were the only members specifically hired for singing role when the group turned into a pop act in 2003.

As part of a Behind the Music special on Scherzinger's career,[104] she claimed that she was responsible for singing both lead and background vocals on both of the group's studio albums, with hardly anything sung by her fellow members.

"[110] Barchar addressed the criticism of their second performance by saying, "Being on Ant & Dec's show was hysterical; they are so good at what they do, and the way they made light of the whole censorship thing was amazing.

During an appearance on The Morning Show, Wyatt talked about bringing her children to rehearsals: "[I love] teaching them what it means to be a Pussycat Doll and own your space as a female.

"[114] Referring to their provocative image, Sutta told The Daily Telegraph Australia that she felt that ageism is rife within the music industry but that times were changing: "You've got J-Lo at 50 who's looking as fabulous as ever, and Lizzo who is all about self-love and owning it.

In a piece titled "If You Don't Like The Pussycat Dolls or Lizzo, You Can Always Look Away" for The Guardian, Barbara Ellen discussed the interplay of ageism, sexism, and sizeism that female musicians face in the industry, comparing the negative media attention that the Pussycat Dolls received to that which was received by Lizzo for appearing in underwear on TikTok and by Jennifer Lopez for her performance at the Super Bowl LIV halftime show.

"[115] Later in March 2020 during an interview with Network Ten's The Project, Scherzinger acknowledged that the costumes for the performance were provocative but also said, "We are women now and, like literally as we say, (our bums) were hanging out and it takes courage to be that.

[116] News AU and Junkee both criticised hosts of The Project for focusing on a perceived sexual nature of their dance moves and for making the interview with Scherzinger awkward.

According to papers filed by Scherzinger, it was on the promise of a comeback that Antin obtained funds from Live Nation and tried unsuccessfully to revive the Pussycat Dolls for a reunion with American singer Pia Mia as the group's lead.

Additional requested agreement terms included compensation, appropriate shares, and control over the group to recognise Scherzinger's personal and financial commitments to the reunion.

[126] On June 3, 2011, Jessica Sutta announced that she had signed to Hollywood Records,[127] and her first single, "Show Me", peaked at number one on the Hot Dance Club Songs in the United States.