The Pussycat Dolls

The Pussycat Dolls were an American pop girl group and dance ensemble, founded in Los Angeles, California, by choreographer Robin Antin in 1995 as a burlesque troupe. Shortly after launching their own revue, the troupe became well-known for the number of actresses and models that joined and performed as a Pussycat Doll for a night alongside the group. With this growing amount of media attention, Antin then negotiated a record deal with Interscope Records in 2003, which transformed the group into a music franchise comprising [a=Nicole Scherzinger], [a=Carmit Bachar], [a=Ashley Roberts (2)], [a=Jessica Sutta], [a=Melody Thornton], and [a=Kimberly Wyatt]. Overseen by Antin, Interscope and various partners, the group was transformed into a global image and commercial brand. The group's debut album, PCD, containing the number-one singles "Don't Cha", "Buttons", and "Stickwitu", launched the girls into mainstream international recognition - but despite this high level of commercial success, the group was plagued by reports of internal conflict due to the overemphasis on Scherzinger, the group's lead member and main vocalist. Bachar's departure from the group preceded the release of their second and final studio album, 2008's Doll Domination, which featured singles "When I Grow Up", "I Hate This Part", and "Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny)", and by 2010, all members, including Scherzinger, had left the group as well, after announcing a hiatus in early 2009. The Dolls brand diversified into merchandise, reality television programs, a Las Vegas act, product endorsements, spin-off recording groups ([a=Girlicious], [a=Paradiso Girls]) and other ventures. In 2009, Billboard ranked the Pussycat Dolls as the 80th most successful musical act of the 2000s, having sold in excess of 54 million records worldwide, positioning them as one of the best-selling girl groups of all time. In 2011, Antin began to assemble a new group, initially designed as a "newer generation" of the Dolls, but by 2013, this group of women had become [a=G.R.L.], and had released their own debut single in July of that year.