IN CONVERSATION WITH THE PUSSYCAT DOLLS

interview by JANA LETONJA

Twenty years after their debut album reshaped pop and dance music, THE PUSSYCAT DOLLS are returning to the global stage with PCD FOREVER, a major 2026 world tour celebrating the 20th anniversary of their iconic debut album PCD. The tour reunites NICOLE SCHERZINGER, KIMBERLY WYATT, and ASHLEY ROBERTS for a 53-date run across North America, Europe, and the UK, kicking off on 5th June in Palm Desert, California and concluding on 13th October in London. Known for era-defining hits like DON’T CHA, BUTTONS, and STICKWITU, the group helped define 2000s pop culture with their blend of powerhouse vocals, choreography, and unapologetic glamour. As part of the celebration, their albums PCD and DOLL DOMINATION will be reissued, while returning with new music, including their latest single CLUB SONG. With special guests LIL’ KIM and MYA joining select dates and a headline performance at OUTLOUD Music Festival during WeHo Pride, PCD FOREVER marks both a celebration of legacy and a bold new chapter for one of pop’s most influential girl groups.

Twenty years after PCD, how does it feel to be celebrating this milestone together on tour?

Nicole: It’s wild to think that it’s been over 20 years since we released our first album, PCD. How time flies so fast. But it’s also really exciting and exhilarating to be able to reclaim THE PUSSYCAT DOLLS within us in this era of our lives, as the women that we have evolved into being and are still becoming. It’s exciting, it’s empowering. I feel like in the beginning, 20 years ago, we were just kittens. But now, we’re in our forties and fun, fabulous, and ferocious felines instead of just kittens.

Ashley: How has it been 20 years? I mean, it's mental to think that it's been that long since THE PUSSYCAT DOLLS came out. And how lucky are we to get to go out there and celebrate it, and to have fun and enjoy it and connect with the fans and bring back the nostalgia of it all, but also introduce it to the younger generation.  

Kimberly:  20 years on, it feels mega to be celebrating this milestone together on tour. To spend so much time away building our own sort of lives and becoming women, and then to be able to step back into our PUSSYCAT DOLLS stilettos as if no time has passed is something really special. And to think that all of the creativity and ideas we have to make this new tour feel really progressive and special is super exciting. 

DON’T CHA, BUTTONS AND STICKWITU became global hits. Did you have a sense at the time that those songs would define an era of pop music?

Nicole: I don’t think I could quite grasp the global reach that it would have. I knew that we were cooking up something really good because we had such a brilliant team behind us, but I don’t think you can ever quite prepare yourself for global hits. You’re just too busy immersing yourself in the work and making it as great as you possibly can. You’re just hoping that you get a successful outcome after that.

Ashley: I knew we had something special, I'm not going to lie. When CEELO GREEN played that beat of DON’T CHA I was like, “What?” And then they were like, “We’re going to add BUSTA RHYMES onto this.” At that moment, I knew something very exciting and very cool is happening. It was definitely a pinch-me moment then, and it's still a pinch-me moment now. 

Kimberly: DON’T CHA was such an explosion around the world. It did feel like THE PUSSYCAT DOLLS made their mark just through that first single. But of course, when launching your second single, you never know how it’s going to go.

With the launch of BUTTONS and STICKWITU, and to see the excitement that continued for THE PUSSYCAT DOLLS, it was incredible. Looking back, I guess we could never have seen it coming. At the time, we were just engulfed in making sure we did what we needed to do to launch the music. But in reflection, it has been such a huge part of defining an era of pop music. 

dresses CRITTER
hats DIOR
jewelry CARTIER

How do you think the legacy of THE PUSSYCAT DOLLS has evolved over the past two decades?

Nicole: I’m really proud of the music of THE PUSSYCAT DOLLS. We’ve sold over 55 million records, and I heard recently that we were one of the top five best-selling female groups in history. I think that’s a testament to the quality of the pop songs we had, and the love, heart, and soul that we poured into our music. To know that our music has stood the test of time, and that it’s still being played for a newer generation, even on social media platforms like TikTok, I’m very proud of the work we created.

Ashley: We aren’t the same, so we’re showing up differently. I think THE PUSSYCAT DOLLS have always been a safe space for people to come and let their hair down and feel a bit more fierce and ferocious, and let people step into the power. That’s an amazing legacy to have, and hopefully, being the women that we are today, that’s even stronger and inspires more people to step into that power, no matter what your age, gender, class or sexual preference. 

Kimberly: The world has changed so much, but what we started has stood the test of time. And that’s that inside everyone is a Pussycat Doll. Being able to create a space to feel free, to feel self-expressed, to know that you can dive into your inner baddie and honour it, that’s what THE PUSSYCAT DOLLS represent.

What can fans expect from the PCD FOREVER tour that might surprise them? Will the tour lean into nostalgia, or will it feel more like a reinvention?

Nicole: I think we have to pay homage to where we came from, with the songs and the dance breaks. We’ve got to keep that OG choreography in there and show up better than ever for our OG fans. But there’s also a new generation we’re connecting with, so we do want to reimagine and reinvent some of these songs. That’s what I’m excited to do, getting in with our MD and remixing and reshaping them in a new way for this audience and this era, while still delivering powerful dance moments.

I want this to be the tour we’ve always dreamed of. I want it to feel dangerous, like when you watched MICHAEL JACKSON perform, it felt like you were witnessing something singular. That’s what I want to capture. Dangerous, but also uplifting and empowering, because that’s what the world and our fans need more than ever.

Ashley: We are very excited to give the fans what they want, but also give a little new twist on a few things. We want them to enjoy the hits, but also keep them on their toes, just a smidge and give them a little, you know, extra PCD. 

Kimberly: Of course, we’ll always lean into nostalgia. Now, being able to step back into that, we want it to feel progressive and new. We have a lot of ideas about how to create real purpose within this tour. And as artists, we’ve always evolved over time. So to be able to dip into the nostalgia, but also be progressive with ideas, push boundaries, and push ourselves is pretty epic.

looks DIESEL
jewelry CARTIER

headphones ZEINA ISSA

Performing across 53 cities is a massive undertaking. How are you preparing physically and creatively for such an intense run?

Nicole: If I can survive over 400 shows on Broadway, seven to eight shows a week for 14 months, that stamina has definitely helped prepare me mentally. Now, physically, I’ve got to get back into the gym and start training like a warrior, like a fighter, like an Olympian athlete. I want to be able to hit the choreography just as hard as Kimberly and Ashley, while singing at the same time. That’s going to take serious work, building my lung capacity, stamina, cardio, and muscle again.

Ashley: Putting the show together, physically pushing ourselves to get the stamina back, to be able to give the fans the show that we want to, it's going to be tough. But also, that's the exciting part for me, because then you build up that strength, and you feel superhuman on that stage when you get all of that energy from the fans. I'm actually excited about that part. And emotionally and mentally, I've got my practice with my breath work that really has given me such an amazing foundation to keep myself grounded, to be more in tune with myself, and keep myself in a balanced, more positive state. 

Kimberly: It is a massive undertaking. Physically, THE PUSSYCAT DOLLS isn’t just tipping in heels. It’s full-on battle mode. It’s dancing full out. It’s a full-on show. We’ve always been about being a show, and that exists especially through dance, performance, and creating something pretty epic.

Physically, I’m definitely working hard in the gym, getting that stamina up, getting those muscles ready, because it’s no mean feat to go out there and deliver your best time after time. But that’s what we’re here for, and I can’t wait to make that happen. And creatively, ultimately, we’re coming together with lots of really fun ideas about how we can make this feel purposeful and exciting. We definitely want to push the envelope as much as we can.

You’re headlining the OUTLOUD Music Festival during WeHo Pride. What does that moment mean to you?

Nicole: That moment means the world to us. I’m an LA girl, I’m used to hearing OUTLOUD from my house in the WeHo Hills every year, so to be headlining it is a dream come true. THE PUSSYCAT DOLLS were created as an empowering platform for people, and some of our biggest supporters have always been from the LGBTQ+ community. To celebrate that community and give them the best show possible is incredibly meaningful.

Ashley: The gays and the queers are my family. They are our ride or dies. They've kept us alive through all of these years, and honestly, it's the perfect place for us to kick this new era off in the energy everybody there is celebrating love, celebrating uniqueness, celebrating one another, which is what we need in this time. I am beyond excited to start off everything there, and I can't wait to be amongst that beautiful energy.

Kimberly: Headlining the OUTLOUD Music Festival during WeHo Pride means everything. To be able to give back to the LGBTQ+ community, who gave us the platform that we have had and have been there through the highs and lows of THE PUSSYCAT DOLLS, is so important. This show at WeHo Pride is one of those moments where we can really define a new era of what it means to be a Pussycat Doll in the world we live in now. And I can’t wait to make that happen and celebrate with those fans. 

full looks DOLCE&GABBANA

After pursuing individual projects, what does it feel like coming back together creatively? How has your dynamic as a group evolved since your early years together?

Nicole: We are women now. We’ve grown, we know who we are more. And I think our dynamic has evolved in that we understand the importance of communication, transparency, and truth. We’ve lived life, and that gives us a wiser perspective. We’re in a place where we can repair, heal, and move forward together. It feels stronger than ever.

Ashley: We're showing up differently, more mature. I mean, each of us have lived so much in our own individual lives that we are coming together as women, and women who have been through all kinds of things. 

Kimberly: It feels progressive. We’ve all had so many experiences, we’ve all grown in so many ways, even just through life. And I think with age and experience comes real purpose and emotion through movement. To revisit those things as the women we are now feels exciting.

And as a group, of course, we’ve evolved since those early years together. If anything, it feels stronger than ever. Unity for this era of PCD FOREVER is so important to me. I feel like we’re doing the real work, communication, being honest about what unity feels like, what it means, and what it looks like. The hope is to create that unified movement as we step into this tour.

Your new single CLUB SONG marks your first new recording since REACT. What inspired this new chapter musically?

Nicole: When you hear CLUB SONG, your body wants to move. It’s about creating a space where you can feel free, leave everything behind, go out with your girls, let loose, and reconnect with yourself.

Music is liberating. Whether you’re in the club or your kitchen, it’s about reconnecting with your body, your spirit, and your confidence. It’s a celebration of independence and freedom in this new era of life.

Ashley: REACT didn't necessarily get its moment because of Covid, so it's exciting to get back out there and let REACT have its place. I really am excited to let that have its moment. And CLUB SONG, when you hear the song, when you hear the sounds, when you hear the lyrics, it just fits. It's a Dolls song. Some of the best nights I've had are just out with the girls, swinging your hair around, becoming one with the music, sparkling from the inside out on that dance floor, and just letting go. You can do that at the club, you can do that in your kitchen, you can do that in your living room. But that energy and that connection to ourselves are important.

Kimberly: With CLUB SONG, I think the real thing is the meaning and purpose behind it. It’s about finding that space where you can really feel free. And again, it links back to what THE PUSSYCAT DOLLS mean. Inside, everyone is a Pussycat Doll. CLUB SONG creates space for everyone to say it’s okay to find that, no matter who you are, where you are, or what you’re going through. Letting your hair down, feeling a little loose, having fun with your girls, it’s always a good idea.

Pop music has changed a lot since the 2000s. How do you see THE PUSSYCAT DOLLS fitting into the modern pop landscape?

Nicole: I’ve never stopped working on music, it’s how I express myself. I try not to focus too much on trends. As long as the music is good, it will connect. We’ve always believed in quality pop songs, and that’s what stands the test of time.

Ashley: We're still building out what the tour is going to look like, but that's what the Dolls were known for. The amazing vocals, killer ass choreography, and combining all that together to take people on a ride and escape their worries, have some fun and celebrate one another. We want to give fans a show. 

Kimberly: It has changed a lot since then. But I think if anything, through TikTok and the explosion of BUTTONS remixes, the kids have been reintroduced to THE PUSSYCAT DOLLS in a whole new way. To be able to step back into it and show who THE PUSSYCAT DOLLS are behind the music, it feels like we’re reclaiming that space. And I think with all the ideas we have, and what we stand for now, having grown into the women we are today, we’re redefining what it means to be a Pussycat Doll in the modern pop landscape.

dress MILO MARIA

Your shows are famous for combining pop spectacle with dance and theatrical elements. What inspires the creative direction of the new production?

Nicole: It goes back to our mission—empowering people, uplifting them, helping them reconnect with their inner strength. I want the show to have depth and emotional range. Not just spectacle, but a real journey. I want people to feel seen, to feel less alone, and to leave feeling stronger.

Ashley: THE PUSSYCAT DOLLS have always been big vocals, lots of choreography and dance moves. So we’re going to make sure that we bring that.

Kimberly: It is theatrical, we’ve always been theatrical. Bringing those theatrical elements is essential to our history. THE PUSSYCAT DOLLS were built on the dance community, and dance has always meant so much to the brand. And of course, the music has driven our success. Being able to bring all of those elements together, to recreate iconic pop moments, lean into nostalgia, but also take it a step further, that’s what’s going to be so exciting about the creative direction of this new production.

What excites you most about this new era of THE PUSSYCAT DOLLS?

Nicole: There’s a lot going on in the world right now, and I’m excited that we get to bring unity, joy, and love. I’m not the same person I was 20 years ago. I’m stronger, wiser. And I feel ready to lead with purpose and help people step into their own power.

Ashley: First of all, just even having the opportunity to do so. There is so much going on in the world, and to be able to come together, the three of us, we've set an intention to really enjoy this era and communicate differently. We've had some courageous and maybe challenging conversations, but it's really brought us together. We feel more unified, and that excites me to go out there with this energy and shine bright, and take the fans for a ride and connect with them and feel that energy that happens while they're singing our songs, and while we're up on that stage, wanting to give them every ounce of our being. 

Kimberly: The feeling that it gives me the chance to step back into being a Pussycat Doll, and to really own who I am as a Doll now, and to have a voice in what that means. We existed before social media, so to now be in a post-social media world and show who we are as women, alongside being part of the group, feels very new and exciting.

full look DOLCE&GABBANA

When audiences leave the PCD FOREVER tour, what feeling do you hope stays with them?

Nicole: I want them to feel transformed, inspired, empowered. I want them to feel confident in who they are, to feel joy, unity, courage, and to reconnect with their inner strength.

Ashley: Feeling of unity, of celebration, of enjoyment. I hope that those souls are lit up and they feel radiant and just uplifted. For them to leave feeling like they had a good time and it was a celebration, I think, then we've done our job. 

Kimberly: Your job as a creative, as a performer, is to take people away from the worries of their world. So I hope they feel more emboldened, more self-expressed, more aware of their self-worth, and like they can truly own their space. I want people to leave feeling powerful.

As the theme of this issue is LOVE, what does that term represent for you as a group?

Nicole: Love represents grace, patience, forgiveness, kindness, healing, growth, and unity. We’ve been through a lot, but love allows us to move forward together. It’s what holds everything together, and it’s what makes the world go round.

Ashley: I think as you grow older, and sometimes look back, you really have that reflection of maybe I could have been a bit kinder to myself. I feel like we've got more love for ourselves as individuals, with the work that we've done on ourselves, with the experiences, the growth, the challenges that we've had in life, and then also the love that we're bringing to each other that feels different in this era than it has in the past. And then just love for our fans, and the celebration that we get to have together. Everyone's invited to our shows, and where we want to be with all of our fans is a space of love, and for them to feel loved and for us to experience that as well. 

Kimberly: Self-love is so important. Love for the fans who have built the backbone of THE PUSSYCAT DOLLS. Love for each other. That word, unity, is so important. Being able to hold space for each other and move with love through the tough times, the good times, through everything. If you’re leading with love, then you’re doing it right.

jacket, skirt, shoes SAINT LAURENT BY ANTHONY VACCARELLO
custom t-shirt SPRAY MY NAME
tights HIGH HEEL JUNGLE BY KATHRYN EISMAN

TEAM CREDITS:

talent THE PUSSYCAT DOLLS
creative direction and photography VICTOR BOCCARD
styling CATERINA OSPINA
makeup HILA KARMAND at ARCH THE AGENCY, GEMMA WHEATCROFT and AALIYAH DIAZ
hair CLARE HURFORD, KRIS BARNES and CARL BEMBRIDGE at OPUS BEAUTY using COLOR WOW HAIR
nails ELLA VIVII at THE ONLY AGENCY
producer JELVI SANTOS
production company PRESENCE TEAM
production designer JONNY MEE
art director BEATRICE ROSSI
lighting director JOEY-PHILIPPE DALI
dop LAWRENCE ATKIN
post production MEUTES
retouching ANTOINE BERNARD
styling assistance KATIE SOMAVIA
nails assistance ELLA FRANCES GORDON
art assistance ELLA MAINARD
lighting assistance TIA AGBRO
special thanks to METHOD STUDIO
editor TIMOTEJ LETONJA
casting and interview JANA LETONJA
cover design ARTHUR ROELOFFZEN