The Pussycat Dolls (sometimes abbreviated to PCD) is an American pop girl group and dance ensemble founded by choreographer Robin Antin. The group was originated during 1995 as a burlesque troupe based in Los Angeles, California. After attracting national attention, Antin eventually negotiated a record deal with A&M Records and Interscope Records in 2003, and the troupe was transformed into a music group. Following further personnel changes, by 2005 the group was composed of lead singer Nicole Scherzinger alongside Melody Thornton, Jessica Sutta, Ashley Roberts, Kimberly Wyatt and Carmit Bachar. Subsequently the group also diversified into reality television programs, a Las Vegas act, merchandising and other ventures overseen by Antin, Interscope, and their partners.

The Pussycat Dolls achieved worldwide success in 2005 with their album PCD, which debuted at number five on the U.S. Billboard 200 Chart and produced the successful singles "Don't Cha", "Buttons", and "Stickwitu"; a song that earned the group a Grammy Award nomination. Following the departure of Carmit Bachar in March 2008, the group continued as a quintet and during 2008 released their second studio album, Doll Domination, which included the successes "When I Grow Up", "I Hate This Part", "Whatcha Think About That", "Bottle Pop", "Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny)", and "Hush Hush; Hush Hush". Throughout their rise to fame, the group has been criticized for its overtly sexual image and explicit dance routines and for the over-emphasis on lead singer Nicole Scherzinger, who sings nearly all of the group's lead and background vocals.

History
Burlesque troupe: 1995-2003

Robin Antin began exploring the idea of a modern burlesque troupe during 1990 with her friend Christina Applegate. The dance troupe's first performance was in 1995. During this period, they performed with numerous guest vocalists, with a repertoire of 1950s and 1960s popular music standards while dressed in lingerie or old-fashioned pin-up costumes. They secured a Thursday night residency at a Los Angeles nightclub, The Viper Room, where they stayed from 1995 to 2001. The troupe received wider press coverage during June 1999, when Playboy featured a Pussycat Dolls pictorial, featuring at least seven contemporary members posing semi-nude (Kasey Campbell, Kiva Dawson, Antonietta Macri, Erica Breckels, Katie Bergold, Erica Gudis and Lindsley Allen). Three years later, the Dolls moved to The Roxy. The group became internationally popular and was featured in magazines, television specials for MTV and VH1, ad campaigns, and movies. Some of the Pussycat Dolls appeared in the 2003 film Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, dancing to "The Pink Panther Theme". They were also featured in Pink's "Trouble" music video. Along with Christina Applegate, Christina Aguilera and Carmen Electra (who was the group's lead performer for many of their shows) the troupe was featured in a Maxim shoot in 2002, which increased public interest in them. Following this wider popularity, and with the involvement of music producers Jimmy Iovine and Ron Fair, the Pussycat Dolls were transformed into a popular music recording group, and became employees of Iovine's label Interscope Records. The only troupe members who remained after the re-casting process were Carmit Bachar, Cyia Batten, Kasey Campbell, Ashley Roberts, Jessica Sutta and Kimberly Wyatt. The main vocalists of the current recording group, lead singer Nicole Scherzinger and soprano Melody Thornton, were cast later in 2003 to complete the transition into a popular music group. Electra, when asked about her lack of involvement with the group's evolution into a popular music group, said: "I was part of the Dolls for over two years and did every show with them... but financially, I couldn't become part of their new music project... It was a sacrifice I couldn't make." She later made a cameo appearance in the music video for "Don't Cha". During late 2003, Electra formed another burlesque troupe called The Bombshell Babies, which included ex-Dolls Staci Flood and Nadine Ellis, and later adding ex-Doll Kasey Campbell.
Lounge act: 2005–present

In parallel with Pussycat Dolls as a recording act, during April 2005 a resident live show commenced at the "Pussycat Dolls Lounge" adjacent to Pure Nightclub in Caesars Palace on the Las Vegas Strip. This show contains "cast members" who continue the burlesque-style show which began in Los Angeles during 1995. At least one early member of the L.A. dance troupe, Rachel Sterling, made the move to the Las Vegas show. The cast includes vocalist Jamie Preston, Hayley, Amanda Nowak, Colby, and Alicia Former dolls include Mallory, Jen, Loreli, Victoria, Rosa, Marcea, Rita, Jessica Lea, Rachel Sterling, Laura Diane, Laurel, Cindy, Ashley Gates, Bridgy, and Jamie Ruiz from Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious among others. The venue is operated by Pure Management Group. Robin Antin has some involvement, but it is unclear whether Interscope also has a financial interest. The Pussycat Dolls recording group have made occasional appearances. During February 2007, Caesars Palace opened the Pussycat Dolls Casino across from the Pussycat Dolls Lounge. It features "Dolls-style" decor and attire for the gaming staff, waitresses and dancers.

The Dolls returned to Los Angeles and the Viper Room from November 2008 for regular Friday and Saturday nights performances billed as the "Pussycat Dolls Lounge".

Other endeavors
Television series and spin-off groups

In April 2006, The New York Times reported that Interscope executives were working to produce their own reality TV series, overseen by the producers of America's Next Top Model and McG, the director of the Charlie's Angels films. The show, entitled Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search For the Next Doll would search for a new member for the recording group. The new member would sing on the next album and tour with the group. The show premiered on The CW, on March 6, 2007. It premiered in Australia and the UK on April 1. The season finale announced the winner of the show to be Asia Nitollano. It was announced in July that Asia Nitollano had "decided to pursue a solo career" instead. Antin and Ron Fair selected finalist Chelsea Korka to join a London-based spin-off group called The Paradiso Girls.

The second season of the show commenced broadcast on February 18, 2008, titled Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious. Unlike the previous series which tried to find a new member to join the Dolls, the second series auditioned women to become part of a new three member all-female group, Girlicious. However, on the shows finale, it was revealed that Girlicious would be a quartet.

Members of the recording group appeared on both seasons of the Pussycat Dolls Present: in a video message shown to the contestants each week.

As of February 2008, as part of the promotion for the TV series, The CW have sponsored Stardoll.com, a virtual paperdoll website, to include images of the members of the PCD recording group for interactive "Dress-Up" in PCD logo clothes. This site is aimed at girls aged seven to seventeen. The CW confirmed that the series would not return for a third season and has been canceled due to low ratings.
Computer games

The Pussycat Dolls had re-recorded "Don't Cha" in Simlish for inclusion in the computer game The Sims 2: Pets. They also appeared in character form in the computer game Asphalt: Urban GT 2 in November 2006.
Merchandise

During 2006, Interscope engaged the California company BandMerch to distribute a range of merchandise, including clothing and other items, linked through the group's official website.

In a merchandising agreement with Interscope in 2006, toy manufacturer Hasbro had plans for a line of dolls modelled after the Pussycat Dolls, and reportedly marketed at six to nine-year-olds. The groups Dads and Daughters and Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood successfully lobbied the company to scrap the plan because they felt that the Pussycat Dolls would have been inappropriate for children, due to the overtly sexual nature of the Pussycat Dolls' songs, videos and live shows.

They also negotiated a deal with Estée Lauder for a Pussycat Dolls line of cosmetics under the Stila brand.

During 2008, It was reported that Antin and the La Senza Corporation of Canada were producing a line of Burlesque/Pussycat Dolls-styled lingerie called "Shhh...by Robin Antin".