AS GIRLBANDS go, they don't come any raunchier, rockier or fitter than Pussycat Dolls.Since exploding onto the music scene five years ago, all hot-pants and big hair, the Americans have clawed their way to the top of the charts on both sides of the Atlantic.Their debut album, PCD, sold more than 7m copies, while their first UK single, the catchy Don't Cha, went straight to Number One and won them a Grammy nomination.Last year, the band released their follow-up LP Doll Domination, featuring the tongue-in-cheek number, When I Grow Up, and ever since they seem to have been on a mission to live up to the album's title."Doll Domination is Pussycat Dolls at the second level," reveals 24- year-old "Doll" Melody Thornton. "We've grown up and are now women ready to take over the world."Now down to five members - Melody joins lead singer Nicole Scherzinger, 30, Ashley Roberts, 27, Jessica Sutta, 26, and 26-year-old Kimberly Wyatt (Carmit Bachar quit last year), these days life for the band is a whirl of jet-hopping, touring and recording with the PCD brand selling everything from lingerie to cosmetics to, erm, dolls.It is all a long way from LA's Sunset Strip where the group - the creation of dancer and choreographer Robin Antin and Hollywood actress Christina Applegate - began life as a burlesque troupe rehearsing their routines in someone's garage before securing a gig at Johnny Depp's famed Viper Room club.There, Robin and Co quickly made a name for themselves, creating queues around the block every time they appeared and enticing glamorous A- listers like Gwen Stefani and Christina Aguilera to join them on stage. They also attracted the attention of record companies who grabbed the troupe and repackaged them as a sexy, six-piece, all-singing, all- dancing girl group."Inside every woman is a Pussycat Doll," says Robin. "It's about female empowerment, about being confident with who you are."It's about singing and dancing in front of a mirror by yourself and having fun."Following on from the success of the album, the girls are currently wowing fans on a five-month world our which stops off at our own Echo Arena this evening, where the girls will be supported by hot chart sensation Lady GaGa."We love her music, and we are huge fans of hers," Nicole says of the feisty blonde pop princess.While GaGa is guaranteed at the Arena tonight, whether or not a certain racing driver will be there remains to be seen.Lead singer Nicole has been dating British Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton after the pair met at the MTV Awards in Munich, in 2007.And, just as Nicole popped up in the pits at the Grand Prix Final in Brazil last year to witness Lewis snatch victory, he has been seen at a number of the Dolls' tour dates.But, despite his fame and fortune, apparently Lewis still had to win over Nicole's bandmates."We didn't mess about and gave him a tough time as we do with all new boyfriends," Melody said recently. "We are very protective of each other - especially when a new guy comes into the fold."* PUSSYCAT DOLLS play the Echo Arena Liverpool tonight. To read a review of the show, log on to www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk tomorrow
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