A decade after they went their separate ways,The Pussycat Dolls are back.

A decade after they went their separate ways,The Pussycat Dolls are back.Credit:Nic Walker

"It's more open,there's more acceptance,"says Jessica Sutta,explaining the difference between the pop landscape of the band's mid-2000s peak and now."You've got J-Lo at 50 who's looking as fabulous as ever,Lizzo who's all about self-love and owning it. It's a new era,and there are no rules anymore."

The pop group – who last toured Australia in May 2009,with then newcomer Lady Gaga as their opening act – remain among the best-selling girl groups of all-time,with 55 million albums sold and nine top 10 singles in Australia,including the classicsDon't Cha andWhen I Grow Up.

Last month they releasedReact,their first new single in over a decade,and in April will tour Australia as part of So Pop Festival,alongside fellow noughties pop faves Steps,Jesse McCartney,Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Smash Mouth. But as much as the industry's changed in the intervening years,the more things stay the same.

The band,rooted in burlesque aesthetics,were long the target of knee-jerk swipes regarding their provocative outfits and suggestive lyrics. In December their first reunion performance on the UK'sX-Factor:Celebrity finale prompted 400 complaints to the broadcasting regulator Ofcom for being"too raunchy";just this week singer Nicole Scherzinger's interview on 10'sThe Project drew viral criticism for its panel's schoolboy tittering over the band's new music video.

"If there is a time to be more provocative,it's when you're grown up,"says singer Nicole Scherzinger,in yellow.

"If there is a time to be more provocative,it's when you're grown up," says singer Nicole Scherzinger,in yellow.Credit:Nic Walker

Scherzinger says such scrutiny,and the sly suggestion that female performers aren't allowed to be sexy into their 40s,is"twisted".

"I mean,if there is a time to be more provocative,it's when you're grown up,when you're comfortable in your skin and you fully accept yourself,right?"she says."And it's not just for attention,there's always been intent behind what we do:it always comes from a place of confidence,power and strength."

"At my age I feel the best I've ever felt,"adds Sutta."I feel so comfortable in my skin,I accept myself differently. It's like fine wine,we're better with age."

Despite the perception around big-name band reunions,the tour – along with a potential upcoming album – is about more than just chasing that nostalgia circuit dollar,says Scherzinger.

"It's not just saying,[old lady voice]'Let's dust off the old corsets and lashes and get on out there,Pussycats...'"she jokes."It's about evolving in general,and trying new things artistically. We've come back without a record label or anything,and we're doing everything on our own and on our own terms. For all the people who doubt us because we're too old or whatever,I mean,just come and see us on tour and feel it."

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