december-2011

What , s new,
Pussycat?
NICOLE SCHERZINGER has found success
even after the Pussycat Dolls. The Hawaiianborn
beauty won Dancing With the Stars
Season 10, and this month will release her
debut album, Killer Love. The 33-year-old
star’s solo effort refl ects her love for rock, soul
and funk, and features collaborations with
Enrique Iglesias and the hit singles Don’t Hold
Your Breath and Poison. What’s more, she
rules as a judge on the hot new reality talent
show, The X Factor, with Simon Cowell.
Your Poison video shows
both Good Nicole and Bad
Nicole, right?
Yeah — it’s inspired by a 1930s Watchman
kind of vibe. It’s basically Good and Bad
Nicole kicking ass around town.
So who do you prefer —
Good or Bad Nicole?
I think at heart I’m Good Nicole, but
sometimes at night Bad Nicole comes
out to play.
Just like in your sexy music
video, Heartbeat, with
Enrique Iglesias? Is your
new video with him just
as sexy?
It’s a different kind of sexy. Enrique’s is very
moody and more intimate, and mine is more
in your face.
Speaking of sexy, how do
you get that perfect body?
(Laughs) I don’t know if I have a perfect body.
I just know the right things to wear to make
Ex-Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger gets candid about
her new album — and hosting The X Factor with Simon
Cowell. Interview by Stephen Unwin/Celebritext
you think that. It’s about fi nding stuff that you
can rock and is unique to you. I don’t like
diets too much. I’m a jogger.
You , ve never been on a
diet?
I’ve tried every diet! I tried Master Cleanse,
but that’s not really a diet, that’s just not
eating. I did that for two days. I get really
grumpy when I don’t eat.
And you turn into Bad
Nicole.
Yeah!
Now that you , re doing stuff
outside of the Pussycat
Dolls, do you feel more in
control of your life?
I just actually get to sleep more! With the
Pussycat Dolls it was a crazy whirlwind — it
was like being in Disneyland for, like, fi ve
years. But the Pussycat Dolls was still me,
but just more like a persona of me. I feel like
I’m jumping out of the Pussycat Dolls. It’s like
I’m on Teenage Ninja Turtles green ooze. The
next album is Teenage Ninja Turtles taking
over the town.
And now you , re doing The
X Factor in the States. What
did you think when Simon
Cowell first asked you to do
his show in the UK?
I was a little nervous because I understand
what an impact the show has, and I know
people in the UK have very strong minds. I
was hoping I wouldn’t get booed.
{ 44 }
You seemed to be able to
criticize without hurting
their feelings.
If I give criticism, there’s a reason for it. I really
don’t know what I’m talking about at the end
of the day, that’s what I think. I’m talking like
I know everything and I really don’t. I’m just
talking from experience.
Well, you fooled us.
Oh, good!
How would you rate Simon’s
hair?
Simon blows my mind because he works on
his hair 24/7 and it still looks the same. I think
when he wakes up his hair naturally looks
like that. I don’t think he has bad hair days.
If you weren , t famous now,
would you go on The X
Factor or American Idol?
Oh defi nitely, without a doubt.
How far do you think
you , d go?
Oh, I’d hope to win the whole thing,
obviously! I’m just a naturally competitive
person, but it comes from a good place.
You won Dancing with the
Stars, you , re a pop star, TV
judge and actress. Is there
anything you can , t do?
Erm, yeah, I’m sure there’s a lot I can’t do.
I tried to grill a steak once for my sister and
it was horrible. It was burnt on one side and
frozen on the inside.