LOS ANGELES -- The long-legged, long-haired Pussycat Doll lead singer, Nicole Scherzinger, is still mesmerizing viewers in the top-rated show, “Dancing with the Stars,” as one of the celebrity contestants.

Now on its 10th season, DWTS paired the sexy and statuesque Filipina-Russian- Hawaiian performer with Season 7 champion Derek Hough. And boy are they the team to beat!

The talented singer-dancer- actress, who is continually getting high points, is not to be surrounded by controversy, though, as she brushes off rumors that like former contestant Mya, she already has the advantage of being a dancer onstage.

Recently, in the George Lopez show, Nicole explained that dancing on DWTS is far more difficult than the kind of dancing that she does with her group, the Pussycat Dolls.

“The choreography in ‘Dancing with the Stars’ is much more difficult than what we do in Pussycat Dolls,” she pointed out. Born Nicole Prescovia Elikolani Valiente, Nicole is the daughter of Alfonso Valiente, a Filipino, and Rosemary Elikolani who is of Russian and Hawaiian descent.

Her parents, however, separated when she was only a baby. She was 6 years old when her mother remarried. Her second husband is German- American Gary Scherzinger, and the family moved to Louisville, Kentucky. Nicole took on her stepdad’s name.

Unknown to many, Nicole, who is an acting and musical theatre graduate of Wright State University, was also Queen for the Louisville Barrio Fiesta, a well-known Filipino celebration in the area. An avid fan of boxing champion Manny Pacquiao, Nicole almost landed a role with her idol only to lose it to another sexy actress, Ruffa Mae Quinto.

The talented singer, however, still dreams of performing the national anthem for her sports hero in one of his future fights.

She said, “It would be an honor to sing the national anthem in a Manny Pacquiao fight. I’m so proud of him! I’ve been following him religiously. So let’s make it happen!”

This 31-year-old performer has also made commercials in the Philippines for Bench Body underwear and Clear Shampoo and Conditioner that were aired all over Southeast Asia. Nicole, who used to be part of a reality TV girl group called “Eden’s Crush,” joined Pussycat Dolls that was then a burlesque troupe.

It was only when the group got recording contracts that Nicole landed the plum role of lead singer and has so far, produced successful albums, “PCD” and “Doll Domination.”

She has still to release a solo album entitled, “Her Name is Nicole,” but has gone on to perform with top artists as a solo performer with the likes of Will Smith, P. Diddy, Slash and Sting, and has upcoming collaborations with Lady Gaga, Will.i.am and Timbaland.

Of her partner Derek Hough, she said, “He is a hardworking guy who never takes a day off!”

She wrote on her Twitter account, “Been reading the net and seeing the craziest stories. Hough is like a little brother to me. Everyone knows how in love and committed I am to (Formula One racer Lewis) Hamilton.”

She admitted in an interview that she really works hard on DWTS. She said, “I try so hard and I care so much! I came from humble beginnings so I really put pressure on myself. That’s just how I am and that’s how I’ve gotten to where I am in life.”

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