Mom of eight, former dancer compete on "Dancing with the Stars"

By CARRIE RACOSTA

“Dancing with the Stars” has always been pretty good about selecting celebrities with minimal dance background.

There have been a few exceptions, including the chorography king Joey Fatone and ice dancer Kristi Yamaguchi.

This season seems to be unfair to the rest of the participants because of dancer and musical artist Nicole Scherzinger. Scherzinger, famous for her lead singer status with the Pussycat Dolls, is a standout on this season’s reality dance competition.

Many people may be unaware, but the Pussycat Dolls didn’t just form into a musical group, they started out as burlesque dancers. Robin Antin formed the group in 1995, which became a staple of the Viper Room in Los Angeles, California. The Dolls, as they are often nicknamed, gained immense popularity pre-pop stardom, appearing in feature films, music videos, and ad campaigns all displaying their adept dance skills.

Although Scherzinger did not join the group until they were re-casting in an effort to form as a musical group, she is definitely a dancer. What she may not be is classically trained in all areas.

"I have experienced dancing but I have never done anything like this before. It is a far cry from chest pumps and booty dips,” she said, in an interview with ABC following one of her performances. Regardless, she established herself years ago as a great dancer and certainly has a one long leg up on this season’s competition with years of dancing as a job and as an art behind her.

Shannen Doherty didn’t stand a chance and was eliminated during the first round. Unfortunately, infamous television mom of eight, Kate Gosselin, doesn’t fare much better. Surely, Scherzinger’s looks and skills will keep her at the top, and probably win her one of the ultimate prizes of reality television.