Girl group singer discovered by Pussycat Dolls creator hits out at the ‘underwear’ she was encouraged to perform in

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In a new interview with The Daily Mail, a former member of the band Girlicious is reflecting on the overly sexualized atmosphere of the 2000s, and how it pushed young performers to dress provocatively.

I remember when I first discovered Girlicious! It was amazing – the group was created by the same person who brought us The Pussycat Dolls, and they found Natalie Mejia and the other singers on a reality show called Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious back in 2008. It was such a cool way to form a pop band, and I was hooked from the start!

Reality shows like America’s Next Top Model and Making the Band were hugely popular during a time when society focused heavily on a woman’s appearance and how she presented herself, before the #MeToo movement brought these issues to light.

As a lifestyle observer, I remember Girlicious really embodying the early 2000s pop aesthetic. Like the Pussycat Dolls before them, they weren’t afraid to show some skin and project a very confident, sensual image – and that really reflected what the music industry was prioritizing at the time. Honestly, some might even say they pushed the boundaries a little further!

Now 37 years old and a mother, Mejia reflects on the revealing outfits she was required to wear during performances with a more thoughtful perspective.

She explained to The Daily Mail that she had been striving for success, and finally achieving it – with a record label, management team, and support staff – felt like she’d reached her goal. She thought, ‘This must be what I needed to do.’

When Mejia joined the band at 19, she believed the clothing choices would help advance her career.

When I was a young teenager, around 19 years old, I just accepted what the adults in my life told me was the right path. Now, as a mother, I look back and realize how unprepared and vulnerable we really were.

Not only has becoming a mother shifted her perspective, but society has made strides since then.

Things have definitely changed a lot recently. With movements like Me Too and the way young girls are often overly sexualized in media, it’s really important to make sure everyone feels comfortable and respected.

It feels like there’s a shift happening where you can embrace feeling attractive and confident without needing to reveal a lot of skin or feel overly exposed. You can be sexy and beautiful while still maintaining a sense of strength and control.

Even now, Mejia faces the challenge of navigating Hollywood’s focus on appearance, but she’s managed to find a way to feel confident and good about herself while remaining true to her religious beliefs.

The entertainment and music industries place a lot of pressure on artists regarding their appearance. It often comes down to how far they’re willing to push boundaries and emphasize their attractiveness to appeal to audiences.

Hollywood has a unique culture, and navigating it has meant finding a way to express my faith authentically while still feeling good about myself and meeting industry beauty standards. It’s been about striking a balance between elegance and staying true to who I am.

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Though the girl group Girlicious eventually disbanded, member Natalie Mejia is now a mother and is relaunching her music career. Her recent album, Holy Exodus, released last year, reflects her deepened Christian faith.

Girlicious was formed after being discovered by Robin Antin, the creator of the Pussycat Dolls. The group included members Mejia, Nichole Cordova, Tiffanie Anderson, and Chrystina Sayers.

The band released their first album in 2008, but broke up only a few years afterward. Despite the split, she still fondly remembers her time as a member of Girlicious.

The team members were chosen after winning a reality competition, where Mejia was often shown as the antagonist.

She was surprised to be seen as the villain, explaining that she felt more like the one who cried easily, as she told The Daily Mail.

I used to cry constantly, but the interview didn’t fully capture that. They only used specific clips and moments, and some of my words were taken out of context or used separately from when I actually said them.

It just seemed to naturally fit the scene, even if things didn’t happen exactly that way. As the villain, I had to accept that, because my character evoked strong reactions – people either loved or hated me on the show.

I was very honest and direct, and that sometimes caused problems. But looking back, I was just a young, vulnerable teenager navigating a competitive reality show.

Mejia has kept in contact with some of her former Girlicious bandmates, recently speaking with both Nichole and Chrystina.

Mejia says Chrystina is thriving since finding her faith and openly sharing her religious and conservative beliefs on Instagram, and he’s very pleased for her.

Mejia praised her courage and honesty, saying she’s admirable for speaking openly and standing up for what she believes in, even when facing criticism or negativity.

After her time with Girlicious, Mejia pursued a solo music career. She then focused on starting a family and getting married, and now shares her experiences and faith, reflecting on lessons learned during her time in Hollywood.

Her new song, Redemption, details the journey to success after years of hard work, and acknowledges the sacrifices made to reach the peak of the music industry.

Mejia felt a surprising disappointment when she finally achieved her goals – a feeling she described as ‘the price’ of success.

It was a little disheartening, because right when things felt like they were at their best – the peak of my career – I had to navigate a lot of personal growth publicly. Dealing with my emotions, worries, and stress while in the spotlight was tough, and I felt this unexpected disappointment, like something was still missing despite achieving so much.

The dissatisfaction is what pulled her closer to her religion.

I realized my faith began to grow when I started questioning all the things I’d been striving for in life. I achieved a lot of my goals, but instead of feeling fulfilled, I felt empty. That’s when I knew something was missing, that there had to be something more to life.

Mejia has begun to pursue acting and will be appearing in a series that is faith-based as well.

Oh my gosh, you guys, I’m going to be in the series! It’s amazing! It’s not just acting for me though, it’s a chance to share what I believe and how my faith has impacted my life. And get this – a bunch of other people in Hollywood have found faith too, and we’re all sharing our stories! It’s going to be incredible to see all these journeys come together.

You know, life was absolutely crazy for a long time. Between music and acting, I was constantly running on empty – a really in-demand pop star, which sounds great, but honestly meant I couldn’t even catch my breath. Now, things are different. I’m still working on all the things I love, but I’ve finally found a rhythm where my schedule feels…manageable. It’s such a relief to actually be able to breathe and enjoy life!

She explained that this schedule is incredibly rigorous. It involves constant travel, appearances on radio and TV shows, short performances, and fan meet-and-greets, all packed back-to-back with early morning flights. It’s a relentless pace that leaves no room for breaks.

But she is open to revisiting those times with her Girlicious peers in a reality TV style reunion.

I’d really enjoy having a reunion – something casual, maybe filmed like a reality show, where we could all catch up and see what everyone’s been up to. I’m not sure who’d be interested, but Nichole, Tiffanie, and Chrystina, if you’re up for it, let me know!

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2026-04-26 19:20