A number of celebrities have also guest-performed with the group. The dancers perform in lingerie and old-fashioned pin-up costumes and there is no nudity or explicit sex in their performances. The group has become nationally popular and has been featured in magazines, television specials for MTV and VH1, ad campaigns, and movies. Carmen Electra has been the group's lead performer for many of these magazine articles and television appearances, and she has been featured on stage with the Pussycat Dolls most frequently of all the celebrity performers. Nicole Scherzinger (aka Nicole Kea), a former member of the American Popstars winners Eden's Crush, has now become the group's lead singer. Other past and present members of the group include Carmit Bachar, Cyia Batten, Kasey Campbell, Kaya Jones, Ashley Roberts, Rachel Sterling, Jessica Sutta, Melody Thornton, and Kimberly Wyatt.

They congratulated themselves with their first hit "Don't Cha" (featuring Busta Rhymes, originally recorded by Tori Alamaze), in 2005 by performing it in a club for their fans. It has peaked at #2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and reached #1 on the Pop 100 and Hot Dance Music/Club Play singles charts. It has also reached #1 on the Australian ARIAnet Singles Chart, and debuted at #1 on the official UK Singles Chart on September 11, 2005. In doing so, the Pussycat Dolls became only the third ever girlband to go straight in at #1 in the UK charts with their debut single, alongside B*Witched and Girls Aloud.

The Pussycat Dolls released their debut album, PCD, on September 13, 2005. The album features tracks produced by will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas, Timbaland, Rich Harrison, Polow, and Ron Fair. will.i.am produced and rapped on the potential second single, "Beep", while Timbaland produced and rapped on "Wait A Minute".