With a new album imminent, America's Pussycat Dolls get|the fur flying in Malaysia

The Pussycat Dolls had to dress down a bit for Malaysia's Muslim majority - but they were still pretty hot with their tight togs and sexy moves at the MTV Asia Awards last Saturday.

After all, Filipina-Hawaiian lead vocalist Nicole Scherzinger told Daily Xpress, flashing skin isn't the essence of the Dolls.

"There are a lot of different looks for the Pussycat Dolls," she pointed out. "We might appear on a magazine cover in just tank tops and a little makeup. We all have our own individual styles.

"We're no different from anyone else, and everyone has a Pussycat Doll inside her. Maybe it's hard for some people to like me for me, but that doesn't bother me because I know who I am. I know what I bring to my life, what I bring to my group. And if you know who you are, you have to show that to other people."

The girls' second studio album, "Doll Domination", comes out the middle of next month, with the fast-paced "When I Grow Up" planned as the first single.

Sorry, Britney

Britney Spears was supposed to be in the video for "When I Grow Up", but that fell through on the band's side.

"We didn't send her an 'I'm sorry' card or anything, but I think she understands," says Scherzinger. "It's part of the business, and she's a real professional. We're such huge fans of hers."

Goosed along by luminaries like R Kelly, Timbaland, Dr Dre and Sean Garrett, "Doll Domination" embraces rhythm and blues and dance, and has a little electronica and some pop elements, with Nicole's voice leading the troupe.

The missing element is founding member Carmit Bachar, who departed amicably to pursue a solo career.

"For this album we came up with different music genres and different messages," Scherzinger says. "It's hard to compare the two albums, but it's definitely good to be back!"