Chatting with Asia, the Newest Pussycat Doll

Asia Nitollano, 19, a single mom from the Bronx was just crowned the newest member of the popular group, The Pussycat Dolls. She recently did a quick interview with Entertainment Weekly magazine to catch them up on everything that's going on in her life now.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Were you surprised that you won?
ASIA NITOLLANO: I couldn't believe it. I honestly knew it could be any one of us. I was just hoping, ''Let this be my chance, let this be my moment.'' And when they called my name, it was just, ''You're kidding me.'' I wanted to be like, ''Where's my mom?'' I couldn't wait to tell everybody. I always told my grandmother — she passed away — that ''I'm gonna make it, and I'm gonna buy you a house, and I'm gonna be famous.''

Have you talked to the Dolls at all this week?
I haven't really spoken to the girls. They're on tour with Christina [Aguilera], so it's kind of been hard with me doing the show and everything. But when I won, it was all love. I can't wait to meet up with them all.

And are you in touch with Robin Antin [the Dolls' founder]?
She's the sweetest. She's like a mother to all the girls on the show. And she cared about each and every one of us. She's always text-messaging me, asking how I am and stuff.

Does your daughter know about the Pussycat Dolls?
She'll be 2 next month. She knows ''Dontcha'' by heart. She sings it all the time. She's a dancer and a singer... She's the next Pussycat Doll, I'm telling you. She's gonna be the Pussycat Doll baby, start her own little group.

Are you still living in New York City?
I'm representing New Yorkers again! I met Jennifer Lopez. I love her. We both come from the Bronx and danced with the same dance company. [I'm] the next Asia from the block!

How was the show different from what you were expecting?
I really thought it was just gonna be dancing and singing the whole time. I didn't know there was going to be as much interaction, and it was crazy, living with a bunch of girls and being away from my baby. There's so much more to it than just a competition. It was a television show first, more than anything. I don't think they gave me much of a personality!

I'll bet it's nice to be free of the always-present CW cameras.
It was weird having them following you around, but after a week, you're over it. It seems normal now [but] you just want them to leave you alone sometimes.

Tell us something we don't know about Asia.
I wanted to rap. In high school, I'd try to make up rap songs, and all the girls would laugh at me. But I feel in my heart I was kinda serious about it.

What's your next step?
I have to wait till [the other six Dolls] finish the Christina tour. But I'm gonna be meeting with a label in a few weeks. I'm just enjoying the moment right now. I'm just gonna be a mom. I'm excited to make music. That's my life. That's what I've been working so hard for. I'm proud that I never gave up.

Photo from CW.