The stunning songstress is currently carving out a successful solo career after leaving popular girl troupe the Pussycat Dolls in December of last year. The 32-year-old star is promoting her debut album Killer Love and its most recent single Right There which features 50 Cent.
Nicole has slammed speculation that the track is too “raunchy” and says the song should be viewed in a more innocent light.
“I didn’t write it! Ester Dean wrote the song and she also wrote [Rihanna’s] Rude Boy. I don’t think it’s raunchy, I think it’s a lovely feel-good love song,” she explained in an interview with BBC Breakfast. “My parents raised me right. I live by example. As an artist I keep my stuff sassy but classy!”
Nicole is keen to point out that she is a “woman” and so sexual interpretation is bound to feature in her songs. However she is aware of her young fan base and keeps them in mind when choosing her lyrics.
“I’m a woman, I’m not a girl anymore,” she said. “Sometimes I change my lyrics.”
The singer is currently involved with the audition stage of new US talent show The X Factor as a judge, after British star Cheryl Cole was sensationally axed from the panel. Nicole - who joins Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and LA Reid on the judge’s desk - was initially brought in as the show’s co-host alongside Welsh presenter Steve Jones and is thrilled about her new role.
“I was honoured to be part of the show. I was happy as a host and even more excited now. It all works out the way it is supposed to,” she said. "My take is I was happy to be a part of the show, accept the role of the host, because I believe in Simon, I believe in the X Factor.”
The star insists there are no hard feelings between her and Cheryl, 27. Nicole believes the axed judge has made the right decisions for her and she respects that.
"I've met Cheryl only a couple of times and she's absolutely gorgeous and lovely,” she told British TV show Daybreak. "I know she's done what's best for her. And for me it's an honour to be up there, to be able to have a voice and serve as a mentor."
