Born in Canada and raised in Rochester Hills, Michigan, Melissa Smith has been singing and dancing for most of her life. She was the lead singer for an all-girl pop group called “Goddess” and has shot several independent films. Melissa has also guest-starred on The Young & the Restless and choreographed moves for the now-cancelled WB series Grounded for Life. Melissa first came to the attention of reality TV viewers during the third season of Diddy’s Making the Band 3. Most recently, she was the fourth place finisher on The Pussycat Dolls: Search for the Next Doll.

Melissa took some time out of her hectic schedule—she’s currently recording her solo debut—to chat with us at TeamRT.com.

TeamRT: Hi, Melissa. I know you’re super busy, so let’s get right down to it. What made you decide to try out for the Pussycat Dolls?

Melissa Smith: Well, dancing and singing is something I’ve been doing all along. I really wanted to find a way to break into the music industry. When I heard the Pussycat Dolls were auditioning for a new doll, I just thought this would be a good match. I’m such a fan of them from when they first came out. I knew this was a good opportunity for me and my career.