Nicole Scherzinger opens up on her struggle with abandonment issues after her biological father 'left her at three years old'

Nicole Scherzinger has opened up on her struggle with abandonment issues after her biological father 'left her as a child'.

The former Pussycat Dolls singer's Hawaiian father Alfonso Valiente 'walked out on Nicole and her mother Rosemary Elikolani when she was just three years old'.

While Nicole, 45, grew up with a loving stepfather Gary Scherzinger, who adopted her as a child and took his surname, the actress admitted the abandonment still affected her.

Speaking on the How to Fail with Elizabeth Day podcast, Nicole said: 'I definitely have abandonment issues and that is because my actual biological father did leave me, I think when I was three. 

'And so I didn't think it would ever affect me, but I guess somewhere it did affect me. So I definitely have my own issues with that for sure.'

Nicole Scherzinger, 45, has opened up on her struggle with 'abandonment issues' after her biological father left her as a child

The former Pussycat Dolls singer's Hawaiian father Alfonso Valiente walked out on Nicole and her mother Rosemary Elikolani when she was just three years old (Nicole pictured as a child)

Nicole also has a younger half-sister Keala. Her younger sibling shares the same mother as the singer but have different fathers.

'I have really strong abandonment issues, unfortunately, which is wonderful for my character, Norma in [Sunset Boulevard]. See, it all ties back to that. 

'It brought me back, and Norma has huge abandonment issues. She feels so abandoned in her life, so empty, so lonely, and it all just ties into it. It's like, it was just a line meant to be that I was meant to play this role one day.'

Nicole also opened up on her Pussycat Dolls success and how she felt growing up in a band so young.

She added: 'It was crazy, I was so young. We were all so young and my neurotic brain just never shut off. So I wasn't really living ever in the present. 

'I think that was my biggest failure back then. I was always thinking of the future of "what's the next hit? How can we make this better? What are we doing next?".'

'And that was probably my biggest failure back then was not enjoying the fruits of our labour and we worked so hard, but I love the girls. 

'We were really a sisterhood, always will be, I believe. I was really proud of the work that we did, the music that we did with the honour of having Ron Fair and Jimmy Irvine produce it.

Speaking on the How to Fail with Elizabeth Day podcast, Nicole said: 'I definitely have abandonment issues and that is because my actual biological father did leave me, I think when I was three' (Nicole's father Alfonso pictured)

While Nicole grew up with a loving stepfather Gary Scherzinger, who adopted her as a child and took his surname, the actress admitted the abandonment still affected her (pictured with her mother Rosemary and sister Keala)

Nicole also has a younger half-sister Keala. Her younger sibling shares the same mother as the singer but have different fathers

Nicole also opened up on her Pussycat Dolls success and how she felt growing up in a band so young (pictured with bandmates Kimberley Wyatt, Jessica Sutta, Ashley Roberts, Carmit Bachar and Melody Thornton)

'And I loved the music and that we were able to connect with people all around the world. It's crazy to think about it.'

Nicole landed a starring role on West End's stripped-back version of Sunset Boulevard and has since been hailed for her performance and won awards.

But after months of rehearsals, shows and events, the singing sensation is happy to be taking some time out of her very chaotic schedule.

Sharing an album of beach pictures from Portugal last month, Nicole revealed that she is ready to 'let go' and 'feel the sun'.

Nicole wrote: After five months without a break, got to get away for the weekend. Feel the sun again on my skin. Eat everything in sight. Breathe. Let go. And finally take it all in…'

After such a stunning performance on London's most iconic theatre strip, the star is said to now be returning to America and heading to Broadway, when Sunset Boulevard opens in New York City.

How to Fail with Elizabeth Day is available wherever you get your podcasts