Meet Rosemary Elikolani, Nicole Scherzinger's Hawaiian and Ukrainian Mother

Rosemary Elikolani is famous for being the mother of a renowned singer, songwriter, and actress. Her daughter is best known as the former lead singer of the best-selling girls' group Pussycat Dolls.

Elikolani is Nicole Scherzinger’s mother. Even though her daughter is famous and successful, her success didn't come on a silver platter. Elikolani struggled to raise her daughter when her then-husband left their marriage when Nicole was a toddler.

She couldn't afford basic needs, and sometimes they survived without money and had to wear second-hand clothes. But the struggle was worth it; today, her daughter is a successful singer recognized globally.

Rosemary Elikolani Has Hawaiian and Ukrainian Blood

Elikolani's roots include Hawaiian and Ukrainian heritage. When her daughter appeared on "The Wendy Williams show,” she spoke about her lineage and stated that that she had Hawaiian, Filipina, and Ukrainian roots.

The singer-turned-actress is proud of her lineage as she frequently shares pictures of her mother, aunties, and grandmother and highly speaks of her pride in her roots. She appreciates coming from a long line of compassionate, strong, and warrior women.

Nicole has a special bond with her mother, and she frequently pays heartfelt tributes to her, whether on her mother's birthday or on a special occasion.

When Elikolani welcomed her first daughter Nicole, she lived in Honolulu, Hawaii. She was still a teenager living with her Filipino partner Alfonso who broke up with her when Nicole turned two.

After four years of living in Honolulu, Elikolani relocated to Louisville, Kentucky, with her two daughters, Nicole and Keala, and her husband, Gary Scherzinger, of German and American descent. Gary, Keala's biological father, adopted Nicole, and she took his surname.

Rosemary Elikolani Cried over Her Daughter's Raunchy Clothes

Even after moving to Louisville, Elikolani and Gary still struggled to raise their daughters. They didn't have a consistent income and their children wore second-hand clothes, and were constantly bullied at school.

Unable to afford trips to the theatre, Elikolani's daughter, who always wanted to be Whitney Houston, borrowed her friends' CDs of "Miss Saigon."

She would then attend a youth performing arts school where she discovered her passion for music and later became the lead singer of Pussycat Dolls—one of the bestselling girls' groups of all time after they sold 54 million records globally.

While Nicole had made it big in the music industry, she came from a religious family—her grandfather was a pastor. As a staunch Catholic, Elikolani's daughter prayed before every performance and appearance.

Nicole revealed that her family was very conservative and had strong religious beliefs. In one incident, while Nicole was performing on stage, her mother broke down in tears after she saw her wearing raunchy clothes.

Rosemary Elikolani Underwent Two Open Heart Surgeries

Nicole has a special bond with her mother, and she frequently pays heartfelt tributes to her, whether on her mother's birthday or on a special occasion. In 2020, on Mother's day, Nicole shared a throwback photo with her mother and a sweet message on her Instagram page. She wrote:

"Happy Mother's Day to my mommy, Rosemary Elikolani. Other than our Heavenly father, you know you are my absolute everything."

Also, in 2020, the "Stickwitu" singer opened up about her mom's health and revealed scary details of her undergoing open heart surgery a few weeks before Christmas.

The 44-year-old shared how worried she was about her mother's health on her Instagram page and was delighted after the successful surgery.

The singer posted a photo with her mother and sister and told her followers she felt blessed to celebrate Christmas with them.