Pussycat Dolls star to host top U.S. lifestyle and travel show

Former Pussycat Dolls star Ashley Roberts has landed a new gig as the host of U.S. travel and lifestyle show 1st Look.

The weekly show chronicles the latest trends in food, nightlife and local activities and excursions.

"I'm having so much fun," Ashley, who has already started shooting the show, says. "I've been canyoneering, snorkeled at a shipwreck and learned to Irish dance all in the same week. I get to dive into other people's world for a day!"

Ashley has already discovered "Bermuda has the bluest water and New Orleans has the coolest vibe," adding, "I wouldn't have known that if it wasn't for this show. I'm grateful for the experience and excited for what's next."

Roberts left the Pussycat Dolls in 2010 after seven years with the girl group, and turned to TV, becoming a personality in the U.K. by appearing on reality survival show I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here, where fans unexpectedly voted her runner-up.

That led to a judging slot on the U.K.'s Dancing On Ice competition show and a co-hosting gig on the award-winning variety show Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway - but the survival show really tested her talents.

"Being in the jungle gave me a new perspective on life," she explains. "I discovered there's so much to gain if you can get past what you're afraid of."

The singer/songwriter and dancer is also planning a big musical comeback now she's back in America, revealing the new material she's working on is a little bit of everything.

"I didn't want to end up in a shiny dance-pop box," she told WENN. "I like a broad spectrum of music. My dad was a drummer in the Mamas & Papas, so I grew up with rock, folk, all sorts of sounds. I love hip hop, funk, anything I can groove to. I wanted different songs on the album to reflect different parts of my personality."

She has an album's worth of new songs which she will reveal plans for soon.