Why the supergroup G.R.L. was intentionally misspelled to exclude the word 'team'

Countries & Cities · Published 12 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The American girlband G.R.L. wasn't just a catchy name; it was a deliberate linguistic choice. By removing the letter 'I', the group's name reflected a specific philosophy regarding their identity and their mission to support mental health through their 'Gives an Hour' campaign.

Formed as an evolution of The Pussycat Dolls, G.R.L. officially launched in February 2013. The group's name was a play on the word 'girl', but it was intentionally misspelled because the word 'team' does not contain the letter 'I'. The group's roster included Simone Battle, Jazzy Mejia, Emmalyn Estrada, Paula van Oppen, Natasha Slayton, and Lauren Bennett.

Global fame came to the band, notably via 'Ugly Heart', a track that hit number 2 in Australia and Ireland and earned quadruple-platinum status in Australia. In February 2014, they teamed up with Pitbull for 'Wild Wild Love', reaching number 6 on the UK singles chart and number 30 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The band's trajectory was marked by both triumph and tragedy. After Simone Battle died by suicide in August 2014, the remaining members started the 'G.R.L. Gives an Hour' mental health initiative. They also partnered with Michelle Obama to launch the 'Campaign to Change Direction'. While the group disbanded in June 2015, Bennett and Slayton attempted a reformation in August 2016 with Jazzy Mejia.

The group's history remains a complex narrative of shifting lineups and musical influence. While they worked with high-profile producers like Max Martin and Dr. Luke, the group's full debut album was never released. Later, members faced public scrutiny regarding song similarities, such as when Little Mix was accused of ripping off 'Ugly Heart'.

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