Date of birth: 18 Dec. 1980
Birthplace: Staten Island, N.Y.

Christina Aguilera knew from a young age that she wanted to be a singer. She reportedly memorized all the lyrics to the songs from The Sound of Music by age 5. She appeared on Star Search when she was 9. (She didn't win.) Like Britney Spears and 'N Sync's Justin Timberlake and JC Chasez, Aguilera got her big break on The New Mickey Mouse Club. Her two-year stint as a Mouseketeer, from age 12 to 14, caught the attention of record executives who were impressed with her vocal range. By age 15 she had a deal with RCA. During negotiations, Aguilera auditioned to sing on the Mulan soundtrack for Disney. She landed the job singing “Reflection,” the lead single on the 1998 soundtrack. She released her self-titled debut album in 1999, and the single “Genie in a Bottle” climbed to No. 1 on the pop charts. She won Best New Artist honors at the 1999 Grammy Awards (held in Feb. 2000).

Facts about Christina Aguilera:

(July 2002) Is to release her new album, "Stripped", in the October 2002. First single off the album is called "Fighter" which presents a more grown-up Christina breaking from her pop star image.

At age eight, she appeared on the TV show Star Search. At ten, she sang the national anthem for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Penguins.

She lost on Star Search at nine years old.

(1999) When she attended her senior prom with her boyfriend, the envious attendees walked off the dance floor when her song Genie In a Bottle played.

Her mother is Irish and her father is Ecuadorian.

Her father was in the military and they moved around a lot, at one time spending three years in Japan. She's the oldest of five siblings.

When she was 12, she became a Mouseketeer on the Mickey Mouse Club. She was in good company there with Britney Spears, Keri Russell and J.C. & Justin from *NSYNC.

The song "Reflection" for the animated movie Mulan launched her career. She recorded the demo for it on a boombox in her living room. Days later, she had a record contract.

The 5'2" Christina has been approached to be an actress but has decided to focus on her singing in the meantime.

She ranked (#6 in 2000) on Mr. Blackwell's Worst Dress List.

She signed a contract as Coke spokesperson right after Britney Spears signed with Pepsi.

She ranked #19 in 2000 in FHM's 100 Sexiest Women.

(May 2001) Suing Warlock Records, Platinum Recording Group and producers Robert Allecca and Michael Brown to prevent them from releasing Just Be Free, a demo compilation she recorded when she was just 14 years old.

Voice range is four octaves.

Even though she bleaches her hair, she is still a natural blonde and is one of the only pop princesses to be a natural blonde.

Christina Aguilera has slammed reports she is the star of a sex video being broadcast on the internet. The video just shows a blonde woman's back.

A plant once fell and hit Christina in the head. Christina went to the hospital and said it was pretty embarassing

Favorite Musicians: Etta James, Madonna, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Eve 6, Boyz II Men, Brian McKnight, No Doubt and Julie Andrews.

Favorite celebs: Johnny Depp, Ben Affleck, Enrique Iglesias.

Personal quotes:

"A lot of times you get pulled in different directions. It becomes about selling records and looking perfect. That's when I have to turn to myself and realize why I got into this in the first place and that's because I love doing it."
- Christina Aguilera

"Whatever I do, it's my business. It's not my job to parent America."
- Christina Aguilera [responding to charges that she uses her sex appeal to sell albums]

"There is not truth to the rumors that we hate each other. I have no ill feeling for Britney and vice versa. I am proud of all the achievements she has made in her career, she is a very hard working person. I have nothing but love for her."

"It's disgusting and offensive and above all it's not true." - about Eminem's lyrics in "The Real Slim Shady" which contained sexual references about her

"It's the closest I ever got to being in a girl group." - about singing the remake of "Lady Marmalade" with Pink, Mya and Lil Kim.

"....no, he got no nookie......" - about Fred Durst.