Born to an Ecuadorian father and mother of Irish origin in 1980, Christina Aguilera began performing as a pre-teen in local talent shows while growing up in Pennsylvania. In 1992, after appearing on "Star Search", she joined the cast of the Disney Channel's "The New Mickey Mouse Club." In 1998, her song "Reflection" for Disney's Mulan led to a record deal with RCA and the release of her self-titled debut album in 1999.
The album quickly hit #1 on the strength of its first single, "Genie In A Bottle" and other chart toppers including "What A Girl Wants." It was a feat she would repeat the following year with "Mi Reflejo", the smash Spanish-language version of her debut, followed by her hit holiday release, "My Kind Of Christmas". She received her first Grammy, for Best New Artist, in 2000.

In 2001, Aguilera joined forces with Pink, Mya and Lil' Kim on the smash "Lady Marmalade" single and video. Her second album, Stripped, released in October 2002, sealed her status as an international superstar. Along with the album's provocative debut single, "Dirrty," came such tracks as "Beautiful," "Can't Hold Us Down" and "Make Over".

More Grammys followed, in 2001 for "Lady Marmalade" (Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals), in 2003 for "Beautiful" (Best Female Pop Vocal Performance) and in 2007 for "Ain't No Other Man" (Best Female Pop Vocal Performance).
Voted Sexiest Teen Idol in a VH1 poll, Aguilera's beauty and charisma have also led Teen People to list her among its "25 Hottest Stars Under 25" and Maxim to crown her Best International Female Singer (2000), one of the Sexiest Women of the Year (2003) and #1 on their "Hot 100" List (2003).
Back to Basics, released in August 2006, went to #1 in 13 countries. To date, the album is the biggest selling double-album by a female artist.
She married marketing executive Jordan Bratman in November 2005. In January 2007, Aguilera was named the 19th richest woman in entertainment by Forbes, with a net worth of US$60 million. Aguilera's music has sold 30 million albums worldwide.