Disney Stars Gone Wrong: Christina Aguilera
Olivia Roedding
As a child, I always wanted to be a famous singer or actress; someone famous whose name would be in lights. I looked up to famous celebrities, even idolized them. But as time progressed, I began to see the dark side of fame and the repercussions of the spotlight. It became evident that the stars I loved were changing under the spotlight right before my young, naive eyes. Stars who influenced my actions began to take on a new image, one that wasn't necessarily appropriate for my young mind, but into young women. Christina Aguilera, one of my vocal role models, was no exception to this norm.
Christina Maria Aguilera was born on December 18, 1980 in Staten Island, New York. She began to establish her career in 1993 by joining the cast of The Mickey Mouse Club, with other stars such as Ryan Gosling and Britney Spears. She began her sassy attitude even at such a young age with her nickname, "The Diva." She did not take long to make herself a sensation with her winning of The Best Original song Golden Globe for her single "Reflection” in the movie Mulan. Aguilera continues on with her self-titled album with her hit single, “Genie in a Bottle,” which topped the charts for 5 weeks and “What a Girl Wants” which has sold over 8 million copies. Not soon after this did she become unsettled with society deeming her as a typical “bubble gum pop star.”
Christina Aguilera then came out with the album “Stripped,” which featured a very new and real image of herself. She even went as far as gaining 15 pounds because as she puts it "I am Ecuadorian but people felt so safe passing me off as a skinny, blue-eyed white girl.” So here we see this album and even her weight gain as a rebellion toward the harsh stereotypes that the media and society can’t help but to give anyone in the spotlight of fame. Controversy sprung from a video of the album, “Dirrty” which was highly provocative and banned from several national TV’s due to its explicit nature. The media exploded with cries of remorse for their once perfect, blonde haired-blue eyed girl turned woman, but Aguilera was dancing to the beat of her own drum. This album also produced the genuinely touching song, “Beautiful” which describes beauty in all shapes and sizes. Thus shaping the way the media saw Aguilera, not as an average pop star, but an influential role model. Aguilera was nothing but herself, and it has amounted to great fame, and an excellent fan base, despite her controversial ways. People love that Christina is nothing but herself, despite how the media may try to slant her as a "bad girl."
In October of 2010 she filed for divorce from her husband of 5 years, Jordan Bratman. Scandal erupted a few months before this with the leak of nude photographs. Hollywood life comments on how, “The photos appear to have been taken around the time Christina filmed the 'Not Myself Tonight' music video, which was many months before her divorce announcement. Maybe this was a last ditch effort to save the marriage? Or is this the same old Hollywood story of leaking photos to further your career? It is awfully good timing considering the release of Burlesque and thedivorce/new dude stories.” Going through a divorce was hard enough on Christina, without the media trying to draw attention to this difficult time in her life. Aguilera was crying for the public's attention, possibly in order to have self-assurance that her career was on track. Through seeing her name on the front page of all the tabloid magazines, Aguilera felt reassured that she had not strayed from the pubic's eye, a sick obsession many celebs undergo throughout their careers, being obsessed with what the media has to say.
March of 2011 she was arrested for public intoxication while her new boyfriend Matt Rutler was arrested for driving under the influence, though of legal age, Aguilera could now add an arrest to her list of growing problems attributed by the media. It's ironic how right once a star falls off the radar for their musical talents, they pull public stunts in order to stay in the public eye. Aguilera has clearly through her actions cried out for the media's attention, in order to demonstrate the vast changes she made to her image since her days with Disney. From Disney darling to drunk in public, Aguilera made some judgement errors while in the public eye and suffered the embarrassment, though charges were never filed.
The pressures of the media on Christina Aguilera's image, divorce, and weight have caused her to take drastic measures, such as public cries for attention through her arrests, or through the gaining of weight despite the opposing standards. Sometimes it’s smart to appeal to the masses but other times it’s wise to portray yourself as a force to be reckoned with.
Works Cited:
Faller, Bonnie. N.p.: n.p., 2010. Web. 16 Nov. 2013.
<http://hollywoodlife.com/pics/christina-aguilera-nude-photos-exposed-scandal-leaked-pictures-burlesque/#!1/120810_christina_06/
Chen, Joyce. New York: Monday, October 1, 2012, 10:26 AM, 2012. Web. 16 Nov. 2013.
<http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/christina-aguilera-fat-girl-article-1.1171905>.
Aceshowbiz. Biography. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2013.
<http://www.aceshowbiz.com/celebrity/christina_aguilera/biography_5.html>.
Olivia Roedding
As a child, I always wanted to be a famous singer or actress; someone famous whose name would be in lights. I looked up to famous celebrities, even idolized them. But as time progressed, I began to see the dark side of fame and the repercussions of the spotlight. It became evident that the stars I loved were changing under the spotlight right before my young, naive eyes. Stars who influenced my actions began to take on a new image, one that wasn't necessarily appropriate for my young mind, but into young women. Christina Aguilera, one of my vocal role models, was no exception to this norm.
Christina Maria Aguilera was born on December 18, 1980 in Staten Island, New York. She began to establish her career in 1993 by joining the cast of The Mickey Mouse Club, with other stars such as Ryan Gosling and Britney Spears. She began her sassy attitude even at such a young age with her nickname, "The Diva." She did not take long to make herself a sensation with her winning of The Best Original song Golden Globe for her single "Reflection” in the movie Mulan. Aguilera continues on with her self-titled album with her hit single, “Genie in a Bottle,” which topped the charts for 5 weeks and “What a Girl Wants” which has sold over 8 million copies. Not soon after this did she become unsettled with society deeming her as a typical “bubble gum pop star.”
Christina Aguilera then came out with the album “Stripped,” which featured a very new and real image of herself. She even went as far as gaining 15 pounds because as she puts it "I am Ecuadorian but people felt so safe passing me off as a skinny, blue-eyed white girl.” So here we see this album and even her weight gain as a rebellion toward the harsh stereotypes that the media and society can’t help but to give anyone in the spotlight of fame. Controversy sprung from a video of the album, “Dirrty” which was highly provocative and banned from several national TV’s due to its explicit nature. The media exploded with cries of remorse for their once perfect, blonde haired-blue eyed girl turned woman, but Aguilera was dancing to the beat of her own drum. This album also produced the genuinely touching song, “Beautiful” which describes beauty in all shapes and sizes. Thus shaping the way the media saw Aguilera, not as an average pop star, but an influential role model. Aguilera was nothing but herself, and it has amounted to great fame, and an excellent fan base, despite her controversial ways. People love that Christina is nothing but herself, despite how the media may try to slant her as a "bad girl."
In October of 2010 she filed for divorce from her husband of 5 years, Jordan Bratman. Scandal erupted a few months before this with the leak of nude photographs. Hollywood life comments on how, “The photos appear to have been taken around the time Christina filmed the 'Not Myself Tonight' music video, which was many months before her divorce announcement. Maybe this was a last ditch effort to save the marriage? Or is this the same old Hollywood story of leaking photos to further your career? It is awfully good timing considering the release of Burlesque and thedivorce/new dude stories.” Going through a divorce was hard enough on Christina, without the media trying to draw attention to this difficult time in her life. Aguilera was crying for the public's attention, possibly in order to have self-assurance that her career was on track. Through seeing her name on the front page of all the tabloid magazines, Aguilera felt reassured that she had not strayed from the pubic's eye, a sick obsession many celebs undergo throughout their careers, being obsessed with what the media has to say.
March of 2011 she was arrested for public intoxication while her new boyfriend Matt Rutler was arrested for driving under the influence, though of legal age, Aguilera could now add an arrest to her list of growing problems attributed by the media. It's ironic how right once a star falls off the radar for their musical talents, they pull public stunts in order to stay in the public eye. Aguilera has clearly through her actions cried out for the media's attention, in order to demonstrate the vast changes she made to her image since her days with Disney. From Disney darling to drunk in public, Aguilera made some judgement errors while in the public eye and suffered the embarrassment, though charges were never filed.
The pressures of the media on Christina Aguilera's image, divorce, and weight have caused her to take drastic measures, such as public cries for attention through her arrests, or through the gaining of weight despite the opposing standards. Sometimes it’s smart to appeal to the masses but other times it’s wise to portray yourself as a force to be reckoned with.
Works Cited:
Faller, Bonnie. N.p.: n.p., 2010. Web. 16 Nov. 2013.
<http://hollywoodlife.com/pics/christina-aguilera-nude-photos-exposed-scandal-leaked-pictures-burlesque/#!1/120810_christina_06/
Chen, Joyce. New York: Monday, October 1, 2012, 10:26 AM, 2012. Web. 16 Nov. 2013.
<http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/christina-aguilera-fat-girl-article-1.1171905>.
Aceshowbiz. Biography. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2013.
<http://www.aceshowbiz.com/celebrity/christina_aguilera/biography_5.html>.