Christina Aguilera's Most Dramatic Transformations

Christina Aguilera likely provided the soundtrack to much of your childhood and/or teenage years. A bonafide superstar, the pop powerhouse has changed musical styles about as often as she's changed up her look — which, for the record, has been a common occurrence throughout the singer's career. 

After debuting — and losing — on Star Search, Aguilera certainly didn't let that her get down. She went on to make numerous hit records, carving out a name for herself as a bonafide pop star. The "Genie in a Bottle" songstress has never been one to remain all bottled up, however — constantly expressing her evolving interests, musical tastes, and ideals through both her creative works and her outward appearance. No matter the look, you can be sure Aguilera has made a headline for it. That's just the show-stopping, attention-grabbing kind of gal she is. Here's an inside look at Aguilera's evolving styles, from the very beginning. 

Luckily for pop fans everywhere, Christina Aguilera didn't let her Star Search loss get her down. Instead, she went on to star alongside some of the biggest names of '90s music (and then-future The Notebook star Ryan Gosling) as a member of the coolest club in town. The long-running Mickey Mouse Club was all the rage in its time, and be warned — the opening credits will hit you with the '90s nostalgia feels hard. 

Four years after her Star Search appearance, young Aguilera had ditched her straight bangs and half-pony for teased, wavy locks. With a little more height and a lot more confidence, one episode saw Aguilera belting her rendition of Aretha Franklin's "Think" as she strutted around on stage, taking total control of her moment. As Us Weekly noted, watchful eyes can spot a young Britney Spears, Aguilera's infamous frenemy, acting as a backup dancer for the girl who would go on to be her most notable competition. 

As she told Entertainment Weekly in that 1999 interview, the high E above middle C proved itself to be "the note that changed [Aguilera's] life." Not only did her epic range secure Aguilera a place within the Disney princess universe, it also scored the teen a record deal with RCA Records. Ron Fair, the artists & repertoire head at RCA Records, told Rolling Stone, "She was put on this earth to sing." Her fans clearly agreed

"Genie in a Bottle," Christina Aguilera's debut single, was so catchy, it was impossible to ignore. The song's music video had the same effect, showing Aguilera writhing about on top of a convertible with some impressive bellydancing skills. The star's layered, platinum blonde bob had grown to her shoulders, and her teal eyeshadow and glossy lip inspired teen girls everywhere to totally up their Claire's makeup game. While some critics considered the contents of the song a bit too risqué for the barely-legal songstress (Entertainment Weekly called it "uncomfortably adult"), the 90s jam will forever be known as one of Aguilera's catchiest tunes. 

Christina Aguilera's emotional song "Beautiful," perhaps her most famous work, made its debut in 2002 on Aguilera's fourth studio album, Stripped. However, the provocative pop tune, "Dirrty" was actually the first single she released from that album — a move critics like Rolling Stone quickly took issue with. "It's a shame," read the Rolling Stone album review. "The song completely misrepresents the rest of the album." 

However, the Rolling Stone review went on to praise Stripped for being "an album for grown-ups," noting its overarching message of being true to oneself. "Beautiful," is a shining example of that message, finding itself as an anthem for marginalized voices of the LGBTQ community. In a 2012 interview, Aguilera thanked them, saying, "Even when I felt I couldn't stand, [the LGBTQ community] helped me up and supported me." The Stripped era saw a softer side of Aguilera. Much like her album, she stripped her look closer to the basics, sporting long, blonde and black locks, as well as signature 90s crop tops and a bare — ahem, stripped — belly.

Unfortunately, good things often come to an end — and such was the case for Christina Aguilera and Jordan Bratman's marriage. Aguilera filed for divorce in October 2010. She told People that, upon returning home from filming the musical movie Burlesque, things in her marriage "didn't feel quite right." The star noted that the decision wasn't just about her: "When you're unhappy in your marriage, your children are the ones who suffer. ... That's the last thing I wanted for my son."

But through dark times come light once again. June 2010 saw the release of Bionic, an album which Billboard described as having a "choppy, postmodern vibe." The electronic-inspired album was quite a change for the pop star, but Aguilera has never been afraid to switch up her sound — or her look. The Bionic era saw an old-school Hollywood glam version of Aguilera, often sporting a bold, red lip and slicked-back blonde tresses. "I've never felt [...] more sexy in my life than I do now," the star told Billboard. 

In March 2018, Paper published a feature on the starlet titled: "Christina Aguilera is Back with Another Transformation." But it wasn't really a transformation at all. Instead, it was more of an unveiling of the real Aguilera. Paper published jaw-dropping photos of the star — up close and personal in all her bare-faced, freckled glory. And much like Paper's infamous Kim Kardashian feature, these photos broke the internet — and drew some spot-on comparisons to '90s-era Meg Ryan.

"I'm at the place, even musically, where it's a liberating feeling to be able to strip it all back and appreciate who you are and your raw beauty," the songstress told Paper about her new look. After years of changing styles, it's safe to say Aguilera's 2018 "raw beauty" is her most low-maintenance look yet. However, don't assume the star has given up her more dramatic looks for good. "I'm a girl that likes a beat face, let's not get it twisted," Aguilera joked.