Celebrity Buzz

Christina Aguilera goes back to basics

BACK TO BASICS: Christina Aguilera has toned down her raunchy image for her new double album, instead favouring a classy diva look

Christina Aguilera has based her career on controversy and exploiting her image. However, lastyear music executive Jordan Bratman made an honest woman of the Dirrty singer and it seems that marriage has changed everything for Christina.

The singer, currently promoting her third album Back to Basics, seems to have a new image, a new style of music and a new attitude to life.

But just how different is Mrs Bratman from the Christina Aguilera we all thought we knew so intimately?

Since she became a wife Christina has cleaned up her act and dropped her garish, sexy image. The girl, who once romped on stage wearing chaps over glittery knickers, is now a lady who sits in the front row of Christian Dior and Lacroix shows at LA fashion week.

Christina, or Maria to call her by her husband's pet name for her, has removed her infamous 12 piercings, which added the finishing touches to her rebellious look. These included a nose ring, a nipple ring and two piercings in an extremely intimate part of her body.

The Stripped singer has said: "I think the Christina look I had before meeting Jordan is well and truly in my past.

"I've decided on a classier image for the future - more fitting for a married lady."

But just because Christina no longer strives to appear as outrageous as she once did does not mean that she has lost her sex-appeal or her independence.

The 25-year-old singer has swapped her coloured hair extensions for elegant blonde curls and in May this year posed naked in a Marilyn Monroe-style photo shoot for GQ magazine. She has well and truly ditched the low slung baggy trousers and cut off tops and now opts for classy figure hugging dresses, elegant pencil skirts with low-cut blouses.

The girl who sang Genie in a bottle whilst baring her naval has become a woman, but she definitely still knows how to flaunt her assets. And the change in image reflects a change in music for the singer.

After the bubble gum pop of her self-titled debut album, followed by the heavily hip-hop influenced Stripped album, Back to Basics reflects the mature Christina who knows who she wants to be. She's still sexy, and so is her music, it's just more sophisticated.

The singer herself has described it as "a throwback to the 20s, 30s, and 40s-style jazz, blues, and feel-good soul music, but with a modern twist."

Her music reflects the woman she has become, but it still features a collection of sure-fire chart hits, that Christina fans will love. Although the new Christina may have toned down her act, lets take some time out to remember how good the old Christina was at teasing her male fans.

In 2004 she said: "I find it hornier looking at women than men. Sorry, I love experimenting with my sexuality. If that means girls, then so be it."

Christina also confessed that she enjoyed casual sex.

She said: "I have casual sex, I love casual sex. But that doesn't mean I'm incapable of keeping my legs together."

A year earlier Christina took part in a memorable performance at the MTV awards in which she shared a lesbian kiss with music legend Madonna, one of her self-proclaimed idols and major influences.

She has become a modern day sex symbol for men and women alike, as well as being a massive gay icon.

But, it wasn't until 2002 that the beauty found her Mr Right and started dating Jordan Bratman.

It is widely reported how much in love Christina and her husband are, and they spend little time apart.

However, the sex symbol insists her decision to change her image now that she is married will not mean keeping her assets under wraps.

She explained: "Being sexual is a huge part of my artistry and who I am as a woman. When I am sexual in my lyrics or videos, it's because I am being honest. I'm in favour of any woman being proud of her body.

"I'm going to stick to my guns and keep pushing the envelope no matter what people say." And it is that self respect that is more obvious in her new image, a new found awareness that she needs only be sexy to please herself, not anyone else, except perhaps her husband.

No longer does the singer endeavour to fit a male fantasy, she simply presents herself as the attractive woman she is and people can take it or leave it.

It is a responsible message for an artist whose main audience are teenage girls to be sending, but it is not too dull and straight-laced that they will dismiss it.

And the Beautiful singer is keen to encourage empowerment in other women.

Christina is planning to open a home for battered women. She has already donated $200,000 and some of her belongings to shelters in her hometown of Pittsburgh, but she wants to do more. She said: Some of these women leave their homes without anything.

"They just grab the kids and get out of the situation. And so a lot of these women have nothing, and they have to start from scratch."

The artist also publicly supports the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and Refuge UK.

The issue is very close to Christina's heart as she witnessed her father physically and verbally abuse her mother before they divorced when she was six-years-old. The star even sings about her personal experience on her latest album.

She explained she hopes to help victims of domestic violence by building up their confidence, "because it's really broken after they've been beaten down for so long."

And as well as helping other families, Christina would now like to start a one of her own. While promoting her latest album she has repeatedly spoken of how broody she is feeling.

She revealed: "I'm going to do one more album and then consider settling down and having kids." But motherhood isn't quite on the cards just yet.

With her new album out and the first single Ain't No Other Man already proving a hit with fans, the stage still beckons to Christina Aguilera.

Ever the showgirl, the Moulin Rouge singer has been giving her promotional tour everything she's got and it is clear there is plenty more to come.

Christina Aguilera may have become the model wife, but she is still the sex symbol she always was.

She has changed, but she has not shed her sexy image, it is simply more sophisticated than before.

Like her album title Back to Basics suggests Christina has stripped her image down.

She doesn't need to be raunchy or rebellious to be sexy, she just is. Under the coloured hair extensions, the piercings and the garish clothes there was always a beautiful woman.

And while she may have promised her heart to one man, she is still sharing her love of music with the world.

Married life may have tamed Christina, but as a performer it has only changed her for the better.

posted by Steve @ 3:25 AM