Christina Aguilera is GLAMOUR’s August Cover Star!

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In her cover story with GLAMOUR, five-time Grammy winner Christina Aguilera reflects upon 25 years since “Genie in a Bottle” and the backlash she received from pushing against the bubblegum, teeny-bopper persona. She shares “I think it was just a matter of believing so wholeheartedly in my vision, which was to fight for sexuality.” She also opens up about how ‘00s tabloid culture and the obsession with her body image affected her mental health, working on a new English-language album for her fans, and her proudest accomplishment – motherhood. 

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On the pain of being body shamed as a young star: “When you’re a teenager, you have a very different body than when you’re in your 20s. I started to fill out, and then that was unacceptable because it was like, ‘Oh, she’s getting thicker.’ Then I had industry people: ‘They liked your body and how you were as a skinny teenager.’”

On feeling ‘burnt out’ from the bubblegum persona in her early career: “I didn’t love the bubblegum thing, where you had to play a virgin but not act like one. When I was performing ‘Genie’ and ‘What a Girl Wants’ and ‘Come on Over,’ I got bored easily. Creatively, it was one-dimensional. Literally every second [of my life then] was accounted for in a schedule. You can’t just live your life for work where it’s unenjoyable. You get burnt out.”

On using music to cope in her childhood years around her allegedly abusive father:“I don’t know if I would be the singer or performer I am, or have the success I do, had I not been through my childhood. It gave me a real purpose of, I’m going to fight my way through these feelings. I’m going to fight my way past someone that has wronged me.”

On ignoring the judgments and opinions of others and instilling this mindset in her children: “I have a maturity now where I just don’t give a fuck about your opinion. I’m not going to take it on. It must be your responsibility to take up your space. Other people’s opinions of me are not my business. Your kids trigger things in you that you don’t want them to go through. And it’s almost like you’re reliving this whole thing again.”

On her appreciation for the early years of her career: “I think the biggest word that sums up that first record for me is grateful. Being thankful because it got my foot in the door. After 25 years I’m so proud of it. I think to sustain anything for a lengthy amount of time takes a lot of work and dedication and passion. There are many elements that go into being able to build something.”

Writer: Christopher Rosa
Photographer: Christine Hahn
Stylist: Ryan Young
Hair:  Jesus Guerrero
Makeup: Hector Espinal
Manicure: Zola Ganzorigt

[Photo Credit: Christine Hahn for Glamour Magazine]

• Christina Aguilera
• Christine Hahn
• Editorials
• Glamour
• Hector Espinal
• Jesus Guerrero
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• Ryan Young
• Zola Ganzorigt