Christina Aguilera Reflects On Media's Fixation With Her Weight As A Young Adult

Throughout her career, Christina Aguilera faced intense media scrutiny and criticism regarding her weight.

In the mid-2000s, as she gained weight, she was frequently targeted by tabloids and public commentary, which was reflective of broader societal issues with body image and celebrity culture.

Over time, Aguilera has spoken out about the challenges she faced with body image and media pressure and has emphasized the importance of self-acceptance and body positivity.

In a new interview reflecting on the 25th anniversary of "Genie in a Bottle," she discussed how the media's fixation on her weight affected her self-esteem and mental health.

When Christina Aguilera dropped her 2002 album "Stripped," her image and weight became a media frenzy. The album marked her move to a more independent and edgy persona, showcasing a curvier figure compared to her earlier, slimmer look.

Specifically, her hit song “Dirrty" led to a now iconic music video, which showed Aguilera sporting a gritty look with greasy hair, black streaks, and kohl-rimmed eyes, wearing a--less chaps.

It blew everyone away, became the talk of the town, and continues to be a hot topic. In fact, one critic called her the “world’s skeeziest reptile woman.”

The pop star decided to use the moment to redefine her artistry in a way that was both bold and unprecedented.

While "Dirrty" was a perfect mix of aggression and defiance, Xtina's next single, "Beautiful," is what really pushed boundaries.

On the surface, it’s a powerful ballad about self-acceptance, but the music video, featuring scenes of two men kissing and a transgender woman dressing, was a radical statement during the conservative Bush era. Aguilera dedicated "Beautiful" to the LGBTQ+ community, earning her a special recognition at the 2003 GLAAD Media Awards.

“The fact that the ‘Beautiful’ video showed same-sex relationships and Christina’s own presentation was going against certain beauty standards of that period had a large impact on endearing people to her long-term,” DJ Louie XIV said on the podcast "Pop Pantheon," per Glamour. “She realized there were people feeling bothered by how ‘prom king and queen’ pop had become at that moment.” ​​​​

As expected, it came with criticism, but Aguilera ignored the jabs about "Stripped." However, other things aren’t as easy to shake off.

Like Aguilera, many female celebrities and their bodies were the sole focus of tabloids and the media. The notoriously ruthless ’00s tabloid culture and its hyper-fixation on young women affected many, including the "Genie in a Bottle" artist.

Jessica Simpson, for example, was globally criticized for wearing mom jeans as a size 27. Every inch of Nicole Richie’s and Lindsay Lohan’s bodies were shown in tabloids, and Aguilera inevitably fell victim to the body-policing critics. The noise was so loud that she said she stopped watching late-night shows for a while because of the jokes aimed at her and others.

“When you’re a teenager, you have a very different body than when you’re in your 20s,” she told Glamour. “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.’”

As the years passed by, Aguilera became less affected by the media's judgment and focus on her body, weight, and even her sexuality.

“I have a maturity now where I just don’t give a fuck about your opinion. I’m not going to take it on,” she told the magazine. “It must be your responsibility to take up your space. Other people’s opinions of me are not my business.”

The artist aims to instill this mindset in her children. She shares a daughter, Summer Rain, with fiancé Matt Rutler, and has a son, Max, from a previous marriage. “Your kids trigger things in you that you don’t want them to go through,” she said. “And it’s almost like you’re reliving this whole thing again.”

“I love my son and my daughter so much, and you do want to shield and protect them from the world,” she said as she got emotional. “But they have to learn their own lessons.”