Why Christina Aguilera is the Most Beautiful Person in the World... But Wasn't at First

I very nearly called this article "The Tortoise and the Hare".

A long time ago (okay, 1999), the pop music scene saw the rise of Christina Aguilera, a scrappy young challenger to a throne established and occupied by Britney Spears, whose 1998 release "Baby One More Time" had kicked not only that particular pop princess, but indeed the meaning of the term 'pop princess', into a high gear unseen in years. No one who lived through these heady times (particularly if they owned a radio) need be reminded of the impact Spears and people of her ilk made; one could scarcely enter a record store without seeing and hearing one young blonde or another crooning, moaning and writhing about in vigorous efforts to seduce young men and their wallets.

It would have been easy to dismiss Christina Aguilera as just a Britney clone, here one minute, gone the next. Both were former Mouseketeers with pretty faces and a willingness to come off just a little bit too sexy for their ages. And yes, Aguilera's "Genie in a Bottle" boasted superior vocals to Britney's purrs, intended for the cheap seats, but while Aguilera's position was hardly unenviable, it was clear who was at the top of the heap.

Jessica Simpson and Mandy Moore fit into this history someplace, but never mind.

Britney Spears' second hit only served to underscore Christina Aguilera's second-fiddle status, and it appeared that pop's true diva was on top of the world to stay; who could forget her memorable dance with a snake, or kiss with Madonna, or... take your pick? Aguilera, by contrast, was searching for an image, flirting with Latin pop and a rather bizarre "Dirrty" [sic] period. It seemed that Britney Spears was America's sweetheart, and Christina Aguilera destined for pop culture footnote status for failing to beat Britney at her own game.

But bubblegum pop can only take one so far, and the genre is notorious for spitting out stars as easily as it scoops them up. Britney's status began to wane; her party-girl, often sexual exploits became a late-night comedian's punchline. Her marriage to notoriously unclassy backup dancer Kevin Federline only drew further guffaws.

Meanwhile, from the shadows (insofar as they exist in the music world), Christina Aguilera had toned down the risqué material, showered off the dirt and grime from her "Xtina" period (don't ask), and taken control of her own career. The new Christina Aguilera was not to be promoted as a sex icon, or as an image, or a strange brand name.

Instead, the musician was able to focus on, of all things, music.

Christina Aguilera's single "Beautiful" is a song worthy of its name boasting a positive message that young people can benefit from, and showcases heartbreaking vocals from the enormously talented singer with nary a gimmick in sight. While her previous single, "Dirrty", with its raunchy video, had failed to break the Top 40, the haunting cello-driven "Beautiful" not only made it there but stayed for months on end, charting well abroad and earning Aguilera a Grammy for her performance. It proved that Christina Aguilera was no one-shot wonder or prop of the music industry; she showed her soul.

And thus was Christina Aguilera on her way to becoming the most, well, "Beautiful" woman around. After a successful tour with Justin Timberlake, Aguilera only continued to bolster her image as someone classy with staying power. A glamorous 1940s-Hollywood-style hairdo served to kick off a trend, and her red carpet appearances regularly present a clean, fresh, happy face with movie-star looks and refined, timeless charm. Her new album, the appropriately titled "Back to Basics", features a swingin' sound that makes the old styles new again. After playing second banana to Britney Spears and stumbling through a whirlwind of image transitions, Christina Aguilera reached the top of the heap of the pop princess phenomenon the old-fashioned way; with talent and dignity.

Britney Spears, meanwhile, is currently maintaining an image somewhere between trailer trash, Paris Hilton's party pal and neglectful mother.

And the less said about public opinion of poor Jessica Simpson, the better.

Christina Aguilera is beautiful not for having a pretty face or even a pretty voice, but by embodying the moral that taking the high road beats pandering to the lowest common denominator in the end. While her former competition is reduced to flashing genitals for paparazzi cameras, Christina Aguilera struts the stage stronger than ever, and boasts a presence no one could be embarrassed by. Mistakes of the past-and we all make them-can lie in the past; listen to Christina Aguilera joyfully belt on her new album, then look up pictures of Britney's drunken escapades, and decide for yourself who's "Beautiful". Young girls look up to pop icons as role models. Better they pick a tortoise than a hare.