Christina Aguilera Articles and Reviews

"Christina Aguilera is lucky to have such a phenomenal biographer in Pier Dominguez. One day he will be as big a star as his subjects. He brings extraordinary gifts to his work--immense curiosity, fine writing skills, intrepid reporting, thorough research, and indefatigable energy."
Kitty Kelley, #1 New York Times best-selling biographer

"Before the 11 piercings, the countless barely there outfits and the infamous "Dirrty" video, Christina Aguilera was just another sweet little girl...Her transformation is detailed in A Star is Made by 19-year old author Pier Dominguez."
THE NEW YORK POST January 23, 2003

"Comprehensive... [Dominguez] display[s] an easy-to-read style and takes an inquisitive approach that will appeal to Aguilera fans craving details about the former Beaver County girl's meteoric rise to the top...Though pointing out a few unflattering ‘diva’ moments in her career, Dominguez paints a mostly sympathetic portrait of Aguilera as a young woman unwilling to compromise her artistic vision."
BEAVER COUNTY TIMES July 4, 2003
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"...Pier Dominguez shines new light on the star."
PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY  January 27, 2003

"Dominguez has pieced together a look at the girl who once called Wexford home from available sources and through interviews...An interesting look behind the scenes."
THE DAILY NEWS  (PA) January 16, 2004
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PopDirt.com
Christina Aguilera's mom speaks out about Pier
Read the letter

About this book:

The pretty blue-eyed moppet who stormed the pop charts as a coy “Genie in a Bottle”? Or the over-sexed, under-dressed temptress who shocked the country with her hit “Dirrty”?

Perhaps no one is better prepared to lay bare the many complexities of Christina Aguilera than nineteen year old journalist Pier Dominguez, author of the highly praised Amy Fisher: Anatomy of a Scandal.

Drawing on original interviews and solid reporting, Dominguez traces Aguilera’s little-known life story: The shattering early years played out in the midst of domestic violence, her difficult school years where she was violently rejected by peers who disliked her haughty attitude, and her first real taste of stardom when she gained entry to that hallowed American institution: The New Mickey Mouse Club.

Called “the little diva” even back then, Christina thought she would be the first Mouseketeer to get a record deal once they left the show.

In fact, while Justin Timberlake found stardom in ‘N Sync and Britney Spears was recording her album, Christina had just landed her own record deal, after dropping the manager who discovered her in favor of the more influential Steve Kurtz. Christina’s image was quickly shaped by RCA: she was made into a white canvas upon which 8 million fans were able to project their own vision of her identity.

In the process, Christina was being over-worked and forced to keep up an image she felt uncomfortable with; but her competitive nature, burning ambition and desire for success allowed her to keep the machine going. In the process, she racked up four No. 1 singles, chart-topping Spanish and Christmas albums and garnered a Grammy that officially titled her the “Best New Artist.” But along with the award came other designations: “Bitch” was one of the more popular ones, used by Eminem, Westlife and Shirley Manson to describe her.

It was not until the release of the Grammy-award-winning #1 hit single “Lady Marmalade” that the country was introduced to the liberated, highly sexual young woman that Christina felt she truly was.

Her shocking comeback hit “Dirrty”— or at least its accompanying video which was quickly banned in Thailand and the Dominican Republic— upped the ante one more time.

For better or worse, Aguilera’s Stripped image has quickly produced multi-platinum sales and two hit singles. Yet the question of her identity remains elusive: Who is Christina? Dominguez chronicles Aguilera’s private demons and public evolution, and for the first time, raises the curtain on the exploitative techniques used to sell an image— and construct a star.

Read chapter excerpts from the book.

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