JENNIFER LOPEZ BIOGRAPHY
She was born in the Castle Hill area of New York's Bronx on the 24th of July, 1970, growing up on Blackrock Avenue.
Her father, David, was a computer technician, eventually working for Guardian Insurance.
Mother Guadalupe (nee Rodriguez) was a kindergarten teacher working up in Westchester County.
The couple both hailed from Ponce (though David's maternal great-parents were European), the second largest city in Puerto Rico, but had met in America, where they were both brought as children.
Jennifer and her two sisters, Leslie (now a housewife and opera singer) and Lynda (a DJ, VJ and entertainment reporter), grew up in a small apartment which was "cold in the winter, hot in the summer". But "Hey", Jennifer later recalled "there was always rice and beans".
And there was music. To keep the kids off the streets, Guadalupe would encourage them to put on little performances in the front room, singing and dancing. Salsa and merengue were favourites, with West Side Story viewed on many occasions - being about their people in their kind of neighbourhood.
Jennifer claims to have seen the movie over 100 times. As a kid, she always admired Rita Moreno for her feistiness, her hot dancing and her cool boyfriend, yet ambition told her she should want to be Natalie Wood's Maria - the star.
Christina Aguilera - sexy singer
Christina María Aguilera (born December 18, 1980) is an American pop/R&B singer and songwriter. After appearing on local talent shows and the Disney Channel's The New Mickey Mouse Club, she was signed to RCA Records after recording "Reflection" for the film Mulan.
She came to prominence following her debut album Christina Aguilera (1999), which was a commercial success spawning three number one singles on the Billboard Hot 100.
A Latin pop album, Mi Reflejo (2001), and several collaborations followed which garnered Aguilera worldwide success, but she was displeased with the lack of input in her music and image.
After parting from her management, Aguilera took creative control over her second studio album Stripped (2002), which received mixed reviews and produced substantial sales. The second single, "Beautiful", was a commercial success and sustained the album's sales amidst controversy over Aguilera's sexual image.
Aguilera's third studio album Back to Basics (2006), included elements of soul, jazz, and blues music, and was released to positive critical reception. She will release her greatest hits album, Keeps Gettin' Better - A Decade of Hits scheduled for release on November 11, 2008.
Aguilera is currently in the studio working on her forthcoming album.
Aside from being known for her vocal ability, music videos and ever-changing image, musically, she includes themes of dealing with public scrutiny, her childhood, and female empowerment in her music.
Apart from her work in music, she has also dedicated much of her time as a philanthropist for charities, human rights and world issues.
Aguilera's work has earned her numerous awards including five Grammy Awards amongst eighteen nominations. She has become one of the most successful recording artists of the decade, selling more than 37 million worldwide.