2002

Christina Aguilera

November

Pinup Girl

Aguilera poses nude on the cover of Rolling Stone (she also poses topless on the cover of Maxim). She says the image change better reflects her true personality. "I love experimenting with my sexuality," she tells a German newspaper. "I want to try out as much as possible. It would be wrong of me to hide this side of my personality. I have fun being sexy and tough at the same time."

2003

February

GLAAD for 'Beautiful'

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) presents a special award to Aguilera for the positive images of gay and transgendered people in the video for "Beautiful." The song "is about being or feeling unaccepted for merely being yourself," Aguilera tells the crowd at the GLAAD awards.

Christina Aguilera

August 28

Kiss, Kiss, Kiss

Aguilera and Spears join Madonna in a shocking performance of "Like a Virgin" and "Hollywood" at the MTV Video Music Awards. The trio raises eyebrows when Madonna turns to Spears and kisses her before turning to Aguilera and sharing a passionate kiss with her.

2005

Christina Aguilera

February 11

Aguilera Engaged!

Record producer Jordan Bratman and Aguilera become engaged. Bratman, 27, asks her a to six-course dinner and afterward brings Aguilera to their Carmel, Calif., hotel room, which is filled with rose petals, red and pink balloons and gift boxes. Each box contains a present and a self-penned poem. "When I got to the last box," she tells PEOPLE, "there was a ring in it. I was so surprised! It's classic, but it has a rock and roll feeling."

November 19

To the Bride and Groom

Aguilera marries Bratman at the Staglin Family Vineyard in California's Napa Valley at a three-day celebration that costs an estimated $2 million. After the 30-minute nondenominational ceremony in a tent with hand-painted stars on the ceiling, the 120 guests, including Aguilera pal Sharon Stone, shower the couple with rose petals. The bride wears a form-fitting white satin gown by Christian Lacroix.

2006

Christina Aguilera

August 15

Back on the Charts

Her third English-language album, Back to Basics, debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard charts. The album, a two-disc set, covers her influences from '20s, '30s and '40s jazz and blues. While promoting the album, Aguilera steps away from her sex-kitten image, acquiring a more refined, Jean Harlow-type style.

2007

Christina Aguilera

February 11

Aguilera Belts Brown at Grammys

Aguilera belts James Brown's "It's a Man's World" in a tribute to the late singer at the 49th annual Grammy ceremony. She also takes home a Grammy for best female pop vocal performance for "Ain't No Other Man" before kicking off her Back to Basics U.S. tour on Feb. 20.

May 07

Filling Out to 'Most Beautiful'

Aguilera, 26, is named one of PEOPLE's 100 Most Beautiful, gaining praise for filling out her once-frail frame. "I was always lean growing up," she says. "It's fun for me to take on that womanly shape. I definitely wasn't upset about gaining those curves!"

Christina Aguilera

September 09

Paris Outs Christina's Pregnancy

At a packed Las Vegas club, Paris Hilton reveals that Aguilera and Bratman are expecting their first child. "Congratulations to the most beautiful pregnant woman in the world," Hilton announces on the microphone, as Aguilera, who has never confirmed being pregnant (despite a visible bump), appears shocked. In November, the pop star finally confirms that she will "enter into mommyhood," even posing nearly nude (á la Demi Moore) on the cover of Marie Claire.

2008

Christina Aguilera

January 12

Christina Welcomes Max

Aguilera gives birth to son, Max Liron Bratman. In an exclusive PEOPLE cover story, the glowing mommy shows off her newborn and his decked-out nursery. "I'm head over heels in love. He's changed my life," Aguilera tells PEOPLE of her baby. "I'm simply in awe of him. It's a love unlike any I've ever felt before."

Photo Credits

BIOGRAPHY (top to bottom): WENN; Kevin Mazur/WireImage; X 17; Kevin Mazur/WireImage; Reuters/landov

Edited by Mai Dinh, Janet Murphy