Christina Aguilera made her mark on her 2002 album Stripped. Everything about the record – from her striking cover art to singles such as “Dirrty” and “Beautiful” – cemented her status as one of music’s It Girls. It also laid the groundwork for the majority of Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato, and Miley Cyrus’ outings.
Diva “Candyman” paid homage to the iconic album’s legacy by posing topless on Instagram this weekend. The post in question features Aguilera with her blond hair artfully arranged across her chest and was in support of a headliner at the LadyLand Festival. The festival takes place on September 11 in Brooklyn, New York and features appearances by Caroline Polachek and Aquaria.
Fans happily noted that the pose in one of the photos and the (rare) wardrobe paid homage to the pioneering LP cover art and called it up in the comments section. Aguilera makeup artist Etienne Ortega has apparently hinted that the comparisons are helpful when sharing a behind-the-scenes look at the shoot on Instagram.
The post may have been in support of an upcoming event, but it was certainly a timely move on Xtina’s part. Yesterday, fighters around the world took to Twitter to celebrate the 19th anniversary of the album’s first single – “Dirrty”.
The brash banger introduced the new era of the hit-maker and grew her image after making her debut with “Genie In A Bottle” in 1999. She reflected on her legacy in a 2019 interview with Irish Times. “It was me who walked forward and said I was a woman proud of my sexuality. I was proud of my vulnerability. I was proud that I had made my way into this industry.”
It received mixed reviews at the time and performed poorly on the Billboard Hot 100. Although it peaked at number 48 on the chart, it has gained cult status over the years and is arguably one of the Aguilera’s most recognizable songs. That doesn’t even take into account the fabulously steamy clip, which she said is her all-time favorite, or the introduction of leggings as a must-have fashion accessory.
