Christina Aguilera was born in Staten Island, New York, but grew up primarily in Wexford, Pennsylvania. Her father, Fausto Aguilera, is of Ecuadorian descent and her mother, Shelly Kearns, is from Newfoundland and of remote Irish descent; both are fluent in Spanish. They met while he was serving on Earnest Harmon Air Force Base in Stephenville, Newfoundland and Labrador.
As a teenager, Aguilera sang the National Anthem before Pittsburgh Steelers and Pittsburgh Pirates games. In 1990, she appeared on Star Search but she didn't win. Her breakthrough came in 1993 when she joined The New Mickey Mouse Club. Her co-stars included Britney Spears, as well as Justin Timberlake and JC Chasez, who went on to join NSYNC, and Keri Russell, who would go on to become the star of Felicity.
Her first song was recorded in Japan, but she only caught the attention of Americans when she released the song "Reflection" for the Disney animated production of Mulan (1998). The video clip featured a young Christina with a bob hair cut. The song prompted RCA to offer her a contract.
