schmiggens
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Registered: Apr 2003
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Location: In The Zone
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SWEET HOME LOUISIANA
Britney Jean Spears was born on December 2, 1981, in the small southern town of Kentwood, Louisiana, to a building contractor and a primary school teacher. By the tender age of two, Britney was clearly a born dancer and her parents, Jamie and Lynne, channelled the gifted little girl's boundless energy into dance and gymnastics classes.
Dedicated to encouraging her blossoming talent, they persuaded the local Baptist church to let four-year-old Britney sing in the choir, where she immediately performed her first public solo. But Louisiana could not offer her talented daughter the opportunities Lynne felt she needed, and soon the family moved to Hollywood.
Though drawn to the bright lights at a young age Britney has always tried to stay true to her roots. “I think I'm more grounded and I have major beliefs about certain things and I think that has helped me, you know, coming from a really small town.” In turn Kentwood, known now as the home of Britney Spears, is equally proud of its native daughter and has recently opened a museum in her honour.
GIRL WONDER
After a well-received nationally televised appearance on popular talent show Star Search, the 11-year-old worked hard to earn a spot on Disney Channel's children's musical show The New Mickey Mouse Club. She later reflected that her time with Disney was, “the best childhood experience you could possibly have. I mean, you live in Disney World!"
Her stint with the mouseketeers not only raised her profile, but it was also where she first met the singer who would not only become a future chart rival but also her on and off beau for five years - Justin Timberlake.
After a two-year run on the programme Britney began making moves to establish her singing career. Moving to New York at age 15, she set about auditioning for pop bands and recording demos, one of which eventually landed her a deal with Jive Records.
PLATINUM BLONDE
Groomed from childhood to become a teenage star, the 17-year-old singer became an overnight international success with the smash single Baby One More Time. The risqué video for the song featured Britney provocatively dressed in a schoolgirl uniform strutting through a highschool hallway.
Controversy aside, Britney's hard work, raw talent and sex appeal turned the title track from her debut release into the biggest selling single of 1999. While sceptics dismissed her as corporate pop's flavour of the month, Britney soon delivered her follow-up effort, Oops!...I Did It Again which sold over 20 million copies worldwide. By the end of 2001, Forbes magazine was heralding her as the best-known celebrity in the world.
The critics also began to warm to her, with some hailing her as the Madonna of the new millennium. “I would really, really, really like to be a legend like Madonna," said Britney herself. "Madonna knows what to do next, and when she's performing, the audience is just in awe of her.” The admiration between Britney and Madonna is mutual, and they would go on to team up on the chart-topping single Me Against The Music in 2003.
CROSSROADS
Just like Madge in the Eighties, the songstress' success sparked massive buzz, and teen pop divas like Christina Aguilera, Pink, Jessica Simpson, and Mandy Moore became music's hottest trend in the wake of the Britney boom. Firmly established as a pop phenomenon, she began searching for opportunities to branch out in new directions.
Always a natural in front of the camera, Britney soon made the leap to acting, taking the starring role in the coming of age story, Crossroads, in early 2002. While the film did not match the commercial success of her album sales it did reach number two on the box office charts and paved the way for a cameo appearance in Mike Myers' Austin Powers: Goldmember. The Toxic singer has also been tipped to appear with Cher and Bette Midler in a new comedy, In The Pink.
And the restless superstar continues her quest to expand Britney Incorporated. She opened a restaurant in New York, NYLA, became a spokeswoman for Pepsi, and launched her own perfume Curious - the number-one selling fragrance in US department stores in 2004.
BOYS
"The most painful thing I have ever experienced was that break-up. We were together so long and I had this vision. You think you're going to spend the rest of your life together," reflected Britney on her relationship with NSYNC heart-throb Justin Timberlake. While the reigning prince and princess of pop battled to keep their relationship out of the limelight, the strain of their busy schedules proved too much, and in March 2002 they called it a day.
After being linked to a series of hunks including Limp Bizkit singer Fred Durst and Alexander star Colin Farrell, Britney got 2004 off to a surprise start when she married childhood friend Jason Alexander in Las Vegas. The marriage was dissolved after 55 hours.
Shortly thereafter Britney injured her knee during a video shoot, and cancelled her remaining world tour dates. After her release from hospital, the songstress once again stunned all when she announced that she was engaged to new beau, dancer Kevin Federline. They were married on September 18, 2004.
MUM AGAINST THE MUSIC
The 23-year-old singer has often expressed a desire to start a family. Since her marriage to Kevin, who has a two-year-old daughter and a five-month-old son by his previous girlfriend, there has been almost daily speculation as to whether or not she is pregnant.
And although - having just sold her 60 millionth album - she seems poised to take over the Queen of Pop title, her approach to motherhood appears to include putting her career on hold. “To be a really good mom, I feel your child needs to be your full-time job. I want to raise my kids and share all of those precious moments with them," she says.
While it has yet to be confirmed whether or not she is expecting, shots of Britney shopping for maternity wear at an LA boutique have brought speculation to a fever pitch. And when it happens, Britney is sure to grab the moment with both hands. "The only thing I haven't done so far is experience the closest thing to God and that's have a baby," she said recently. "I can't wait!"
PHOTO GALLERY
[img]http://hellomagazine.com/music/2005/01/21/britneyspears/imgs/britney-1a.jpg/img]
Britney's hard work, raw talent and sex appeal have turned the Louisiana-born singer into one of the best-known celebrities in the world
Parents Jamie and Lynne knew Britney was destined to be a star and they dedicated themselves to fostering her blossoming talent
Her stint with the mouseketeers not only raised her profile, but it was also where she first met the singer Justin Timberlake. Justin is leaning in the upper right corner, Britney is seated in the front
Groomed from childhood to become a teenage star, the 17-year-old singer became an overnight international success with the smash single Baby One More Time
The blonde stunner's flashy dance moves and killer abs made her an instant sex symbol and media icon
A natural in front of the camera, Britney made her big screen debut in the 2002 coming of age movie Crossroads
The restless superstar continues her quest to expand Britney Incorporated: she has opened a restaurant in New York and has been a spokeswoman for Pepsi
Britney launched her own line of perfume Curious, which went on to be a number one selling fragrance in 2004
According to the pop diva, ending her four-year relationship with Justin was "the most painful thing I have ever experienced"
On the heels of her break-up with Justin, Britney was linked to a series of hunks including Alexander star Colin Farrell
Having just sold her 60 millionth album, the Toxic singer seems poised to take over the Queen of Pop title
Since her September 2004 marriage to dancer and father-of-two Kevin Federline, there has been almost daily speculation as to whether or not the 23-year-old is pregnant
"The only thing I haven't done so far is experience the closest thing to God and that's have a baby," she said recently. "I can't wait!"
- Hello Magazine
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01-22-2005 02:09 AM
