Quotes from Christina Aguilera

The roughest road often leads to the top.

I'm a bit of a night owl because that's when I feel the most creative and alive.

For me the visual is just as important as the music.

I have always been one to encourage perseverance.

The most vulnerable people have tough exteriors because they are very scared inside, and it's very hard for people like that - people like me - to open up. But playing it safe means you stop being open to learning. I always try to find the challenges.

I'm not just another bimbo.

The blind audition process can be nerve-wracking.

I have those days where I'm PMSing and bloated.

I'm a businesswoman.

I have certain physical features that I favor over others. We all have our areas.

I felt caged by my childhood.

Men aren't as strong and capable as we are. We're machines.

At a really young age, I decided I was never going to feel helpless, I was never going to feel weak around a man, and I was never going to rely on anyone.

Thankfully, I have my mom and a small group of close friends who are there for me 24/7 and whom I can trust and depend on.

I'm not really religious but very spiritual. I give money to this company that manufactures hearing aids on a regular basis. More people should really hear me sing. I have a gift from God.

You've got to make a decision: Are you going to go down with the situation, or are you going to focus and succeed? My dream...kept me going.

Blues and soul and jazz music has so much pain, so much beauty of raw emotion and passion.

I turned to music originally because of my past and needing a release or an outlet to get out anger or frustration or hurt.

For me the visual is just as important as the music. I would never record without my red lipstick. It was my way of getting into character, sort of like Method singing.

You used to have to sing and convey emotion, and now, well, technically you can do anything with technology. It sucks for music today, but that's why that old music feels so good to me.

I'm experimental by nature... always exploring my creativity.

I'm no stranger to criticism. You're never going to be good enough, or just the right thing in everybody's eyes.

I never mind contorting myself for a good cause.

I'm embracing many different things, but it's all feel-good.