Christina Aguilera made a striking return to her early-2000s roots at the weekend, stepping out in a sheer, lingerie-inspired ensemble that sent fans straight back to the Dirrty era — and ignited a fierce online debate in the process.
The 45-year-old pop star attended MISTR's second annual National PrEP Day celebration at The Abbey in Los Angeles on Saturday, 10 October, wearing a completely sheer black minidress by DIDU. The sleeveless mesh design featured embroidered black crosses, which she paired with a plunging black lace bra adorned with a dangling silver charm and high-waisted black leather microshorts by Dilara Findikoglu. Skin-toned fishnet tights, black thigh-high gladiator-style heeled sandals and diamond cocktail rings completed the look.
The Night's Bigger Picture
Beyond the fashion spectacle, the event itself carried real weight. Organised by MISTR, a telehealth platform providing access to HIV prevention services, the evening was designed to raise awareness about sexual health and PrEP — a medication that can significantly reduce the risk of acquiring HIV.
Aguilera was in distinguished company: Chappell Roan, Charli XCX, Demi Lovato and Kesha were among the other high-profile attendees lending their support to the cause.
Fans Split Down the Middle
It didn't take long for social media to erupt. Some commenters were firmly delighted, with one writing: "This is the most Christina Aguilera has looked like Christina Aguilera in a long timeeee." Others, however, were less convinced, with one asking bluntly, "Why does she have a different face every time we see her?"
The conversation quickly shifted to speculation about cosmetic procedures, with several users suggesting she had undergone lip enhancement, eyelid work and other surgical interventions. One commenter wrote: "Too much plastic surgery to the face. Barely looks like her, I'll never understand." Another added: "She should have left her face alone. She would have aged so beautifully."
Aguilera has previously addressed this kind of commentary head-on. In a since-deleted January 2025 Instagram post, she shared a video montage of online reactions to her appearance alongside career highlights, accompanying it with a pointed message.
"This is a reminder to everyone that you are your OWN STORYTELLER in your OWN LIFE. No one else can dictate who you are. No one deserves an explanation."
She has publicly acknowledged using Xeomin, an anti-wrinkle injectable, through her work with Merz Aesthetics, but has not confirmed any of the surgical procedures that have been widely attributed to her online. New York-based board-certified plastic surgeon Dr Michael Bassiri-Tehrani has offered his view, telling Bored Panda simply: "She looks incredible."
The Y2K Revival She's Always Championed
For those who know Aguilera's history, the 10 October look felt less like a reinvention and more like a homecoming. The singer has spoken enthusiastically about the return of Y2K fashion, telling Byrdie: "I'm shocked how many have come back already. Low-rise jeans, crop tops. I was a big statement tee person. I still am — I love a good little message. I'm a message girly, forever and ever."
Her willingness to take risks has always been central to her identity as an artist. Speaking to Harper's Bazaar about the creative freedom she found during the Stripped album era, she reflected:
"It was really important to me early on not to feel boxed in or to play it too safe. So straight out the gate, once I got the creative freedom to make the album, I wanted to express myself wholeheartedly and authentically."
That spirit of bold self-expression has also found a natural home in a new collaboration. Charlotte Tilbury Beauty recently unveiled Aguilera as the face of its Hollywood Holiday Wonderland campaign for the 2026 festive season, with the partnership drawing inspiration from Lady Marmalade — the 2001 number-one hit recorded for the Moulin Rouge! soundtrack — 25 years after it topped the charts. Charlotte Tilbury herself called the singer "THE ICON, THE VOICE, THE SHOWGIRL," describing her as one of the most fearless and transformative beauty icons of her generation.
Whether she's shutting down critics on Instagram, anchoring a glossy beauty campaign or reclaiming a dancefloor in fishnets and leather, one thing is clear: Christina Aguilera remains impossible to ignore.
