Christina Aguilera’s new ‘Beautiful’ video warns about ills of social media
ByNatalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
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Christina Aguilera: What you need to know Aguilera released her self-titled debut album in 1999, which sold more than 8 million copies. (NCD)
ByNatalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Christina Aguilera is using the anniversary of her album “Stripped” as a platform to speak out about the ills of social media and the pressure to be perfect that younger generations face.
The singer released a new video for the song “Beautiful,” which shows young people all struggling to fit in — ballerinas who are trying to perfect their looks and all look the same, a girl who wants to look like a model and a boy who appears to be thinking of harming himself, People magazine reported.
Aguilera does not appear in the video, which was released for World Mental Health Day, CNN reported.
By the end, several groups of teens and preteens come to accept themselves and do not succumb to the pressure they are under.
The ballerinas wipe off their makeup. The boy gets help from a friend and the girl who wanted to look like a model at first, rips up the magazine photos.
The video, which was directed by Fiona Jane Burgess, has a message that reads:
“In the last 20 years, since Stripped was first released, social media has transformed our relationship with our bodies, and in turn our mental health.
“Research suggests that time spent on social networking sites is associated with body image issues, self-harm and disordered eating in children and teens.
“This needs to change.”
Aguilera also shared a link to her website where she offers several mental health resources, CNN reported.
You can watch the video below or on YouTube. Warning the message may be uncomfortable for some viewers.
In sharing the video on Twitter, Aguilera wrote, “The original “Beautiful” video set out to bring awareness and a sense of compassion in the face of criticism,” reminding her fans to “remember our core values outside of what’s being fed to us.”
The original ''Beautiful" video set out to bring awareness and a sense of compassion in the face of criticism. It still carries an important message to remember our core values outside of what’s being fed to us…to find a sense of balance and accepting ourselves for who we are ❤️ pic.twitter.com/an9N8gRbhM
Through the years American singer Christina Aguilera, circa 1995. (Photo by Tim Roney/Getty Images) (Tim Roney/Getty Images)
Through the years Christina Aguilera singing the national anthym at the Target Grand Prix on 8/15/99 in Maywood, Il. (Photo by Paul Natkin/WireImage) (Paul Natkin/WireImage)
Through the years Christina Aguilera holds a copy of Smash Hits magazine, backstage at a TV studio, London, circa 1999. (Photo by David Tonge/Getty Images) (Dave Tonge/Getty Images)
Through the years Music recording artist Christina Aguilera arrives at the 2001 MTV Movie Awards June 2, 2001 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Chris Weeks/Getty Images) (Chris Weeks/Getty Images)
Through the years Christina Aguilera performed one song live at the Radio and Records Convention 2001 at the Century Plaza Hotel, Los Angeles, Ca. 6/15/01.Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Through the years ATLANTA-FEBRUARY 8: (L to R) Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets poses with singer Christina Aguilera and Shaquille O'Neal of the LA Lakers during the NBA Read To Achieve Celebration on February 8, 2003 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia during the 2003 NBA All-Star Weekend. (Photo by Getty Images) (Getty Images/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK - AUGUST 28: Singers Britney Spears(L), Madonna, and Christina Aguilera perform onstage during the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall on August 28, 2003 in New York City. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images) (Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)
Through the years BARCELONA, SPAIN - OCTOBER 21: Singer Christina Aguilera poses at the Art's Hotel on October 21, 2003 in Barcelona. Christina is to host the 10th MTV Europe Music Awards 2003 in Edinburgh on 6th November. (Photo by Getty Images) (Getty Images/Getty Images)
Through the years LOS ANGELES - FEBRUARY 8: Christina Aguilera arrives at the 46th Annual Grammy Awards held at the Staples Center on February 8, 2004 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 11: (U.S. TABS OUT) Singer Christina Aguilera appears onstage during MTV's Total Request Live at the MTV Times Square Studios February 11, 2004 in New York City. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images) (Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)
Through the years LOS ANGELES - SEPTEMBER 16: Singer Christina Aguilera arrives at US Weekly's "Young Hollywood Hot 20" at LAX on September 16, 2005 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Through the years JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - NOVEMBER 10: Singer Christina Aguilera performs in concert at the Coca-Cola Dome ahead of the F1 GP Masters race in Kyalami on November 10, 2005 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) (Clive Rose/Getty Images)
Through the years U.S. pop diva Christina Aguilera strikes a pose during the shooting of the latest global Pepsi commercial. The campaign called downloaded features Aguilera in a number of exotic locations, and allows fans to download a personal performance of their choice. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images for Pepsi) (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Through the years LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 11: Singer Christina Aguilera arrives at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on February 11, 2007 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Through the years MADRID, SPAIN - DECEMBER 09: Cher (L) and Christina Aguilera (R) attend "Burlesque" photocall at Villamagna Hotel on December 9, 2010 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images) (Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images)
Through the years LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 08: Singer Christina Aguilera and Matt Rutler arrive at the official launch party for the most anticipated video game of the year, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, at the Belasco Theatre on November 8, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Getty Images for Bethesda) (Jordan Strauss)
Through the years MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA - NOVEMBER 09: Singer Christina Aguilera attends the Breakthrough Prize Awards Ceremony Hosted By Seth MacFarlane at NASA Ames Research Center on November 9, 2014 in Mountain View, California. (Photo by Steve Jennings/Getty Images for Breakthrough Prize) (Steve Jennings)
Through the years WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA - APRIL 23: Singer Christina Aguilera arrives at NBC's "The Voice" Season 8 red carpet event at Pacific Design Center on April 23, 2015 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Angela Weiss/Getty Images) (Angela Weiss/Getty Images)
Through the years BEVERLY HILLS, CA - AUGUST 20: Singer Christina Aguilera (C) watches her daughter Summer Rain Rutler play with toys during the second birthday party for Christina Aguilera's daughter Summer Rain Rutler at a private residence on August 20, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images for ABA) (Christopher Polk)
Through the years ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 23:Christina Aguilera and Micky Mouse attend D23 Disney Legends event at Anaheim Convention Center on August 23, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Through the years LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 06: Christina Aguilera, Matthew Rutler, Max Bratman and Summer Rain Rutler attend the premiere of MGM's "The Addams Family" at Westfield Century City AMC on October 06, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images,) (Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images,)
Through the years LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 10: Christina Aguilera attends the 2019 amfAR Gala Los Angeles at Milk Studios on October 10, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images) (Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images)
Through the years LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 24: Christina Aguilera attends the 2019 American Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on November 24, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for dcp) (Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for dcp)
Through the years HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 09: Christina Aguilera attends the World Premiere of Disney's 'MULAN' at the Dolby Theatre on March 09, 2020 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney) (Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)
Through the years INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 01: Christina Aguilera performs onstage during the AHF World AIDS Day 2021 concert at The Forum on December 01, 2021 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Randy Shropshire/Getty Images for AIDS Healthcare Foundation) (RandyShropshire/Getty Images for AIDS Healthcare)
Through the years INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 02: Christina Aguilera attends Billboard Women in Music 2022 at YouTube Theater on March 02, 2022 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Billboard) (Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Billboard)