Link: http://www.macon.com/mld/telegraph/entertainment/8947171.htm

Posted on Sun, Jun. 20, 2004

A tale of four (now and former) blondes

By Malcolm Mayhew

Knight Ridder Newspapers


Five years ago, the only ones who could tell them apart were,
possibly, their parents.

Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, Mandy Moore and Jessica Simpson
looked alike, sounded alike and even acted alike - you know, each
claiming that she was "different" from the other three.

At that point, whatever. Same hair color (blond), same music
(fluffy, innocuous pop), same videos (looked like workout tapes).

Half a decade later, however, each has not only managed to stick
around - a feat unto itself in pop music - but also to strike out in
her own direction. Who'da thought?

Britney Spears

Age: 22

Flashback: With the success of her debut, 1999's "... One More
Time," Spears led the teen-pop revolution of the late '90s. The
Spice Girls might have left the door ajar for her, but Spears kicked
it open, wearing both high heels and sneakers, preaching the values
of abstinence while at the same time sexily cavorting on MTV.

Road she took: Unlike Aguilera, Simpson and Moore, Spears can barely
sing. She has made up for it, though, becoming the most
controversial female pop star since Madonna. Basically, she sells
sex more than music.

Hair is she now?: Back in March, London's "Evening Standard"
reported that Spears had been spotted with brown hair, though photos
this month showed her back to platinum blond.

Current project: She was about to resume criss-crossing the country
on her Onyx Hotel Tour, but Tuesday she canceled the remaining dates
after suffering a knee injury last week during a video shoot.

Jessica Simpson

Age: 22

Flashback: Simpson had moderate success with "Sweet Kisses" and "I
Wanna Love You Forever." Her biggest moment, perhaps, was opening
for Ricky Martin at Madison Square Garden. Unfortunately, the show
is memorable to her for another reason: She ripped her leather pants
onstage. Right between her legs. And no, she was not wearing
underwear. Thankfully, mom was handy with another pair of pants.

Road she took: Simpson got lost in the blonde blitzkrieg and was
pretty much a wash until she appeared in another medium, television,
first with a recurring role on "That '70s Show" and then
on "Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica," her reality program with husband
Nick Lachey. As a result of the show's popularity, sales of her
latest disc, "In This Skin," have been boosted.

Hair is she now?: The only one who has stayed blonde. "Ditsy"
and "brunette" just don't go together as well.

Current project: Besides "Newlyweds," Simpson is hawking edible body
creams called Dessert Beauty. What she says about the Deliciously
Kissable Lip Fragrance Gloss (Juicy or Luscious): "The best ...
never sticky, and my lips look full and taste sweet. Makes your
breath nice, too."

ABC recently rejected "Jessica," her stab at a sitcom. But rumors
are rumbling that she'll star in the big-screen version of "The
Dukes of Hazzard" as, of course, Daisy Duke.

Mandy Moore

Age: 20

Flashback: Moore wasn't even old enough to drive when her first
record, the falsely named, dance-pop disc "So Real," came out.
Hoping to capitalize on the Britney boom, her record company
rereleased it a year later and changed her image from innocent to
not-so-innocent.

Road she took: Not only did she change her hair color, she switched
career paths, focusing on films ("A Walk To Remember," "How To
Deal") rather than music. When it came time for her to do a new
record, she freaked everybody out by putting out "Coverage," an all-
covers disc made up of rock-folk renditions of songs by Elton John,
Carole King and Joni Mitchell.

Hair is she now?: To avoid getting tagged a Britney clone, she
whacked off her hair and painted it black.

Current project: Her latest movie, "Saved!" just opened.

Christina Aguilera

Age: 23
Flashback: Aguilera's first single, "Genie in a Bottle," was typical
teen pop, but huge, putting her in direct competition with onetime
friend Spears. There still exists a McCartney-Lennon conflict
between the two, only the question isn't talent as much as: "Who's
hotter?"

Road she took: Of the four, Aguilera's the one who made a serious
bid to be a singer. Underneath the hair spray and makeup and flimsy
pop music, a pretty decent voice is begging to get out.

Hair is she now?: Black. Er, brown. Um, strawberry. Well, what day
is it?

Current project: Recovering from vocal strain; because of it, she
had to ax her Stripped Tour.