Editing Christina Aguilera (section)

=== 1993–1998: Career beginnings ===
In 1991, Aguilera auditioned for the television series ''[[The Mickey Mouse Club#1989–1994 revival: The All New Mickey Mouse Club|The All New Mickey Mouse Club]]'' (MMC), which aired on the [[Disney Channel]]. She ran against 400 candidates, and while she made the shortlist she was ultimately rejected for not meeting the minimum age requirement.{{sfn|Dominguez|2003|p=17}} One year later, in 1992, Aguilera received a call from one of the show's producers asking if she was still interested in becoming a "Mouseketeer". She once again competed for a spot (this time, against 15,000 candidates) and was selected to join the variety program the following year.{{sfn|Dominguez|2003|p=21}} Her fellow cast members included [[Ryan Gosling]], [[Keri Russell]], [[Britney Spears]], [[Justin Timberlake]], and [[JC Chasez]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Rob|last=Goldstein|date=May 15, 1999|url=http://music.yahoo.com/read/interview/12043048|title=Dreaming of Genie|publisher=[[Yahoo! Music]]|access-date=April 30, 2023|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070401032341/http://music.yahoo.com/read/interview/12043048|archive-date=April 1, 2007}}</ref> During the show recordings—which included Aguilera performing [[musical number]]s and [[comedy sketch]]es—she moved with her family to [[Orlando, Florida]].<ref name="ProudLatina">{{cite magazine|first=Shirley|last=Gómez|date=November 23, 2021|url=https://www.hola.com/us/celebrities/20211125306760/proof-that-christina-aguilera-has-always-been-a-proud-latina/|title=Proof That Christina Aguilera Has Always Been a Proud Latina|magazine=[[¡Hola!]]|access-date=April 30, 2023|archive-date=January 17, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230117150928/https://www.hola.com/us/celebrities/20211125306760/proof-that-christina-aguilera-has-always-been-a-proud-latina/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1995, it was reported the series would not return for a new season.{{sfn|Dominguez|2003|p=31–32}}

Aiming to begin a music career, Aguilera moved to Japan in 1997. She was selected to record a duet with Japanese singer [[Keizo Nakanishi]], with whom she performed in concert shows around the country.{{sfn|Govan|2013|p=24}} Their song, "All I Wanna Do", was released as a single but failed to reach commercial success.{{sfn|Donovan|2010|p=13}}<ref>{{cite book|editor-last=Hoffmann |editor-first=Frank |title= Encyclopedia of Recorded Sound |year= 2004 |publisher= Taylor & Francis |isbn= 9781135949495 |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/BOOKSHELF-ARH/History/Encyclopedia-of-Recorded-Sound-Hoffman-Vol-1-1993.pdf |page= 16}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Silva |first1=Maria |title=Christina Aguilera: ¿Qué hay dentro de la botella? |url=https://archive.org/details/meridiano-2000-enero/MERIDIANO%202000%20ENERO/22%20DE%20ENERO/page/4/mode/2up |publisher=Meridiano |date=January 22, 2000 |page=B2 |language=Spanish |quote="I did a single with a Japanese singer (Keizo Nakanishi) when I was 16"}}</ref> In June 1997, Aguilera went on to Romania to represent the United States in a singers contest during the [[Golden Stag Festival]], failing to win over the audience.{{sfn|Govan|2013|p=24–25}}

Seeking a recording contract, Aguilera recorded numerous [[Demo (music)|demo tapes]] directed to record labels, including [[Walt Disney Records]], for which she sent a cover of "[[Run to You (Whitney Houston song)|Run to You]]" by [[Whitney Houston]].{{sfn|Dominguez|2003|p=43–44}} She eventually was chosen to record "[[Reflection (song)|Reflection]]", the theme song from the animated film ''[[Mulan (1998 film)|Mulan]]'' (1998), which reached number 15 on the [[Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks|''Billboard'' Adult Contemporary]] chart.{{sfn|Dominguez|2003|p=45}} Following the attention she received with "Reflection", Aguilera caught the ear of [[Ron Fair]], the [[A&R]] executive from [[RCA Records]], who consequently signed Aguilera to the label.<ref name="FastTrack" /> In late 1998, she began to record her debut studio album into which producers reportedly invested over $1 million worth of writers, producers and vocal lessons.<ref name="FastTrack" />