Christina Aguilera unrecognisable on new magazine cover

PAPER magazine has unveiled their latest cover star — and you might not recognise her.

Christina Aguilera, 37, appears on the front cover of the fashion mag completely transformed — with extremely pared-back makeup and a shaggy front fringe, you’d be forgiven for mistaking her for someone else.

Speaking to the magazine famous for Kim Kardashian’s “break the internet” cover, she explains the barefaced look as a reflection of her current career position.

She said, “I’ve always been someone that obviously loves to experiment, loves theatrics, loves to create a storyline and play a character in a video or through stage. I’m a performer, that’s who I am by nature. But I’m at the place, even musically, where it’s a liberating feeling to be able to strip it all back and appreciate who you are and your raw beauty.”

However, she admits she’s not done with the contour kit just yet, saying “I mean, I’m a girl that likes a beat face, let’s not get it twisted.”

Aguilera posted several stunning photos from the shoot on Instagram - click right on the photo below to toggle through the set:
 

The singer has undergone her fair share of physical alterations over the years, each representing a dawning of a new era of her career.

Emerging as a childstar on All-New Mickey Mouse Club, she released her first self-titled album in 1999 and conformed to the typical girl-next-door look of midriff-baring tops and flare pants.

It was only three years later that she was appearing with bikini tops, assless chaps and two-toned hair, marking her arrival as a serious adult with album Stripped.

In 2006 she pivoted again, this time resembling Marilyn Monroe, Aguilera chose old-school glamour to promo her jazz-inspired soul album Back to Basics.

The 2010s saw her shift to a futuristic look that didn’t quite land with critics for her album Bionic, perhaps prompting the star to pare things back this time.

“I can’t stay in a stagnant place for too long, which is why I think the position I was in with television just became very stifling,” she told Paper, referencing her role on The Voice.

“I need movement, I need to go explore, be an artist, create and transform.”

Aguilera also touched on her film aspirations, having starred in The Emoji Movie last year and before that, 2010s Burlesque with Cher. This year she’ll appear in two films, the sci-fi flick Zoe and Melissa McCarthy comedy Life of the Party.

Of where she wants to go in the future she said, “my ultimate would be to do something with Will Ferrell. Just super funny, just laughing and being stooges.”

Stay tuned for if this new look is here to stay.