Whatever Happened To 2000's Pop Star Christina Milian?
She Got Dropped From Her Label After Her Album Wasn't A Hit
Video: YouTubeMilian hit it big with "Dip It Low" off her second album, but she didn't take as commercial of a route for her third release on Def Jam Records. Milian chose to pick her own songs rather than following her label's direction; in the process, she allegedly turned down the chance to record labelmate Rihanna's future number one hit, "SOS."
So Amazin' came out in 2006, and didn't perform to expectations. Milian was dropped from Def Jam not long after. She later claimed that the label chose to keep Rihanna over her for budget reasons, but was excited for new opportunities, adding, "I'm moving on to better things and new things."
She Dated Some Big Names
Photo: Rivers Sydney / via PinterestShe Signed A Record Deal With MySpace
Video: YouTubeAfter being dropped from Def Jam, Milian signed to MySpace Records in 2008. She told Billboard, "Before, I had a label telling me what direction to go in. Now, it's my choice, so I'm being very particular about it and I'm really excited."
Her first single, the ballad "Us Against the World," failed to impact the charts in a major way. Her planned album included input from major producers like J.R. Rotem, Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic, and Danja, but it was never released.
She Got Pregnant And Eloped With The-Dream
Photo: Zimbio / via PinterestAround the same time Milian signed with MySpace, she inked an additional deal with RadioKilla Records, the imprint of producer/singer/songwriter Terius "The-Dream" Nash. They began creating an album called Elope, and sparks began to fly.
In 2009, Milian announced that she and The-Dream had eloped (appropriately enough) and were expecting a baby. In March 2010, she gave birth to a girl, Violet Madison Nash.
She Had A Difficult Divorce
Video: YouTubeSadly, Milian's union with The-Dream didn't turn out to be a dream. He apparently filed for divorce less than two weeks before she gave birth, but their divorce became union was only public months later. Around that time, The-Dream was pictured hugging another woman flirtatiously while on vacation; he eventually confirmed that he had indeed cheated on Milian.
This divorce soon became acrimonious. Milian told Latina magazine:
"No matter what, you can’t change who you are. I know that now. I tried to be someone I wasn’t because I wanted my marriage to work. But ultimately, if it’s not working, it’s not working."
Eventually, Milian and The-Dream finalized their divorce. Allegedly, her settlement included $4 million, child support, and a portion of the publishing rights for Justin Bieber's mega-hit song "Baby" (which The-Dream co-wrote).
She Worked On The Voice
Video: YouTubeShe Kept Acting
Video: YouTubeMilian has been adding acting roles to her resume for years. She starred in the 2003 rom-com Love Don't Cost A Thing with ex Nick Cannon, and appeared alongside John Travolta in 2005's Be Cool.
She's also a small screen regular. Milian co-starred in the Fox series Grandfathered, showed off her pipes in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and voiced characters on Family Guy.
She Began Working With (And Dating) Lil Wayne
Photo: Rachel Bennett / via PinterestIn 2012, Milian signed to Lil Wayne's Young Money imprint. Their working relationship turned romantic, and they started dating in 2014.
Milian spoke enthusiastically about her new boyfriend, but the two split in 2015 (and later got back together again, and split again). What caused their big break-up? Allegedly, Lil Wayne cheated on her with an exotic dancer. Despite all the drama, the two still managed to work together.
She Competed On Dancing With The Stars
Video: YouTubeIn 2013, Milian went back to the dance floor and competed on Dancing With the Stars. She was paired with dance pro Mark Ballas. The duo boogied their way to the top until the fifth week, when they were eliminated after having received the first perfect 10 of their season.
She Starred In A Reality Show
Video: YouTubeMilian and her family starred in a reality show called Christina Milian Turned Up, which aired for two seasons on E! starting in 2015. The show chronicled their ups and downs, and touched on topics like Milian's love life, her business ventures, and her bond with her daughter.
She Became An Entrepreneur
Photo: The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas / flickr / CC-BY-ND 2.0In recent years, Milian launched a clothing boutique We Are Pop Culture, created a glasses collection called C. Milian Eyewear, and became a partner in Viva Diva Wines. She has also worked with Persona, which Forbes called "a tech company that builds chatbots for celebrities" like Fifty Shades of Grey character Christian Grey and singer Kehlani.