Christina Milian (born as Christine Flores in 26 September 1981) is a Cuban-American singer, actress and songwriter. As of November 2004, she has had four solo top ten singles (and also a top ten featuring credit single) in the UK as well as hits in the US, Europe. She has starred in the 2003 film Love Don't Cost a Thing opposite Nick Cannon and Be Cool, the sequel to Get Shorty.

Christina Milian - Early years

Christina Milian was born in Jersey City in 1981 from Cuban American parents. The family moved to Maryland soon after her birth and Milian set her heart on an entertainment industry career at the age of four. At 13, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in show business.

Her first significant role was as a reporter on the Disney Channel's Movie Surfers show in 1998 billed as Tina Flores. While in this role she also started appearing in minor roles in A Bug's Life and American Pie and in guest appearances on television shows Charmed, Clueless and Get Real.

In 2000, Christina Milian performed vocals on Ja Rule's song "Between You And Me" from his Rule 3:36 album - the song became a hit building a reputation. She also co-wrote the track "Play" for Jennifer Lopez's J. Lo album of 2001 which became another big hit as well as the song "Same Ol' Same Ol", the first single for girl group PYT's album Down With Me.

Christina Milian - Career success

In 2001, Milian released her first single of her own "AM To PM", off her self-titled debut album. It became a worldwide hit reaching top 5 in the UK and Denmark, Top 10 in the Netherlands, and top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 and in Australia. The success of From AM To PM sparked the international release of the Christina Milian album although not in the US. The single "When You Look At Me" was another international hit going top 5 in the UK, Netherlands, and Ireland and making the top 40 in Denmark, Australia and France. She also featured on "It's All Gravy", a duet with Romeo of the garage group So Solid Crew. It was another UK top ten hit single in 2002. She also wrote and sang the theme song for the Disney series Kim Possible "Call Me Beep Me" in the same year.

Milian was appointed to host the Wannabes program on MTV in 2002. She met director Joseph Kahn on an episode of Wannabes who suggested she audition for a lead role in Torque opposite Ice Cube. Her audition was successful leading in turn to a lead role in Love Don't Cost a Thing in 2003. She will be in significant roles in a further two films to come out within a year of May 2004 - Man of the House opposite Tommy Lee Jones and co-starring in Be Cool with John Travolta and Uma Thurman.

During 2003, Christina Milian recorded songs for her first US album It's About Time which is a reference to how long it has taken for an album to be released in the US. The first single "Dip It Low" was written by Polli Paul, who has also written songs for the Black Eyed Peas. As of May 2004, the first single has reached number one on a world composite dance chart (compiled on data from the US, UK, Germany, Japan, Italy and Australia) reached the top 3 in the UK and the top 40 in Australia. It has also been slowly climbing the Billboard Hot 100. The second single "Whatever U Want", features Joe Budden and once again reached the top 10 in the UK as well as charting in the Billboard Hot 100.test