NEWS: CHRISTINA AGUILERA - CHRISTINA GETS GREEDY

Sunday Mirror, Jun 20, 2004 by Words: Susie Harding.

Christina Aguilera is associated with many things - cavorting on stage semi-clad and snogging Madonna to name just a few. But now it's emerged the 23-year-old singer has slapped a trademark on a staggering 451 products, prompting speculation she wants to become a global brand, a la Jennifer Lopez.

The patenting means the star's legal team is responsible for checking no other company uses Christina's name. So anybody who wants to sell Christina Aguilera ski wear, Christina Aguilera antiperspirant - not to mention Christina Aguilera badminton sets, crayons and modelling clay - should think again.

'The goodwill associated with her name could be used to brand a huge variety of goods and services,' explains her lawyer, Rod Berman. 'She's a personality relevant not only to the higher teens and 20s, but also to kids.'

But we're not convinced the parents of Christina's young fans will be too delighted to learn she has patented, er, 'electronic multiple activity toys'. In the past, the star has rubbished the idea raking in cash is what motivates her, saying, 'People driven by money and fame, I've seen how it makes them and that life is not for me.' Yet this attitude is somewhat at odds with the latest developments in her career. Not content with making a multi-million pound fortune from record sales, Christina has also boosted her bank balance by advertising goods including Virgin mobiles - reportedly earning $1 million (pounds 550,000) for four hours' work - MAC make-up, Versace clothes and Skechers sports shoes (another six-figure sum).

She's also recently been asked to design a range of underwear and is in talks to star in a Hollywood gangster movie, which could net her around $10 million (pounds 6 million). She says, 'I've always wanted to do something like this. The script is interesting and I want to take the idea further and see what happens, but I would need to take a year off from the music business.' This means - relatively speaking - the singer would be keeping a low profile while filming the movie. Therefore, selling stacks of Christina Aguilera merchandise could be the pop star's way of maintaining her position in the public eye - while simultaneously feathering her (extremely luxurious) nest. But, at the same time, Christina runs the risk of looking greedy, and losing credibility as a talented singer and songwriter...

OTHER CELEBS DOING THE BUSINESS

Catherine Zeta Jones

Commanding pounds 9 million per film, CZJ also boosts her wealth with a pounds 3.6 million deal to advertise T-Mobile and a pounds 2.2 million deal as the face of Elizabeth Arden. Not bad for a girl from Swansea.

Cindy Crawford

Hugely successful supermodel Cindy heads up a thriving business empire. She's brought out three fitness videos, calendars, a make-up book, a signature fragrance and it's now rumoured she's set to launch her own cosmetics range.

Madonna

The Material Girl rakes in millions from her music, runs a record label called Maverick, recently branched out by writing children's books and also headed up a Gap ad campaign alongside Missy Elliott. Not content with that, she's now launching a collection of children's clothes.