Talented singer, yes. Versatile actress, yes. Beauty and style stunner and fashionista, absolutely. Whenever Christina Milian stepped on the scene, you knew she was going to pull out all the stops. From her roles in Love Don’t Cost A Thing and Bring It On: Fight To The Finish to bringing the heat in her iconic “Dip It Low,” “AM to PM,” and “Say I” music videos, one thing Milian was always going to do on-camera and at a red carpet premiere was serve legs, hips, body, with a side serving of a six-pack of abs.
Back in the early 2000s, Milian was good for a wedge, cargo pants, and a signature piece to show off her V-cut with trendy low-rise jeans and a top with just enough measure of sexiness and sophistication to keep all cameras on her. Now a mother of three, including her daughter Violet whom she co-parents with superproducer and artist The Dream, the Resort To Love actress takes a different approach to shopping and has a “more local” style with tribal designs, dresses, and straw hats.
“I always felt that I knew my style, but now looking at the 2000s… It’s terrible! It was of-the-times, but it’s terrible,” Milian told Fashionista in an interview about her thoughts on her style. “I was like, ‘I’ve got my denim ripped jeans, I’ve got my fishnet pantyhose on my arms, I’ve got my holes in my ripped shirt, I’ve got my rhinestone belt, I’ve got business, that XYZ and my little hat.’ Oh, honey, I thought I was doing it.”
In celebration of her 40th birthday, we’ve rounded up 40 of her best looks in the early 2000s that prove she was a total it girl of her day. From flaunting gowns on the red carpet to casual chic at MTV’s TRL, Christina Milian’s fashion sense was not one to be played with.
Christina Milian at Heart Truth Red Dress during Olympus Fashion Week Fall 2006 – “Heart Truth Red Dress” – Runway at The Tent, Bryant Park in New York, New York, United States. (Photo by Arun Nevader/FilmMagic)
Christina Milian during Olympus Fashion Week Fall 2006 – Baby Phat – Front Row and Backstage at Bryant Park in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)
Christina Milian during Hollywood’s Elite Join Sony Computer Entertainment America for a First Look at the PLAYSTATION 3 – Red Carpet in Beverly Hills, California, United States. (Photo by Chris Weeks/WireImage)
Christina Milian during Rent After-Party at Planet Hollywood at Planet Hollywood in New York City, New York. (Photo by Denise Truscello/WireImage)
Christina Milian during Bad Boys 2 Premiere After Party Sponsored By Sprite Remix at The Supper Club in New York, New York, United States. (Photo by Jim Spellman/WireImage)
Actress Christina Milian arrives at Victoria’s Secret & Miranda Kerr Celebration of the launch of “Heavenly Kiss” on May 6, 2008 at Beso Restaurant in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic)
Christina Milian during The 48th Annual GRAMMY Awards – Arrivals at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, United States. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic)
Christina Milian during 6th Annual General Motors TEN – Arrivals at Paramount Studios in Hollywood, California, United States. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic)
Christina Milian during The 5th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards – Arrivals at Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, United States. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic)
Christina Milian during Premiere Magazine’s “The New Power” – Arrivals & Inside at Ivar in Hollywood, California, United States. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic)
Christina Milian during The Island Def Jam/Courvoisier Holiday/Charmbracelet Release Party at Capitale in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by L. Busacca/WireImage)
Christina Milian in Backstage Creations Talent Retreat (Photo by J.Sciulli/WireImage for Backstage Creations)
Christina Milian during Virgin Cola at the Post MTV Movie Awards Party – Red Carpet at Fame @ Xes in Hollywood, California, United States. (Photo by J.Sciulli/WireImage)
Christina Milian during Post VMA Party Hosted by OutKast and Navan at Mansion in Miami, FL, United States. (Photo by John Parra/WireImage)
Christina Milian during Nickelodeon’s 16th Annual Kids’ Choice Awards 2003 – Arrivals at Barker Hanger in Santa Monica, California, United States. (Photo by Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage)
AOL Music Summer Concert Series with Christina Milian – Concert and Reception – Christina Milian (Photo by Theo Wargo/WireImage)
Christina Milian during Christina Milian performs at Pontiac Garage in Times Square at Pontiac Garage Times Square in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Theo Wargo/WireImage for Bragman Nyman Cafarelli)
Christina Milian during B.E.T. Presents Rip The Runway 2006 at Roseland Ballroom in New York, New York, United States. (Photo by John Ricard/FilmMagic)
Christina Milian during Arista Record’s BET Awards After Party at White Lotus in Los Angeles, CA, United States. (Photo by Jean-Paul Aussenard/WireImage for Teen People Magazine- CLOSED)
Christina Milian during UGG Australia Suite at the Roosevelt Hotel at The Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood, California, United States. (Photo by Chris Weeks/WireImage)
Christina Milian during “Be Cool” London Premiere at Empire Leicester Square in London, Great Britain. (Photo by Fred Duval/FilmMagic)
Christina Milian during “Love Don’t Cost a Thing” – Los Angeles Premiere – Red Carpet at Mann’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California, United States. (Photo by Lee Celano/WireImage for Hollywood Reporter)
Christina Milian during Christina Milian, Andre “3000” Benjamin and Cassie Visit MTV’s “TRL” Studios at MTV Studios in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Theo Wargo/WireImage)
Christina Milian during 2005 MTV VMA – Style Villa at Catalina Hotel in Miami Beach, Florida, United States. (Photo by Djamilla Rosa Cochran/WireImage for Garbage PR)
Christina Milian during Trey Parker, Matt Stone and Christina Milian Visit MTV’s “TRL” – October 13, 2004 at MTV Studios – Times Square in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/FilmMagic)
Christina Milian during Rebecca Romijn, Christina Milian and the Cast of “Call to Greatness” Visit MTV’s “TRL” – April 2, 2006 at MTV Studios in New York City, New York. (Photo by Theo Wargo/WireImage)
Christina Milian during N’SYNC And Jive Records Host A Record Release Party For Their New Album “Celebrity” at Moomba in West Hollywood, California, United States. (Photo by SGranitz/WireImage)
Christina Milian during “Star Wars: Episode III, Revenge Of The Sith” New York City Benefit Premiere – Red Carpet at The Ziegfeld Theater in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/FilmMagic)
Christina Milian during “Torque” World Premiere at Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood, California, United States. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic)
Christina Milian during Christina Milian and Fantasia Barrino Stop by MTV’s “Summer on the Run” Beach House 2004 at Long Beach in Long Beach, California, United States. (Photo by Chris Polk/FilmMagic)
Actress Christina Milian poses at the Op New Summer Campaign Celebrity Launch Party in Beverly Hills, California on June 3, 2008. (Photo by Jason Merritt/FilmMagic)
Singer Christina Milian during Maxim’s 2008 Hot 100 Party at Paramount Studios on May 21, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.E (Photo by Jason Merritt/FilmMagic)
Christina Milian during MTV’s “Iced Out” New Year’s Eve 2004 – Backstage at MTV Studios – Times Square in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/FilmMagic)
Christina Milian during KTU’s Miracle on 34th St. show at Madison Square Garden in New York City at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Theo Wargo/WireImage)
Christina Milian during “Crossroads” Hollywood Premiere at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California, United States. (Photo by SGranitz/WireImage)
Christina Milian during The 2001 Teen Choice Awards – Press Room at Universal Amphitheater in Universal City, California, United States. (Photo by SGranitz/WireImage)
LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 18: Singer Christina Milian attends Flaunt Magazine’s 10th Anniversary Party at a private residence on December 18, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images)
NEW YORK – OCTOBER 13: Singer Christina Milian poses backstage at a concert during “The Truth Tour 2004” on October 13, 2004 at Madison Square Garden, in New York City. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)
UNITED STATES – JULY 27: G-Phoria 2005 in Los Angeles, United States on July 27, 2005 – Christina Milian at the 2005 G-Phoria Videogame Award Show at Los Angeles Center Studios. (Photo by Mike FANOUS/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – JULY 20: Christina Milian attends Citizens of Humanity Summer Party at Roosevelt Hotel on July 20, 2005. (Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
About D’Shonda: Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, D’Shonda Brown is the Associate Editor at Girls United. When she’s not interviewing or writing, she enjoys running, dancing, buying sneakers, and binge-watching Lifetime movies.