Christina Milian (born Christine Flores on September 26, 1981) is a Cuban-American actress, singer and songwriter. 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 rest of Europe and the U.S. 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 was born in Jersey City, New Jersey to immigrant Afro-Cuban parents. Her 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, California 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 appeared in minor roles in the movies A Bug's Life and American Pie and in guest appearances on the television series Charmed, Clueless, and Get Real.
In 2002, Milian was appointed to host of the television show Wannabes on MTV. She met director Joseph Kahn on an episode of Wannabes who suggested she audition for a lead role in the film Torque opposite Ice Cube. Her audition was successful leading in turn to a lead role in Love Don't Cost a Thing in 2003. In 2004, she had roles in the films Man of the House opposite Tommy Lee Jones and Be Cool with John Travolta and Uma Thurman.
