Christina Aguilera has shared a powerful message to those commenting about her appearance as she rang in the new year.
The 'Genie In A Bottle' star, 44, has faced intense speculation for her ageless looks over the past year, ranging from cruel trolling to those wishing they could know her secret to looking so flawless.
The comments haven't gone unnoticed by the five-time Grammy Award winner, who took to Instagram to share a video montage of her posing for the camera, before a series of comments she'd received flashed up on the screen.
They ranged from: "I didn't realize that was Christina, she looks so different," to: "There is no way she's in her 40s."
Others added: "Tell us the secret!!," Yea how is she looking so good," and: "What happened to you. How old are you."
Addressing the focus on her image, Christina wrote in the caption: "This year, doing something a little different.
"This is a reminder to everyone that you are your OWN STORYTELLER in your OWN LIFE. No one else can dictate who you are. No one deserves an explanation."
She continued: "I am evolved enough to know that nothing comes easy and no one is perfect. Everyone will judge you. No matter WHAT you do. And/ or what you don’t do.
"Acceptance comes with accepting yourself first. And the difficult journey it takes sometimes to get there.
"I celebrate everyone taking the time to put one step in front of the next everyday in order to build the next version of themselves for the better. Allowing yourself grace, patience and respect..."
In August, Christina opened up about the impact that body-shaming comments had on her as a young artist.
She admitted that for many years her self-esteem was determined by "how skinny I was," explaining to Glamour: "When you’re a teenager, you have a very different body than when you’re in your 20s.
"I started to fill out, and then that was unacceptable because it was like, ‘Oh, she’s getting thicker.’ Then I had industry people: ‘They liked your body and how you were as a skinny teenager.’”
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Christina revealed that she has learned over the years to not let other people's comments and opinions about her body affect how she feels, adding: "I have a maturity now where I just don’t give a f**k about your opinion. I’m not going to take it on.
"It must be your responsibility to take up your space. Other people’s opinions of me are not my business."
The mom-of-two also told People in November that she hopes to instill the same attitude into her kids, 16-year-old son Max, and daughter Summer, 10.
She revealed: "Defining beauty for me is about feeling comfortable in your own skin, and that’s a message I always try to encourage my kids to instill in themselves."