Christina Aguilera Says Living With An Abusive Father Helped Her Become A Successful Singer

Christina Aguilera says living with an abusive father helped her become a successful singer. The "Beautiful" singer star was the victim of domestic abuse when she was growing up and also regularly witnessed her father Fausto attack her mother Shelly.

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Christina turned to music to help her cope with the trauma, and insists it was her tough upbringing that inspired her to follow her dream.

She said: "I witnessed a lot of unpleasant things - a lot of pushing and shoving and fighting and quarrelling. Growing up I did not feel safe. Feeling powerless is the worst feeling in the world. I turned to singing as an outlet. The pain at home is where my love for music came from."

Shelly eventually left her husband when she found a four-year-old Christina covered in blood.

Shelly revealed in a TV documentary: "I scooped her up and said, 'Oh my God. What's wrong?' She told me, 'Daddy wanted to take a nap and I made too much noise.'"

Fausto has since begged for forgiveness but Christina refuses to have contact with him.

The "Candyman" singer - who has a 20-month-old son Max with husband Jordan Bratman - said: "I let him back into my life briefly but I soon realized that he is not necessary in my life."