A self-possessed 17-year-old named Christina Aguilera stopped in the office late last month on a promotional tour.

Aguilera, who is working on her debut record, scored a coup by being chosen to sing the big ballad, Reflection , from the soundtrack for the latest animated Disney movie, Mulan .

Born in Staten Island, Aguilera said she grew up in Pittsburgh and has wanted to sing ``since I've been in diapers.'' She made her TV debut at age 8 on Star Search .

She was on the brink of signing a record deal with RCA when she heard Disney was looking for a young female singer for Mulan . But she had to be able to belt a certain note -- E above middle C -- which Aguilera calls ``the note that changed my life.''

Aguilera sang the song into a cheap tape recorder, sent the results to Disney, and the next thing she knew, she was in Hollywood. After singing Reflection a few times, Disney execs told her she had the job.

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