Christina Aguilera performing “Fighter” at Wembley Arena in London during the Stripped World Tour in 2003. #Stripped24

Christina Aguilera’s “Fighter” music video uses the life cycle of a moth as a metaphor for transformation, turning betrayal and pain into strength. Trapped inside a glass cage, Christina breaks free and begins shedding her old self, with each look telling a different part of her metamorphosis. The black kimono-inspired cape, often mistaken for an Alexander McQueen design, was actually an original design by costume stylist Carol Beadle. Its backpack-like structure held the pins Christina throws away in the video. The shredded white moth dress reflects her transformation, while the final red-and-black look marks her evolution into a fighter. Beadle even handmade the red skirt by knotting strips of chiffon in her hotel room the night before filming. Directed by Floria Sigismondi, “Fighter” brings Christina’s story to life through its dark, haunting visuals and symbolism, remaining one of the most iconic videos of the Stripped era 24 years later.