Jessica Simpson: Young and Unstoppable - Portrait Magazine
Jessica Simpson: Young and Unstoppable
Written by: Michelle
Jessica Simpson
Jessica Simpson has it all: chart-topping hits, an acting and singing career, an amazing voice, beauty, brains—the list goes on and on… and her fans find it irresistible. She was crowned her high school’s homecoming princess and “she has a 160 IQ,” her mom, Tina has said. The bubbly blonde is also one of the only top pop stars who didn’t make it into The Mickey Mouse Club. However, life wasn’t always this easy for 26 year-old Jessica.
Jessica Ann Simpson was born on July 10, 1980 in Abilene, Texas to Joe and Tina Simpson. She was raised in Richardson, Texas, a city near Dallas, Texas. Her father was a Baptist minister and her mother was a Sunday school teacher, and Jessica’s church played a big role in her upbringing. As soon as she was old enough, Jessica began to sing in her church’s choir. At age 12, Jessica auditioned for The Mickey Mouse Club, but Christina Aguilera got the job. “I made it all the way to the end, and I froze at the last audition,” Jessica recalls. Though Jessica was disappointed in not making the cast of The Mickey Mouse Club, she moved on. “After I failed at the Disney thing, I really was like, ‘I’m going to do this…I’m going to be bigger than that.’ You have to think of stuff like that…and the next year I signed with [a] gospel label. It was fast,” Jessica said.
While attending church camp in her high school years, Jessica was discovered by a Christian music record label. She spent the next three years recording songs for her album. Unfortunately, the label went out of business before her album was released. Despite this setback, Jessica performed with Christian Youth Conference circuit and promoted her demo album. Her hard work finally paid off when Sony Record president, Tommy Mottola, had an interest in her music. Jessica was only a high school senior when she signed a recording contract in 1999 with Columbia Records.
Jessica and Ex-Husband Nick Lachey
Jessica’s first single, “I Wanna Love You Forever”, was the first track off her debut album, Sweet Kisses, which sold over two and a half million copies. Sweet Kisses was released in the fall of 1999 and her single reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 almost immediately. After Sweet Kisses was released, Jessica began to tour with the band 98 Degrees. On the tour, Jessica got to know band member Nick Lachey rather well. The two had an instant chemistry and they soon began dating. They had an “on-off” relationship for the first few years because Jessica wasn’t sure if she could have met the “love of her life” at age 18. This didn’t last long, and they were married in October 2002.
Above ^ Jessica and the boys of 98 degrees in 1999
In 2001, Jessica scored another top 20 hit with the song "Irresistible", the track off her second album, also named Irresistible. The album reached the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, and was certified gold.
Jessica spent the spring of 2003 finishing her third album. Within a month of its release, she hit the top five with the album titled In this Skin, selling almost three million copies. Her second single off In this Skin was "With You", and it rose to the top 15.
Jessica’s TV career took off in the summer of 2003. MTV launched the new reality series, Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica. Even though Jessica was famous before the series began, the show added to her popularity. She helped turn the show into a huge hit, making the average rating for each episode about 1.4 million viewers. The show continued to be a hit, but was ended in 2005.
Jessica and little sister Ashlee
During the summer of 2005, Simpson starred in her first major movie. She played Daisy Duke in film version remake of the TV series The Dukes of Hazzard. The film debuted at number one in the box-office, earning more than thirty million dollars. Along with acting, Jessica also sang “These Boots Are Made for Walkin'” for the movie.
In November 2005, Jessica and her husband Nick officially announced that they had split. The divorce was finalized on June 30, 2006. Jessica has been rumored to be dating Dane Cook, John Mayer, Adam Levine from Maroon 5, and Zach Braff, but Jessica's rep has said that she hasn't been dating anyone since her divorce from Nick Lachey.
Jessica's newest album, A Public Affair, was released on August 29, 2006. The album has reached the top 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. The single “A Public Affair” hit radio stations on June 23. The music video premiered July 19 on MTV’s TRL. The music video for the song features Jessica Simpson, along with Eva Longoria, Christina Applegate, Christina Milian, Maria Menounos, Andy Dick, and Ryan Seacrest. "A Public Affair" reached the top 15 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Watch the 'Public Affair' video below
She also finished filming her second movie Employee of the Month, with Dane Cook, in New Mexico. She played character Amy Renfro. The movie was released on September 29, 2006.
Jessica hosted the 2006 Teen Choice Awards with her Employee of the Month co-star Dane Cook.
Jessica launched a shoe collection that was released in department stores across the U.S. from February 2006. Jessica also released her own line of Dessert Beauty and Dessert Treat beauty products, as well as a clothing line.
Jessica filmed a sitcom for ABC called The Jessica Simpson Show. Unfortunately, the network rejected it in May 2004. In July 2006 the sitcom was reviewed by channels CW, CBS and again for ABC. It is being considered to be picked up by either The CW or ABC, because they have expressed the most interest. The show has also been considered under the new name Jessica.
Jessica Simpson is unstoppable, and at such a young age, you can be sure that she will be around for a long time.
Great Jessica Simpson fansites on the World Wide Web:
Attended J.J. Pearce High School in Richardson, Texas (1995-1998), where she was a cheerleader and very active in theater arts. She dropped out as a junior to further pursue her singing career.
Close friends with musical group Destiny's Child
Is the older sister of Ashlee Simpson
Jessica’s dad Joe works as a psychologist and a Baptist minister in Texas, when he's not managing his daughters' musical careers and their official websites.
Has a Mercedes Benz SL500
Loves to shop at Abercrombie and Fitch, Guess, Bebe, and Juicy
Pretty Woman is her favorite movie
Beat out Britney Spears, for the role of Daisy Duke, in The Dukes of Hazzard
Loves hot pink roses
One of Jessica's 'HairDo' Promo pictures
Jessica stars in an ad for HairDo Clip-In hair, her new line of hair accessories launched by her and Ken Pavés
According to her mother, Jessica’s I.Q is in the 160s. That would place her in the "genius" category.
Underwent LASIK eye surgery to correct her vision
Performed at President George W. Bush's Inauguration (2001)
Her first album was a Christian album, when she was 14
Has a dog named Daisy who is a Malti-Poo
Was voted #1 in People Magazine's 10 Most Stylish Moments for her "Daisy Duke" look. (September 2005)
Former high school cheerleader
In her October 2002 wedding to Nick Lachey, she wore a beaded, strapless gown designed by Vera Wang. She also carried a 500-stem stephanotis bouquet from Mark's Garden (in Los Angeles) that took 12 hours to assemble.
Celebrated her 25th birthday at her parents' home
Jessica is the official celebrity spokesperson for Operation Smile, a charity group that provides free reconstructive surgery for children with facial and oral deformities.
She has also been a spokesperson for the acne treatment Proactiv.
