A weaker woman would’ve thrown in the towel by now—and not in the dripping-wet way we like. Filled with more publicized lows than highs, Christina Milian’s career has been bumpier than Kardashian’s backside. After years of playing it safe on the Disney circuit, the Cuban beauty reinvented herself as a sexually liberated singer turned actress. But rather than receiving platinum plaques and starring in Oscar-nominated films, she got a cheating celebrity boyfriend (Nick Cannon) and a record label (Island Def Jam) that gave her the boot in 2006 due to poor sales.

But hold all calls, Dancing with the Stars producers. Determined to prove that she’s more than just a gorgeously photogenic paparazzi subject, Milian, 27, is back with a two-part plan of attack. First, there’s her new record deal with the digital titans over at MySpace Music. Secondly, she’s beefing up her Hollywood résumé with a sexy costarring role alongside A-listers Jennifer Garner and Matthew McConaughey in this summer’s Ghosts of Girlfriends Past. Here’s to hoping she plays McConaughey’s nymphomaniac ex.