Who

The former wife of Nas, Kelis is best known for her wild get-ups and 2003's irresistible earworm "Milkshake."

Backstory

The daughter of a black minister, Kelis Rogers (pronounced kuh-LEASE) was raised primarily by her Puerto Rican-Chinese mom and sang in the Girl's Choir of Harlem as a kid. She left home at the age of 16, and eventually made a name for herself on the hip hop scene singing alongside Ol' Dirty Bastard on "Got Your Money" in 1999. A few months later, she released her solo debut, Kaleidoscope, which featured the single "Caught Out There" with its repetitive refrain, "I hate you so much right now!" But it was her ongoing collaboration with The Neptunes and her 2003 album Tasty that earned Kelis the most attention—the album's hit single was "Milkshake," with its techno beat and accompanying bizarre, diner-themed video. After touring with everyone from Britney Spears to Moby, Kelis released her third album, Kelis Was Here, in 2006. She was joined by her husband Nas on the record's kinky ditty "Blindfold Me." If you've seen pictures of Nas with his grotesque gold-and-diamond grill, you can understand why she'd want to be blindfolded.

The look

Kelis's weird fashion sense has always attracted attention, from the multi-colored afro she sported early in her career to her regular appearances on "worst dressed" lists for her tacky ensembles. She's also a popular choice for drag queens seeking a diva to impersonate. As she says: "I'm 5-foot-10. I'm black. I'm loud, and I wear panties onstage. I'm like a gay man's purse. It's a good accessory."

Legal file

In early 2007, Kelis was arrested and charged with two misdemeanors for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest after yelling "racial profanities" at female cops posing as prostitutes in Miami Beach. Her mug shot shows her smiling sweetly with cotton candy-pink hair.

Personal

Kelis wed Nas in 2005, but their relationship soon came crashing down and she filed for divorce in mid-2009. Since then, the two have continued to fight in court over child support and alimony payments. The couple has one child, a son named Knight, and jointly owns a 1,663-square-foot Chelsea condo that they bought for $1.3 million.