For almost a decade, Britney Spears was the squeaky-clean princess of pop who seemingly had the world at her feet.
But her life began to crumble following the birth of sons Sean and Jayden amid rumours of post-natal depression, and in 2007 she suffered a harrowing breakdown as the world looked on.
In the space of just 14 months, Britney's previously hidden battle with mental illness saw the broken and vulnerable star implode before our eyes, culminating in her being strapped to a gurney and put under a controversial conservatorship.
But perhaps one of the most profoundly tragic images from that time were of Britney - who turns 41 today - shaving her own head.
The shocking incident unfolded after she fled rehab in Antigua and turned up at ex-husband Kevin Federline's house, demanding to see their then-infant sons.
But she was reportedly dealt devastating news when Kevin told her he wouldn't allow her to see her kids.
An angry and frustrated Britney drove to a random hair salon and asked hairdresser Esther Tognozz to shave her head... in front of more than 70 members of the paparazzi.
Tognozz tried to talk her out of it, but once her back was turned, Britney grabbed the clippers and sheared her locks herself.
Meanwhile, her bodyguards did nothing.
"She had two bodyguards supposedly keeping an eye out to make sure the paparazzi were not getting any pictures," Tognozz told Channel 5 documentary, Britney Spears - Breaking Point, where footage showed aides laughing with photographers.
The saddest part though, was Britney's expression as her somewhat manic smile gave way to panic and grief when she realised what she'd done.
Crestfallen, she fretted that her "mum was going to be p***ed" before moving on to Body and Soul Tattoo studio.
Tattooist Emily Wynne-Hughes recalled hearing "an insane roaring sound outside" as Britney and the paps pulled up.
"I wasn't sure what was happening, if there was a riot outside and then the flashes came. The door opened slowly and a hooded figure walked in the door," she said.
Britney demanded a tattoo of another woman's lips to begin with, followed by a small cross.
And it was Wynne-Hughes who she chose to confide in about her reasons for shaving her head.
"I noticed her hair was gone. I remember asking here, 'why do you shave your head?' And her answer was a bit weird," the tattooist says.
"It was, you know, 'I just don't want anybody, anybody touching my head. I don't want anyone touching my hair. I'm sick of people touching my hair.'"
Indeed, Britney's image had been controlled by music execs since she first burst onto the scene with ...Baby One More Time in 1998.
According to reports, they micro-managed every detail of her appearance, right down to the knickers she wore.
But as she sat there unravelling, Wynne-Hughes said this time Britney's team had no interest in intervening.
"It just didn't seem like they cared very much. I've felt this insane sense of anxiety and energy that felt so negative," she said.
"It just seemed like everybody was waiting for the crash to happen."
