In the mid 2000s, few stars lived under more pressure than one famous pop singer. Every trip to the shops became news, and photographers followed her almost everywhere she went.
That singer was Britney Spears. In the summer of 2006, she was in the final weeks of her second pregnancy, and the attention around her was enormous.
One set of photos from that time shows a very different side of her. In late August, Britney was photographed inside a toy store in Malibu, choosing toys for her growing family.
She was dressed casually in comfortable maternity clothes. Around her were shelves full of soft toys and games, while outside the shop windows a crowd of photographers waited for any picture they could get.
She was just 24 years old at the time. Only a few weeks later, she welcomed her second son, Jayden James.
Looking back, the photos show a strong contrast. Inside, there was a young mother doing something ordinary and gentle. Outside, there was an entire industry chasing her every move.
Those years came before social media, when celebrities had very little control over their own stories. Many people now look at that time differently and think about how stars like Britney were treated.
The Malibu photos remain a quiet reminder that behind the headlines was a real person, a young woman preparing for her baby while the whole world watched.
