We were still reeling from the news that Mimi was engaged to Nick ‘who he?' Cannon, when news reached us that she'd married him, with a pal revealing, "When he asked her to marry him, she had no hesitation in saying yes."

So with the cry of ‘What's going on? They've only been dating for five minutes!,' from the Ahlan! team, we investigate the random explanations for this unlikely alliance...

Ego massage
As the most successful artist of the 90s, Mimi was one of the world's most adored women. A decade on, she admits she craves the attention she once received, saying, "I've always had really low self-esteem... The weird thing is being on stage, and the love you get, and adoration you feel from your real fans. Nothing could compare."

So when Nick, 27, lavished the star with attention, her confidence received a much-needed boost.

Clinging to youth
At 38, there is only so much longer Mimi can flaunt her glitterjugs in revealing clothing. What better way to recapture her youth than to pair up with a hot young star? Getting hitched is an extreme way to prove you're down with the kids though, Mimi. Wouldn't a collaboration with Justin have done the trick better?

Biological clock
As Mimi approaches 40, she can only look enviously at her happily sprogged-up chart rivals, Beyonce, Britney and Christina. Having publicly vowed not to have children until she's married, perhaps virile young Nick is being groomed for diaper duty.

Fear of being alone
As her public breakdown in 2001 showed, Mimi's never been the poster girl for mental health. There's more going on behind those chipmunk cheeks than boobs and butterflies - this diva has demons.

"It's because of childhood traumatic stuff," she admits. Perhaps we can sum up Mimi's nuptials in six simple words: Must. Not. Be. Alone. With.Thoughts.

Mimi's little black book
Bet they're kicking themselves now. Not.

Eminem
When she split from Marshall, he slated her in a rap. Nice.

Leo DiCaprio
Their short-lived fling sunk faster than the Titanic.

Flavio Briatore
She enjoyed a racy relationship with the F1 boss.

Tommy Mottola
Mimi split from her wrinkly record company exec hubby in 1997.