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She's a humble queen - Although she has every reason in the world to have a huge ego, she was still blown over by becoming the first female rapper to receive the Video Vanguard Award, and she delivered a history-making performance that ranks among the best the MTV VMAs has ever seen.

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Passing the torch - The 48-year-old chanted “Pass that torch” during her performance, and brought out her youngest dancers while she accepted the award, but she's always shared her platform with the younger generation.

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A prime example: Alyson Stoner - Seventeen years after dancing in Elliott's 'Work It' video, the rapper brought Alyson Stoner, now 26, back on stage to dance again.

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A champion of dance - Elliott dedicated the award to the dance community, "because when y'all get on the stage with these artists, y'all are not just props. Y'all are the icing on the cake, y'all are the beat to the heart."

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A fashion icon - She's never been afraid to make bold choices on the red carpet, including when she skipped wearing a dress to the Grammys and opted instead for a pink velour tracksuit.

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Tracksuit star - Elliott is the undisputed queen of matching tracksuits, and who doesn't love comfort? At the 2005 BET Awards, she wore one with Michael Jackson's face on it.

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That time she wore her own face - There was never anything more iconic, and she's the only one who could ever pull it off.

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That lyric in 'Work It' that is still surprising people - "I put my thing down flip it and reverse it" followed by the same phrase literally flipped and reversed: "Ti esrever dna ti pilf, nwod gniht ym tup."

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She was one of the pioneering female rappers - Cardi B said the first album she bought was Missy Elliott's, and the legendary rapper has paved the way for numerous other talented women. You can tell she's a pioneer by that flip phone.

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Body positive - Elliott proved time and again that female musicians didn't need to pander to industry standards of size or sexuality to succeed. She said it best, “I got a cute face, chubby waist... Make you do a double take."

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Championing female sexuality - For 'Work It' to have been such a hit in 2002 was groundbreaking, because it was a woman confidently flaunting her sexual demands and pleasure.

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She certainly wasn't shy - Elliott definitely delivered shock value, with rap lyrics like, "Call before you come, I need to shave my cha-cha" in 'Work It.'

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That time she praised toys over men - 'Toyz' from 2003's 'This Is Not A Test' is almost a seminal modern feminist text. The lyrics proudly support self-pleasure, reaffirming the idea that a woman doesn't need a man, and it's also just incredibly funny.

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'She's a B***h' called out double standards in rap - Elliott pushed back against industry sexism and reclaimed the word "b***h," confidently defending her spot at the top.

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She showed everyone how to deal with gossip - Just write an incredible track called 'Gossip Folks' and use expertly crafted bars to directly attack the tabloids for their gossiping and sex-shaming ways.

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She broke the music video mold - Her music videos, working alongside Hype Williams, raised the bar for artists, and they created freaky mismatched worlds of fantasy and color, worlds which were so significant that a Museum of Missy was created to showcase her video universe.

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More than two decades of legacy - It's been 22 years since she dropped her debut album 'Supa Dupa Fly.' From the beginning, she helped reshape the look, sound, and gender dynamics of pop and rap, particularly in the '90s and '00s.

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Writing and producing - While she's certainly shone in the limelight, she's also done a lot of work behind the scenes, working closely with artists like Timbaland as well as the late Aaliyah, who she honored on a jacket at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards shortly after her untimely death.

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A long list of writing credits - She's also written for other huge artists like Mary J. Blige, Beyoncé, Faith Evans, Busta Rhymes, TLC, Keyshia Cole, Whitney Houston, and more.

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She was recognized for her lyrical genius this year - Earlier in 2019, Elliott was inducted to the Songwriters Hall of Fame, becoming the first female rapper to ever receive the honor. They described her as "one of the most significant female artists in contemporary music history."

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Michelle Obama is a big fan - In a video tribute, the former first lady thanked Elliott for empowering young women with her trailblazing ways. "Thank you not for just sharing your gift with the world, but for being an advocate for so many people out there, especially young girls who are still figuring out how to make their voices heard," she said.

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She's worked with young stars of today - Big-name artists like Ariana Grande ('borderline') and most recently Lizzo ('Tempo') have been graced with the musical touch of Missy. Lizzo's video for the song even got the Missy Elliott treatment.

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A big supporter of women and female friendship -

Missy spent the majority of her career reinforcing the importance of female friendships (see 'Best Friends ft. Aaliyah'), while also showing us the amazing things that happen when women (including Ciara, Eve, Lil Kim, etc) work together.

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She always hows how to make an entrance - All eyes were on her when she arrived at the 2001 MTV VMAs, flying in on a chandelier.

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VMA legend - But she outdid herself by recreating this iconic inflatable garbage-bag ensemble from her 'The Rain' video at the 2006 awards. She told Elle in 2017, “I loved the idea of feeling like a hip-hop Michelin woman.”

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She made bubble gum a must-have accessory - While many stars might consider gum on the red carpet a faux pas, for a period of time Elliott was rarely pictured without a bright pink bubble.

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She inspired Marc Jacobs - In 2016, the designer tapped Elliott to be in his campaign and first-ever music video collaboration for his A/W 2016 collection. He wrote on Instagram that he had been entranced with her music since 1997, and that her songs have energized his team on endless occasions. 

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That time she was in a movie with Jessica Alba - She plays herself in 'Honey,' a film which follows an aspiring hip-hop choreographer (Alba), and she's absolutely hilarious in it.

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Dripping in platinum - Missy's six studio albums have each been RIAA platinum certified or better, and she's the only female rapper to achieve that remarkable feat.

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'Iconology' - In August 2019, she released a five-song EP that represents her first collection of new work since her 2005 album, 'The Cookbook.' Many speculate that this album is signalling an official comeback... and yes, her chain says "iconic."

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She has always practiced what she preached -

Though she faced numerous hurdles along the way, she never strayed from her goals: "Ain't no shame ladies do your thing, just make sure you're ahead of the game."

See also: Famous women worth more than their male partners

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