Visionary. Legend. Icon. Trendsetter. Everything she touches turns to gold… even the July/August cover of Essence A title means nothing to Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliot who continues to push boundaries across her 25-plus-year career— even lending her talents to partner on the creative vision for this incredible cover. “I never thought, ‘Hey, I'm going to do this and this is going to change the world…’ or ‘I want to do the craziest thing ever.’ Nothing seemed crazy to me." Missy’s talent knows no bounds. Just when you think you know what to expect. She circumvents expectations, pushes the boundaries, and she ‘Puts that thang down, flips it, and reverse it’ Give this month’s cover star and Saturday’s Headliner for the @essencefest her flowers in the comments and read the full story at the link in our bio. And if you haven’t already gotten your tickets the window between CP Time and just being late is quickly closing friend! Credits: Talent: @missymisdemeanorelliott Writer: @brooklynrwhite Photo: @mrdblanks Styling: @_adikted2fresh_ @missymisdemeanorelliott Hair: @kellonderyck Makeup: @yayabeatsface Nails: @nuthin_butnails Production: @crowdmgmt

From Coco Jones’ emotional acceptance speech to Patti LaBelle’s Tina Turner tribute - here are some of the biggest moments from the 2023 BET Awards #ESSENCE

Baby, Keke ain’t letting her foot up off our necks! Brb, heading to Target for a neck brace - y’all need one? #ESSENCE 📷 @nvmwendy

We are still not over how @missymisdemeanorelliott put the thing down, flipped it and reversed on the latest cover of ESSENCE! Let’s go behind the scenes and see how the magic happened! Check out Missy’s cover story right now on ESSENCE.com

If we don’t do anything else, we’re going put it on when it’s time to pop out! Black star power has taken over the BET Awards red carpet! Check out some of our favorite looks from the night! 📸: Getty Images

We have yet to find our edges… @missymisdemeanorelliott you didn’t have to do it to us like this! Check out her cover story on ESSENCE.com. 📸 @mrdblanks

ESSENCE and @cocacola are back with Season 5 of If Not For My Girls, featuring an all new cast, @munilong , @bia , and @yesimprettyvee ! Grab your girls and meet us on Sat, 7/1 at 2pm at the Convention Center (Coca-Cola Stage). Trust us...you don’t want to miss this! #ifnotformygirls

It’s Caribbean American heritage month and ESSENCE recently joined Vice President @kamalaharris aboard Air Force Two as she traveled to the Bahamas. The VP’s visit to The Bahamas was historic as she is the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit the island nation since its independence in 1973. The visit was symbolic as Kamala Harris is the first black and Caribbean-American vice president of the United States. The latest US-Caribbean Leaders Meeting was held advance initiatives on some of the Caribbean’s most pressing issues, including the climate crisis, weapons trafficking, and humanitarian aid. During her trip, the vice president announced that the U.S. will invest more than $100 million in the Caribbean region to tackle those issues. Press play and check more on this historic visit on ESSENCE.com!

When Bosses talk — we listen! ESSENCE Festival 2023 has just been blessed and certified by two of the biggest bosses that we’ve seen thus far. For one day only Rick Ross and our CEO and President of ESSENCE Ventures Caroline Wanga teach you how to hustle to secure the bag and to maintain the bag as we go in depth from Boss to Boss. The Teflon Dons just made this lineup HEAVY and the Aston Martin is pulling up to New Orleans on presidential status. You ready? The Date: July 1st The Location: The Convention Center The Occasion: The epicenter of Black Excellence Your attendance: Mandatory Download the APP for times,details and programming! Here we Come! #ESSENCEFest

Whether it’s four plus four, five plus three, six plus two, or seven plus one. It all adds up to eight! Miss @domfishback you did that! Check out her cover story on ESSENCE.com

Through it all Monica has found the greatest love of all. A love for herself! Check out the latest digital cover story on ESSENCE.com

Everything @missymisdemeanorelliott touches turns to gold- or platinum! Missy’s music is the soundtrack for a whole generation, and when she’s not mesmerizing us with her infectious lyrics, she’s writing some hits for your favorite artists! Here’s 10 songs you may have not known were penned by the Queen herself! Don’t forget to check out Missy’s cover story on ESSENCE.com