Ciara Honors ‘Big Sister and Legend’ Missy Elliott at the 2023 Black Music Collective Event

The singer celebrated the rapper’s Global Impact Award win and delivered an incredible performance.
Missy Elliott and Ciara.

Missy Elliott and Ciara.


Ciara is the most supportive friend ever. She also delivers a killer musical performance. The “Goodies” singer did both on Thursday, Feb. 2, at the second annual Black Music Collective event.

Rap legend Missy Elliott received the Global Impact Award alongside Dr. Dre, Lil Wayne and Sylvia Rhone. On the black carpet, The Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. said that he hopes this event will remain a place people want to gather to celebrate and respect Black excellence and music. The ceremony honored hip-hop and the past, present and future of Black music through a series of performances and videos. 

“It was truly an honor to pay tribute to my friend, big sister, icon,and legend @MissyMisdemeanorElliott,” Ciara wrote in a heartfelt Instagram post. “I will never take moments like this for granted! What a blessing it was to see all the other amazing honorees and greats in the room! @Liltunechi @DrDre thank you also for the inspiration you’ve given us all! Legendary nights!”

The 37-year-old wore a velvet vest tank, baggy denim jeans and a perfectly complementary denim and velvet maxi coat. She accessorized with chunky sunglasses, a thick silver choker necklace with a large cross pendant and bright red nails. Makeup artist Yolonda Frederick-Thompson opted for sultry glam, including a bold smoky eye, deep contour and a nude lip. Ciara’s hair was loosely slicked back for a messy wet look.

Ciara performed a rendition of her song, “1, 2 Step,” a 2004 track on which Elliott was featured. Ciara and Mona Scott-Young introduced the “Get Ur Freak On” rapper together and presented her with the award. Ciara described the 51-year-old Elliott as “the true definition of a legend, an icon, an ultimate rockstar.”

“You have changed the world, changed the way we see ourselves, changed the way we experience music,” Scott-Young added. “And for that, I thank you.”

Elliott accepted her award with tears and an emotional speech.

“This will never get old to me. I’ve won a lot of awards and I feel the same way,” she said. “People don’t understand that this is a Global Impact Award. It’s not just neighborhood, it’s global. So it hits different when you stand up here, knowing that when you get something like this, you gotta know that you’ve been through a lot.”

Snoop Dogg, Chloe Bailey, DJ Khaled, 2 Chainz, Busta Rhymes and will.i.am also attended the Los Angeles event.

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Ananya Panchal
ANANYA PANCHAL

Ananya Panchal is a writer on the Lifestyle and Trending News team for SI Swimsuit, where she covers fashion, beauty, pop culture and the internet’s favorite personalities and trends. She joined the brand in 2022 after roles at Bustle, the San Francisco Chronicle and the TODAY Show. Panchal loves to write about fashion in all its forms—from standout runway moments and evolving street style to the best accessories to elevate each season’s wardrobe (she rarely goes anywhere without a stack of jewelry and a coffee in hand). A self-proclaimed beauty fanatic, she’s always on the hunt for must-have products and loves breaking down viral trends. Her favorite series at the moment is spotlighting female founders and the stories behind the brands they’ve built—especially those shaping the future of fashion, wellness and tech. She is based between New York City and San Francisco and, when she’s not writing, can be found rewatching One Tree Hill, playing sudoku, trying new restaurants or ranking her favorite Disney Channel Original Movies. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and journalism with a minor in criminal justice from Boston University.