10 Times Janet Jackson Changed the Game

All of the times she showcased why she's a world treasure.

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55 Never Looked This Good - Janet Jackson, the once precocious baby sister of the Jacksons, turns 55 years old today. For decades, Janet has changed the game. There’s no time like now to take stock of all she’s done. She’s showed us what true reinvention looks like. Happy birthday and we thank you for being one of the originals, Janet! (Photo: Francois Nel/Getty Images)

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Sexuality Exploration Through Music - Janet explored sexuality via empowerment like no artist had done before. Miss Janet broke through the sexist ceiling with songs "Anytime, Anyplace," "That's The Way Love Goes" and 1997's "Free Xone," where she shut down homophobia -- rare for a mainstream artist to do at the time.(Photo: Scott Gries/Getty Images)

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Surviving ‘Nipple Gate’ - In 2004, Janet accidentally had a wardrobe malfunction during the Super Bowl Halftime Show with Justin Timberlake. The world lost its collective mind. Nonetheless, Janet surivived and since then she has scored two no. 1 albums on Billboard.(Photo: Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)

Rhythmic Fashion - The video for "Rhythm Nation" was unlike any before, and so was the fashion. That military jacket and hat will always have a special place in our hearts!(Photo: A&M Records)

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True Reinvention - Don’t forget that Janet broke away from her father’s managerial influence to make her breakout hit album, Control. After that, she explored different themes and donned different looks for every album that followed. Her "Rhythm Nation" look was everything.(Photo: A&M Records)

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Breaking the Bank - In 1991, after fulfilling her contract with A&M, Janet went on to sign a contract with Virgin Records that was reportedly estimated between 32 million and 50 million dollars, making her the highest paid artist at the time. Janet simultaneously changed the game for Black and female artists.(Photo: Michael Putland/Getty Images)

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Turning Into a Mama - Janet Jackson gave birth to Eissa Al Mana on January 3, 2017 when she was 50 years old. Janet was a role model for first-time mothers over 50. Get it!(Photo: Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Sean Gardner/Getty Images

Introducing Us to Gary Dourdan - ...all while undressing him in the “Again” music video. For this we say, thank you.(Photo: Virgin Records)

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Introducing Us to Gary Dourdan - ...all while undressing him in the “Again” music video. For this we say, thank you.(Photo: Virgin Records)

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Live Performer - You have lived if you haven't seen Janet Jackson live. She has rocked nine world tours and, according to E!, the Rhythm Nation World Tour 1990, her first headlining tour, became the most successful debut tour by any artist.(Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images

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Proving the Jackson Talent Wasn’t Just for Boys - We know she wasn’t the only Jackson sister, but she definitely pulled out all the stops to create her own iconic career.(Photo: Ed Souza-Pool/Getty Images)

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Secret Lovers, Secret Divorce - Janet kept her marriage to René Elizondo Jr. a secret for almost a decade — right up until her divorce — paving the way for current celebrities to keep their relationships under wraps for as long as possible.(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

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Giving us Tina Landon - Choreographer Tina Landon may have gotten her start as Laker Girl under the tutelage of Paula Abdul, but it was her time with Janet choreographing tours and videos that would propel her to influence the dance game for years with artists like Mya, Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna, Britney Spears, Ciara and Shakira. The moves she designed for Janet brought her to us.(Photo: KMazur/WireImage)