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Janet Jackson Through the Years
![Janet Jackson Through the Years](https://ew.com/thmb/yPmuvdtSsed0eeeXolo2TmcNCAY=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/janet-jackson-image-tout-147d806a752f43b2b523505b088439aa.jpg)
Janet Jackson celebrates her 50th birthday Monday. Born in Gary, Indiana on May 16, 1966, the former child star rose to fame as a part of the Jackson family, embarking on her own solo career as an actress and a singer in her teens. Decades later, the beloved performer has chart-topping albums, sold-out tours, and talked-about on-screen credits to her name. See 50 photos of Jackson through the years on her 50th birthday, ahead.
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Janet Jackson With Randy Jackson in the Early 1970s
![Janet Jackson With Randy Jackson in the Early 1970s](https://ew.com/thmb/Fehz4yYR5bSHjNs6Nxo5dRwUHIo=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-89831250-cafb6b5d75734e959e1b19ef7e8b7f33.jpg)
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Janet Jackson With Michael Jackson in Los Angeles on December 18, 1972
![Janet Jackson With Michael Jackson in Los Angeles on December 18, 1972](https://ew.com/thmb/HB7Fy_4BTUInBhmxLHVuekUCZKw=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-82779902-784a9427509a42c69a3a58110224a340.jpg)
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Janet Jackson as Penny Gordon Woods With Ja'net Dubois on Good Times in 1974
![Janet Jackson as Penny Gordon Woods With Ja'net Dubois on Good Times in 1974](https://ew.com/thmb/3H4Q2VUActwDUnd-l3yoTavLHdY=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-136880113-78b67e2d3062414db9b19f706614e6ba.jpg)
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Janet Jackson With Michael Jackson at the American Music Awards on February 18, 1975
![Janet Jackson With Michael Jackson at the American Music Awards on February 18, 1975](https://ew.com/thmb/jpfdJsaRbC_11A6owmVBjOct6Pc=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-463151446-4aa93139720a4b0785db4166d49fe9ee.jpg)
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Janet Jackson With Randy Jackson, Jackie Jackson, Michael Jackson, Tito Jackson, Marlon Jackson, LaToya Jackson, and Rebbie Jackson in 1977
![Janet Jackson With Randy Jackson, Jackie Jackson, Michael Jackson, Tito Jackson, Marlon Jackson, LaToya Jackson, and Rebbie Jackson in 1977](https://ew.com/thmb/JdX9g7LScWIXrz_DPaPVzt_laQU=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-1856776-4b271cdc624d46b0bca574df8141f4be.jpg)
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Janet Jackson on August 17, 1978
![Janet Jackson on August 17, 1978](https://ew.com/thmb/ZBUOifWoqD4zISDgOXT7_Cbc3Jc=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-84150051-0d83022699fb4b7facfb70dc5ef18ff4.jpg)
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Janet Jackson as Charlene DuPrey on Diff'rent Strokes on October 29, 1981
![Janet Jackson as Charlene DuPrey on Diff'rent Strokes on October 29, 1981](https://ew.com/thmb/fg8eT-GSyJ6gaAppINiYMZxeW7g=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-140759251-dbdc80a834644f618a69aee76956c423.jpg)
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Janet Jackson in Los Angeles on August 2, 1982
![Janet Jackson in Los Angeles on August 2, 1982](https://ew.com/thmb/4heu2g5XefKtWr-t_mLB6aqu16w=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-74275478-724027dd20864f1392dac378a734918e.jpg)
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Janet Jackson With Joe Jackson and LaToya Jackson at the R&B Awards on February 4, 1983
![Janet Jackson With Joe Jackson and LaToya Jackson at the R&B Awards on February 4, 1983](https://ew.com/thmb/0KFNfN6qzYPHErdNvqj9mW1fHtA=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-74277044-5b3fd61c407f41fea4ff2c9e97439d81.jpg)
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Janet Jackson as Cleo Hewitt on Fame in 1984
![Janet Jackson as Cleo Hewitt on Fame in 1984](https://ew.com/thmb/v-xJt9SNrTMrowrcvW-S1FC4c2s=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-527185406-2cabe61026f34296aac0ada953ea69ce.jpg)
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Janet Jackson as Cleo Hewitt on Fame on July 24, 1984
![Janet Jackson as Cleo Hewitt on Fame on July 24, 1984](https://ew.com/thmb/2Alh6JfSUxg8zA4iEtowYymWqPM=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/ap_840724031-e7d49cf68389453d8f8d2d9fa9b6c915.jpg)
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Janet Jackson on the Cover of Her Dream Street Album in 1984
![Janet Jackson on the Cover of Her Dream Street Album in 1984](https://ew.com/thmb/lYowlEEisy6_9moaEXDk_RtxNZk=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-84934773-772ad2a2a28a42af9e76fd7f44084bf1.jpg)
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Janet Jackson in Los Angeles on August 1985
![Janet Jackson in Los Angeles on August 1985](https://ew.com/thmb/I2Vb1I3IdHxKjbCFSBPyK3_Jxjc=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-74276990-3213638c0adf40e3bf6b815134acda78.jpg)
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Janet Jackson With LaToya Jackson in Los Angeles in August 1985
![Janet Jackson With LaToya Jackson in Los Angeles in August 1985](https://ew.com/thmb/r5a1oZpeqYQcbKvcpQEK7B7-kuc=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-74276969-ed466b7c9843431ba971c1dbca25fa3b.jpg)
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Janet Jackson at the 12th Annual American Music Awards on January 28, 1985
![Janet Jackson at the 12th Annual American Music Awards on January 28, 1985](https://ew.com/thmb/vLTjCXErhClQUGZV8D3qFOAF5mE=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-105316625-56affecaf60643828eba5d2d0825874d.jpg)
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Janet Jackson in Los Angeles in 1986
![Janet Jackson in Los Angeles in 1986](https://ew.com/thmb/r7PHDv2S5rmacFs5RUMTs-JAz6Y=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-452046222-748ab60622314aca8ea3639813771f33.jpg)
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Janet Jackson at the American Music Awards on January 17, 1987
![Janet Jackson at the American Music Awards on January 17, 1987](https://ew.com/thmb/TfT3BwZPQa_2wHmRPSGRwMAxavo=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-74276373-94897c0bb7b849eb96a4b2f4480987a9.jpg)
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Janet Jackson on Solid Gold in 1987
![Janet Jackson on Solid Gold in 1987](https://ew.com/thmb/HSLY0u_bvMCbLkP1kEp9B_xFcZ4=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-74277029-3ef0098dfb934f908f187e8c8ab80537.jpg)
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Janet Jackson in the Mid-1980s
![Janet Jackson in the Mid-1980s](https://ew.com/thmb/MHZBiDLab8h-dN9WFWY7D3SSqEo=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-551551395-ee0550a06cd14455b469cba21f52fb61.jpg)
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Janet Jackson With Mr. T in the Mid-1980s
![Janet Jackson With Mr. T in the Mid-1980s](https://ew.com/thmb/HEsjB-aQIKyF8i1LqLllwqgfp70=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-551551317-8d78c805f5ab4263abdf3f6fd834dcf1.jpg)
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Janet Jackson in the Mid-1980s
![Janet Jackson in the Mid-1980s](https://ew.com/thmb/Cg2yu3gXU97X_J_0JuAOlispfEc=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-551551337-9285a40086e14977a3350c1c0cf111ae.jpg)
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Janet Jackson in the Late 1980s
![Janet Jackson in the Late 1980s](https://ew.com/thmb/rmLWLrvSvjgeVXPN-PT4DhmvHHE=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-529103865-c635038961cf4ecfbb5c67c4673015e6.jpg)
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Janet Jackson in the Late 1980s
![Janet Jackson in the Late 1980s](https://ew.com/thmb/7gQtf1Yq_gUeb4v8FHNReXyk5yI=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-169719412-b72b2c8b3e6f48afb033bf0fbf0f7817.jpg)
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Janet Jackson at the 1988 American Music Awards
![Janet Jackson at the 1988 American Music Awards](https://ew.com/thmb/nhnUAjXEUIcrhk7IfDcpU3ODoXc=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-80505479-6caf9f36d7f94dd2b0e6b9b381e761a7.jpg)
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Janet Jackson Celebrating the Platinum Status of Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814, "Miss You Much," and "Rhythm Nation" on December 8, 1989
![Janet Jackson Celebrating the Platinum Status of Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814, "Miss You Much," and "Rhythm Nation" on December 8, 1989](https://ew.com/thmb/XH28zOu6BrLZ200LFIh2iW6pRao=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-155210571-68154a1720954d7d82d354f9aef63404.jpg)
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Janet Jackson at the Billboard Music Awards on November 26, 1990
![Janet Jackson at the Billboard Music Awards on November 26, 1990](https://ew.com/thmb/cr8vqmMvtD4EiQ-nyuI61MyiKPA=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-115391772-379b935791f249f48dcfec4dbbae69ee.jpg)
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Janet Jackson as Justice in Poetic Justice in 1993
![Janet Jackson as Justice in Poetic Justice in 1993](https://ew.com/thmb/MLQo5EcvUqQZEW-EdG5eji5EZg8=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-178364065-ba4c2c751a03481db25bfe02f7ba1c5b.jpg)
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Janet Jackson With Michael Jackson at the Grammys on February 24, 1993
![Janet Jackson With Michael Jackson at the Grammys on February 24, 1993](https://ew.com/thmb/539i9O0rWhbxMwuNNjVPsb7VeWQ=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-84313992-0f0b7216476c4d27af15371b009d6978.jpg)
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Janet Jackson Performing at Madison Square Garden in New York City on December 18, 1993
![Janet Jackson Performing at Madison Square Garden in New York City on December 18, 1993](https://ew.com/thmb/_44lXrJZCFAojfz_VkzXvRAY1xo=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-568553053-138afbca747b4cafb02dfd780a57f5a8.jpg)
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Janet Jackson at the MTV Video Music Awards on September 7, 1994
![Janet Jackson at the MTV Video Music Awards on September 7, 1994](https://ew.com/thmb/2us6twBWwjjW5iXLnVb_uUnllLs=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-109990001-6ef68c2e8f7f49108a0d431fface40de.jpg)
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Janet Jackson at Virgin Megastore in New York City on October 7, 1997
![Janet Jackson at Virgin Megastore in New York City on October 7, 1997](https://ew.com/thmb/cKh95IF4e8cADhnXC3fxxFubuhY=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-104915730-6f444b5d3d8f4fda94cae343c2b48a25.jpg)
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Janet Jackson Performing at Madison Square Garden in New York City on October 10, 1998
![Janet Jackson Performing at Madison Square Garden in New York City on October 10, 1998](https://ew.com/thmb/rBa9akFCoaeSEVSjbNEhTRSmotk=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-105167211-7d796086c52642f7961702e14571e04d.jpg)
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Janet Jackson as Denise Gaines With Eddie Murphy in Nutty Professor II: The Klumps in 2000
![Janet Jackson as Denise Gaines With Eddie Murphy in Nutty Professor II: The Klumps in 2000](https://ew.com/thmb/dR-jx1U_3JIgD-Lw6bXVAoW4aQc=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-1153443-9965caa8e28a4fd883eceebd639299f8.jpg)
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Janet Jackson on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on April 26, 2001
![Janet Jackson on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on April 26, 2001](https://ew.com/thmb/-EwVMTgv2msxHxhgl77WWOnUt08=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-180244301-6b01313cfba74f5b830f5d3bc0f6af86.jpg)
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Janet Jackson at the Billboard Music Awards on December 4, 2001
![Janet Jackson at the Billboard Music Awards on December 4, 2001](https://ew.com/thmb/qQ9sd4K34zf1WvDJDd9c7TNI_1M=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-104606945-a92aae5b75014238b1693bcaaacc3fd0.jpg)
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Janet Jackson at the 2nd Annual BET Awards on June 25, 2002
![Janet Jackson at the 2nd Annual BET Awards on June 25, 2002](https://ew.com/thmb/okIbxtCtHfi1Um6ZBLjHHcia1fE=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-109525484-9fb37f38a04544c982cf0c5322ae1484.jpg)
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Janet Jackson With Justin Timberlake at Super Bowl XXXVIII on February 1, 2004
![Janet Jackson With Justin Timberlake at Super Bowl XXXVIII on February 1, 2004](https://ew.com/thmb/RaMgytkScY1u7C1-xehajfQnrbs=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-2920825-e50afa348717499384354ea235c40cc3.jpg)
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Janet Jackson at the 18th Annual Soul Train Music Awards on March 20, 2004
![Janet Jackson at the 18th Annual Soul Train Music Awards on March 20, 2004](https://ew.com/thmb/zVntAwvgBZH7_d759KgovzJ3lYI=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-3117165-d04d6d2fda2943a1b5bf9f7c6ee180eb.jpg)
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Janet Jackson on Saturday Night Live on April 10, 2004
![Janet Jackson on Saturday Night Live on April 10, 2004](https://ew.com/thmb/GpvgY1INTa9nZTOyVhegYsC148g=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-138429032-ebe6a347de324487bba64cb24825c353.jpg)
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Janet Jackson With Jermaine Dupri at the 47th Annual Grammy Awards on February 13, 2005
![Janet Jackson With Jermaine Dupri at the 47th Annual Grammy Awards on February 13, 2005](https://ew.com/thmb/sGAam2tVwJXAAqlXVzedbX5g9Cw=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-105415952-e5ba3204160b42d3b79a547e25f40b2c.jpg)
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Janet Jackson at the Billboard Music Awards on December 5, 2006
![Janet Jackson at the Billboard Music Awards on December 5, 2006](https://ew.com/thmb/2g-VMv0uZIEsCMc8u5dSIi4ihjI=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-108945072-6c21e8d4771040f7948eefaebc1f27a4.jpg)
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Janet Jackson at the 39th NAACP Image Awards on February 14, 2008
![Janet Jackson at the 39th NAACP Image Awards on February 14, 2008](https://ew.com/thmb/Ot7hjv6lGZ59ysD39hzPo5EuCJw=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-106179827-cd4d0f155bed4774b7caab1a2a832113.jpg)
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Janet Jackson at the American Music Awards on November 22, 2009
![Janet Jackson at the American Music Awards on November 22, 2009](https://ew.com/thmb/JvBQ_HGIDAGCNVZ-UWLLn_Xs_hI=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-93309037-cdf316a05ef04f1ea392b0d9fd78abba.jpg)
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Janet Jackson at a New York City Screening of Why Did I Get Married Too? on March 22, 2010
![Janet Jackson at a New York City Screening of Why Did I Get Married Too? on March 22, 2010](https://ew.com/thmb/9YysxIFqYC-OMjRWNqGlttqcads=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-97953071-a4b2695c47674e07a7666dbf38f7f93d.jpg)
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Janet Jackson Preforming at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on September 1, 2011
![Janet Jackson Preforming at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on September 1, 2011](https://ew.com/thmb/P5q_q7JeKhl1fgJIfmLBHrwpoOM=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-123343261-df042325856e457781fcf4f294d6b176.jpg)
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Janet Jackson on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on January 9, 2012
![Janet Jackson on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on January 9, 2012](https://ew.com/thmb/O0y8VF7B_x3qXAaYN5Y-cyatpMQ=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-141435221-0ce515d9995c4ed3bbdeb998404912b6.jpg)
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Janet Jackson at the 66th Annual Cannes Film Festival on May 23, 2013
![Janet Jackson at the 66th Annual Cannes Film Festival on May 23, 2013](https://ew.com/thmb/2H_0Gue9Z9dV_ClFlbCCdCGgRZ0=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-169340813-35676e50e77e4a408611be2325d0701b.jpg)
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Janet Jackson at the BET Awards on June 28, 2015
![Janet Jackson at the BET Awards on June 28, 2015](https://ew.com/thmb/7A0mBzGhqsvWK3GS1xju3cedW_E=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-478932692-644762f344d44d47974fb86577197677.jpg)
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Janet Jackson During Her Unbreakable World Tour in Miami on September 20, 2015
![Janet Jackson During Her Unbreakable World Tour in Miami on September 20, 2015](https://ew.com/thmb/R1zdGFfu7UGSaJa0Cq1ZjXR32T8=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-489418908-30842d3eef794d57a974c706a8cf6f53.jpg)
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Janet Jackson in Dubai on March 26, 2016
![Janet Jackson in Dubai on March 26, 2016](https://ew.com/thmb/XB5ns0QS53mxzvXV5dv4fQxUZr4=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-517623192-643f751e95bf4577a3b2654ddbd837f9.jpg)