CULTURE

Teyana Taylor Channels Janet Jackson’s 1995 MTV VMAs Look at This Year’s Awards

And for an awesome reason.

by Lynsey Eidell

MTV Video Music Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 27 Aug 2017
Matt Baron/REX/Shutterstock

Teyana Taylor made jaws hit the floor at last year’s MTV Video Music Awards as the solo star of Kanye West’s “Fade” video—and this year, she’s doing the same by channeling an iconic artist: Janet Jackson.

Taylor showed up to the 2017 VMAs red carpet donning a white cropped scoopneck shirt and wide-leg black pants (which conveniently showed off her incredible six-pack abs, in case you’d forgotten how ripped she was since last year’s show), as well as a super-short bob haircut. But the entire look was much more than just a testament to her #goals-worthy physique; it was also a dead ringer for Janet Jackson circa 22 years ago, who wore almost the exact same ensemble—down to the hairstyle—at the 1995 VMAs.

Taylor’s getup also went beyond being just a style tribute. At the 1995 VMAs, Janet Jackson’s music video for “Scream” was awarded Best Choreography—and we think it’s no coincidence that at the 2017 show, Kanye’s “Fade” video (which Taylor stars in) has already won the same award. Take a look at the twinning moments below.

Here is Janet Jackson in 1995…

Ron Galella, Ltd./Getty Images
Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images

And now here is Teyana in 2017…

Matt Baron/REX/Shutterstock

Practically identical, right?

This isn’t the first time that Taylor has made an intentional statement with her fashion choices, either. In November, while accompanying her husband, Cleveland Cavaliers player Iman Shupert, on a visit to the White House, Taylor donned an Afro, turtleneck, velvet pantsuit, and hoop earrings in an homage to Angela Davis, a Black Panther and civil rights activist. Taylor wore the politically charged outfit on the very same day that then president-elect Donald Trump was to visit the White House, making her ensemble a clear statement of protest.

Related: Teyana Taylor Talks Life After “Fade,” All Access Concert and New Album

MTV VMAs 2017: Katy Perry, Lorde, Paris Jackson, and All the Rest of the Red Carpet Fashion

Katy Perry attends the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for MTV)

John Shearer

Lorde attends the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.

Getty

Millie Bobby Brown attends the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for MTV)

John Shearer

Nicki Minaj attends the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)

Kevin Mazur

Paris Jackson attends the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.

Getty

Nicole Tuck, DJ Khaled and Asahd Tuck Khaled attend the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)

Steve Granitz

Jared Leto attends the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images)

Christopher Polk

Lil Yachty attends the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.

Getty

Carey Hart, Willow Sage Hart, and Pink attend the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images)

Rich Fury

Demi Lovato attends the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.

Getty

Cardi B attends the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.

Getty

Shawn Mendes attends the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.

Getty

Vanessa Hudgens attends the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)

Kevin Mazur

Pete Davidson and Cazzie David attend the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Alberto E. Rodriguez

Yara Shahidi attends the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images)

Christopher Polk

Hailee Steinfeld attends the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)

Kevin Mazur

Hailey Baldwin attends the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for MTV)

John Shearer

Olivia Munn attends the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images)

Christopher Polk

Noah Cyrus attends the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Alberto E. Rodriguez

Dinah Jane, Ally Brooke, Normani Kordei, and Lauren Jauregui of Fifth Harmony attend the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for MTV)

John Shearer

Jasmine Sanders attends the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.

Getty

Tomo Milicevic, Shannon Leto and Jared Leto attend the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic)

Jon Kopaloff

Julia Michaels attends the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.

Getty

Jack Lawless, Joe Jonas, JinJoo Lee and Cole Whittle of musical group DNCE attends the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.

Getty

Jack Antonoff attends the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.

Getty

Mel B and Heidi Klum attend the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for MTV)

John Shearer

Lil Mama attends the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images)

Rich Fury

Lizzo attends the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)

Jeff Kravitz

Echosmith attends the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.

Getty

Eudoxie Mbouguiengue and Ludacris attend the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Frazer Harrison
1/30

Watch: Katy Perry Confesses to Crying to Some of Her Own Songs