Major pop stars aligned for this year’s Black Women in Music event. In partnership with The Lincoln Motor Company and hosted by Mona Scott-Young, the evening was a night of sisterhood and empowerment as women gathered to celebrate Missy ‘Misdemeanor’ Elliott.

Presented by the one and only Janet Jackson, the legendary artist received our 2018 Visionary Award for decades of her musical brilliance and creativity. “I feel super honored to be honored by Essence magazine,” she says. “I look at all the women that inspired me here, and it was amazing to see that, to feel that. It was a very emotional moment for me.”

Watch all the epic behind-the-scenes moments in the video above.